CONTENTS

The Masters Degree is structured in five modules:

• Module I Obligatory Speciality: focusses on the specific subjects referring to contemporary creation using creative interaction during the preparation and presentation of the contemporary music works. It comprises the subjects of Composition and Composition with Electro-acoustic and Audiovisual Media, and also offers the chance to compose in relation to other arts. Students can choose the composer with whom they wish to work and, especially in the second year, choose him or her according to the compositional project they wish to carry out. Likewise, annual masterclasses are offered with three outstanding international guest composers.
• Module II Theoretical and Practical Training: focussing on the development of competencies which allow the students to discover the professional reality of music in Spain and the international context, as well as subjects which complement training by means of analysis and the creation of inter-disciplinary projects. It covers subjects such as Professional Development, Creation-Interpretation Dialogue, which facilitates the discovery of composers and instruments in real situations; Extended Instrumental Techniques, which connects the students to the new music of the 20th and 21st centuries; and Recording and Post-production Techniques, with real work experience of recording, which means the students can end the Masters with a CD of their own, among others things.
• Module III Optional: offers subjects which widen the range of knowledge presented in the compulsory modules, shining a spotlight on the artistic and cultural avant-garde and current social problems, placing the creator’s role in context.
• Module IV External internships: provides the chance to appear in public in a variety of contexts and means access to a real professional work situation in which the student will face up to aspects of the production of his or her work.
• Module V Dissertation: this allows the students to acquire competence appropriate to a Masters Degree, by means of the study of different research methods and techniques for the carrying out of a dissertation. The dissertation is closely related to the student’s musical project as a creator.

METHODOLOGY

Type of Teaching: Classroom-based teaching

Individual and group classes and Composition Workshops.

Ensemble, which includes the première of works created by Masters students.

Group classes such as Recording Techniques, Creation-Interpretation Dialogue, Interdisciplinary Creation Projects, among others, in which students make contact with the current reality of the musician, thus preparing for their future professional life.

External work experience, in different groups, in the form of concerts in music cycles in the Basque Country.

The defence of the Dissertation will be held in public, once the rest of the Masters Degree credits have been passed.

SKILLS

• • Skills

LANGUAGES

• • Collective lessons are taught in Spanish.
  • Individual lessons are conducted in the language agreed upon between the teacher and the student (the teaching staff is international and mostly multilingual).
  • The school offers support for learning Spanish, Basque, English, French, and German through its language programme.
  • Knowledge of English is recommended for bibliographic consultations.

Students will be selected via an entrance exam, which will involve submitting video recordings.

Registration

• • Registration dates: from 15 April to 15 May 2026.
  • Interested persons must complete the registration form and send the following documentation to the Musikene address, or by email to master@musikene.eus:

1. 1. 1. Photocopy of National Identity Document, residence card, identity card or current passport.
      2. Academic transcript, showing gradings and examinations in all required subjects to access official Masters studies.
      3. Curriculum Vitae
      4. Letter of motivation for taking this Masters and other merits which the candidate wishes to contribute.
      5. The sending of a portfolio of scores and audio and/or video recordings of the works, containing at least 3 different compositions with a total duration of at least 20 minutes, with or without electro-acoustics and/or audiovisuals. If the proposal involves additional texts, they must be submitted in one of the following languages: Basque, Spanish, French, English or Italian.
      6. Signed declaration of authorship of the works and/or recordings presented.

Exam structure

Candidates must record a video for each of the following exams:

• • Exam 1: A 20-minute exposition, consisting of three works of different formats, with or without electroacoustic and/or audiovisual means.
    • If the presentation exceeds this duration, the jury will evaluate exclusively the first twenty minutes.
  • Exam 2: Personal interview. The candidates admitted for the tests will answer to the questions received several days before the date of the test.

Deadline for submitting recordings: on 28 and 29 May 2026, in accordance with the instructions that will be provided once the application period has ended.

Assessment Criteria

• • Exam 1 (65%):
    • The candidates’ technical and artistic skills, based on the portfolio of three works submitted and the degree of aesthetic coherence the candidate demonstrates during the presentation of these works.
    • Technical ability to convey musical ideas with precision and flexibility, through the appropriate use of musical notation.
    • Originality and diversity of the works submitted.
    • Proficiency in writing for different instrumental and vocal ensembles (with or without electroacoustic and audiovisual media).
    • Artistic personality and independent judgement in technical and aesthetic matters within the context of contemporary musical creation.
  • Exam 2 (35%) 
    • The candidates’ own creative aspirations,
    • A compositional project they intend to develop in line with their interests during the Master’s programme.
    • The candidates’ communication skills and their proactive approach to defining their musical identity and development
    • Motivation, creative ambitions and future aspirations, both professionally and artistically.

Panel of Examiners

The panel will consist of three teachers from Musikene who are specialists in the discipline which is the object of the examination.

• • Panel: first call (March) 2026

Appeals

Appeals regarding the grades obtained may be submitted within three working days from the publication of the results. These will be resolved and published within a maximum of ten working days from the end of the appeal period. Only requests for grade reviews submitted via a formal, dated, and signed written document (including a valid ID, NIE, or passport) addressed to the Academic Management Sub-directorate and sent by email to reclamaciones@musikene.eus will be processed.

Access Requirements

It is an indispensable requirement to hold one of the following qualifications:

• • A Bachelor’s Degree.
  • An official Higher Degree in Artistic Education.
  • Any qualification equivalent to the above issued by an institution within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

The following may also apply:

• • Those finishing their Bachelor’s studies during the 2025/2026 academic year.
  • Graduates from educational systems outside the EHEA, provided the competent educational administration verifies that they possess an equivalent level of training.

Presentation of the degree (or proof of having paid the relevant fees) will be required at the time of enrolment. Students currently in their final year may submit this documentation before 15th October 2026.

Re-admissions

Students who wish to resume their studies after leaving Musikene may request re-admission to the school between 1st and 10th June 2026. Those interested must complete the following two steps within the established period:

• • Completion of the online application form.
  • Creation Master’s: applicants must submit two original works in score format and, optionally, in audio format if they wish.
    • These materials should be sent to the address academica@musikene.eus.
    • It is recommended to upload the files to a suitable hosting service (DropBox, Google Drive, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) and send the link providing access to them. Access permissions must be enabled so that anyone with the link can view the content.

Important:

• • Applications submitted outside the deadline or those that have not provided all required documentation will not be accepted.
  • Applications will be reviewed by the competent body of the institution, taking into account the available vacancies and the documentation provided.
  • Applicants will receive a reply by email in the second half of June.
  • It is essential that you are up to date with the payment of enrolment fees and any other outstanding payments from the previous academic year at the centre.

Results

• • Results: first call (March) 2026
  • The results of the second call will be announced before 12 June.

ENROLMENT

• • Enrolment will be formalised annually within the stipulated periods.
  • At the student’s discretion, enrolment may be full-time per academic year (60 ECTS) or part-time (in which case, the first year must be at least 45 ECTS).
  • The school will set the deadlines for requesting a modification of enrolment each academic year, which will, in any case, be at the beginning of each semester.
  • Students may enrol in the Master’s degree with an outstanding subject from the final year of their Bachelor’s degree: the Bachelor’s Degree Final Project and a maximum of one other subject. In this case, they must provide proof of obtaining their Bachelor’s degree in order to be awarded the Master’s title.

Tuition Fees: 

• • Full enrolment per academic year (60 ECTS): 5,820 euros.
  • The cost per credit in this Master’s is €97 for the first enrolment and €140 for the second or subsequent enrolments.
  • Payment will be made in three instalments:
    • One third upon enrolment.
    • The remaining amount in two halves, one in November and the other in February.
  • If you are a graduate of Musikene, you will benefit from a 15% discount on the tuition fee.

CREDIT RECOGNITION AND TRANSFER

• • Students who have previously completed official Master’s studies may request the recognition and transfer of credits for those subjects whose contents and skills have at least a 75% overlap. Under no circumstances will credits corresponding to the external project or the Master’s Final Project (MFP) be eligible for recognition.
  • To apply for credit recognition, it is necessary to be enrolled at the school.
  • Students must request recognition at the time of formalising their enrolment.
  • The outcome of the requested recognitions will be announced before the start of the respective academic year, and students will have a period in which to lodge an appeal.
  • Accepted recognitions will be added to the student’s academic record, stating the recognised subject and the grade obtained at the original institution. The enrolment fee will be adjusted as specified in the enrolment contract (35% of the cost of each recognised credit).

SCHOLARSHIPS

• • Basque Government
  • Ministry of Education

ENROLMENT

• • Enrolment will be formalised annually within the stipulated periods.
  • At the student’s discretion, enrolment may be full-time per academic year (60 ECTS) or part-time (in which case, the first year must be at least 45 ECTS).
  • The school will set the deadlines for requesting a modification of enrolment each academic year, which will, in any case, be at the beginning of each semester.
  • Students may enrol in the Master’s degree with an outstanding subject from the final year of their Bachelor’s degree: the Bachelor’s Degree Final Project and a maximum of one other subject. In this case, they must provide proof of obtaining their Bachelor’s degree in order to be awarded the Master’s title.

Tuition Fees: 

• • Full enrolment per academic year (60 ECTS): 5,820 euros.
  • The cost per credit in this Master’s is €97 for the first enrolment and €140 for the second or subsequent enrolments.
  • Payment will be made in three instalments:
    • One third upon enrolment.
    • The remaining amount in two halves, one in November and the other in February.
  • If you are a graduate of Musikene, you will benefit from a 15% discount on the tuition fee.

CREDIT RECOGNITION AND TRANSFER

• • Students who have previously completed official Master’s studies may request the recognition and transfer of credits for those subjects whose contents and skills have at least a 75% overlap. Under no circumstances will credits corresponding to internships or the Master’s Final Project (MFP) be eligible for recognition.
  • To apply for credit recognition, it is necessary to be enrolled at the school.
  • Students must request recognition at the time of formalising their enrolment.
  • The outcome of the requested recognitions will be announced before the start of the respective academic year, and students will have a period in which to lodge an appeal.
  • Accepted recognitions will be added to the student’s academic record, stating the recognised subject and the grade obtained at the original institution. The enrolment fee will be adjusted as specified in the enrolment contract (35% of the cost of each recognised credit).

SCHOLARSHIPS

• • Basque Government
  • Ministry of Education