INFORMATION SHEET

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
for the Scholarly and Artistic Master’s Degree Programme in
ETHNOMUSICOLOGY

Online registration for the admissions examination at:

www.online.mdw.ac.at

Department of Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology

University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1, 1030 Vienna
www.mdw.ac.at/ive As of: March 2021

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Contents

1. Eligibility ......................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Prior Studies .................................................................................................................................... 3
3. Letter of Motivation ........................................................................................................................ 4
4. Entrance Examination – Proof of Artistic Suitability...................................................................... 5
4.1. Artistic Performance ..................................................................................................................... 5
4.2. Contextualisation and Exam Discussion ....................................................................................... 5
5. Competencies in the Admissions Process ....................................................................................... 6

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1. Eligibility

The Scholarly and Artistic Master’s Degree Programme in Ethnomusicology is geared towards
an international target group and deals both theoretically and practically with musical worlds
outside of “Western” styles of art music and popular music. The central contents of this
programme of study encompass the discipline’s theoretical and methodological basis with an
emphasis on ethnomusicological field research, insights into the diversity of the world’s musics
as a topic of ethnomusicological research, artistic and practical engagement with various forms
of musical expression that are either traditional or developed from traditional forms, and
sensitisation to the socio-political relevance and responsibility of ethnomusicology as a
discipline.
The objective of the Scholarly and Artistic Master’s Degree Programme in Ethnomusicology is
to impart well-founded academic qualifications in the discipline that are consistently linked
with and contextualised by active musical and artistic practice. Dealing in a well-considered
manner with the diversity of musical traditions should, in accordance with § 1 UG, contribute
to the successful negotiation of societal challenges in a changing, humane, and gender-neutral
society with its various cultural standpoints. This programme of study also provides the
necessary qualifications for embarking on doctoral studies of a scholarly nature, especially in
the field of ethnomusicology / folk music research. And finally, its establishment as a master’s
degree programme is intended to increase the representation of musical diversity in the Austrian
university landscape.
Individuals who have completed the Scholarly and Artistic Master’s Degree Programme in
Ethnomusicology are capable of working in a methodologically well-founded manner as well
as theoretically contextualising their research findings. They can independently plan and
conduct field research, thereafter subjecting it to scholarly review and evaluation. They can
convincingly express themselves in various musical styles and reflect upon their musical
doings. They are aware of the diversity of forms of musical expression and possess socio-
political competence in dealing with diversity thanks to their encounters with different people
and cultural contexts. They are capable of comparing musical styles, qualifying associated
attributions of value, and both recognising and critically questioning hegemonic structure.
Possible professional profiles include academic work at universities and research institutions,
organisational and curatorial work at museums and cultural institutions, editorial work in
connection with various types of media, archival work, artistic work, educational and outreach
work, work on the topics of diversity, minorities, migration, displacement, etc., and work with
regard to intangible cultural heritage, safeguarding, sustainability, etc. (see Curriculum:
Scholarly and Artistic Master’s Degree Programme in Ethnomusicology §§ 1, 2.).

2. Prior Studies

Admission to the master’s degree programme in ethnomusicology is predicated upon

completion of a thematically relevant bachelor’s degree programme from a university or
university of applied sciences or an equivalent course of study at a recognised Austrian or
foreign postsecondary educational institution totalling at least 180 ECTS credits. A scanned
version of the Bachelor degree certificate is necessary for the online admission. For certificates

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in other languages than English or German, please provide a certified translation (English or
German).
Thematically relevant are, in any case, musical and/or music education-related studies at a
recognised postsecondary educational institution such as the bachelor’s degree and diploma
programs offered by the mdw.
Examples of musical and/or music education-related bachelor’s degree and diploma programs
are:
- Instrumental & Voice Education (classical, popular music)
- Instrumental Music Education
- Music and Movement Education
- Music Therapy
- Instrumental Studies
- Composition and Music Theory
- etc.
Also thematically relevant are certain bachelor’s degree or diploma programs in humanities,
cultural studies, and social science disciplines. Of particular relevance are:
- Musicology
- Cultural and Social Anthropology
- European Ethnology
- Sociology
Degrees from philological programmes of study may also be thematically relevant.
Furthermore, other bachelor’s degree and diploma programs may be considered thematically
relevant in individual cases.
Thematic relevance is to be ascertained by the Rectorate taking into account an opinion
provided by the Department of Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology.
In cases where an applicant’s prior training is scholarly in nature, appropriate artistic
instruction or other didactic study must have also taken place. Examples of such artistic
instruction or study are:
- informal music-making (in one’s family, in communities)
- music-making in associations/clubs, music groups, dance ensembles
- private musical instruction or instruction received at music schools, public schools, other
institutions where musical training is offered, etc.

3. Letter of Motivation

Please include in your application materials an informal letter of motivation in which you
explain your personal motivation and individual suitability for the Master’s Degree
Programme in Ethnomusicology. In particular, your letter should address the following
aspects:
• prior artistic experience in traditional music
• the musical style that you will present in your entrance examination
• your intended artistic emphasis in your studies
• prior research experience
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 • ideas for your research emphasis
Your letter of motivation, which should be at least 300 words in length, is to be uploaded in
PDF format as part of your online registration for the entrance examination. The descriptions
of your prior scholarly and artistic experience that you include in your letter of motivation can
serve the Department of Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology as a basis upon which to
assess their relevance.

4. Entrance Examination – Proof of Artistic Suitability

The central criterion assessed in the entrance examination is applicants’ ability to express
themselves in an artistically convincing manner in a traditional musical style and to
contextualise this style in a scholarly manner. The committee-evaluated entrance examination
used to determine applicants’ fulfilment of this criterion consists of two parts: an artistic
performance and its contextualisation along with an exam discussion.

4.1. Artistic Performance

The artistic part of this exam consists in an artistic performance (vocal/instrumental/dance)

from the field of traditional music / traditional dance. This performance allows the examination
committee to assess whether an applicant’s artistic level is suitable for continuation of their
studies at a university master’s degree level in the discipline of ethnomusicology.
Details on form and procedure of the artistic performance:
- Duration of 5–15 minutes
- No specific programming requirements (several pieces, one continuous performance, etc.).
Please present a written programme to the examination committee at the beginning of the
examination. This document might include information such as: Song or piece title(s), details
on realisation (vocal, instrumental, dance, specification of instruments), musical style.
- All formations are possible: ensemble music-making, solo music-making, vocal or
instrumental music-making with live or recorded accompaniment, dance with recorded music,
etc.

4.2. Contextualisation and Exam Discussion

Please present the scholarly context of your performance in a prepared contextualisation, that
addresses the musical style, its social context, and the relevance of the presented form of
expression for the associated community and/or, more broadly, to the field of ethnomusicology.
You can present your contextualisation eighter separately after the artistic performance or as an
integrated part of your artistic performance. The contextualisation itself should take
approximately 5 minutes.
Following the artistic performance and contextualisation, the examination committee engages
in discussion with the applicant. This discussion centres on questions pertaining to the
presented contextualisation and to the applicant’s ideas about the practical-musical and

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academic emphases they would envision for their studies. The exam discussion lasts between
5 and 10 minutes.

5. Competencies in the Admissions Process

Please submit language certificates to the Studies Center (www.mdw.ac.at/StudienCenter)

prior to registration for the second semester. It is advisable to plan sufficient time for any
language tests that may be needed. This programme of study is run in German and in English.
For the language of your master’s degree thesis you must document language skills at level
C1; for the other language, level B2 is required.
The Studies Center is also responsible for handling questions regarding the required
documentation of a completed university bachelor’s degree programme, a substantively
relevant bachelor’s degree programme at a university of applied science, or another equivalent
programme of study.
Questions on the entrance examination itself and on curriculum content may be addressed
directly to the Department of Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology
(www.mdw.ac.at/ive).
Help with online registration for the entrance examination is available from the Info-Point on
the mdw Campus (www.mdw.ac.at/vr-lehre/info-point/).
The Studies Center will inform you regarding the outcome of your entrance examination.