The bachelor programme Music is only accessible if you meet the diploma and language requirements and when you pass the artistic entrance exam. Follow the steps as described underneath.
STEP 1. Check the diploma and language requirements
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Diploma requirements
For enrolment in the academic bachelor programme in Music, the prospective student must hold one of the following degrees:
For candidates from Belgium
- a diploma of secondary education, awarded up to and including the school year 2024-2025, or
- a diploma of secondary education, educational qualification level 4, issued from the 2024-2025 school year onwards, or
- a diploma of higher education of the short type with full curriculum, or
- a diploma of higher education for social promotion, excluding the Certificate of Pedagogical Competence, or
- a diploma or certificate awarded in the context of higher vocational education, or
- a bachelor's or master's degree, or
- a study certificate recognised under a legal standard, a European directive or an international agreement as equivalent to one of the previous diplomas.
For candidates from The Netherlands
- A VWO diploma
- An HBO propaedeutic certificate
For candidates from other EU countries
- A diploma that gives access tot university studies in your country of origin. This can be any study certificate recognised as equivalent pursuant to any legal norm, European guideline or any other international agreement. A non-exhaustive list of eligible Belgian and foreign study certificates can be consulted on the AP University College website.
For candidates from outside the European Union
If you have obtained a diploma or certificate in a country outside the European Union, the admissions committee may give you permission to enrol for a bachelor programme if your diploma gives access to a bachelor’s programme in that country, comparable to a Flemish bachelor programme. Therefore, you need to apply.
The application must contain the following documents:
• a certified copy of the diploma
• a certified Dutch or English translation issued by a sworn translator, unless the original is in Dutch, English, French, or GermanYou need to send these documents to enrolment@ap.be.
For specific questions about the admission requirements or your diploma, please contact the Student Center via enrolment@ap.be.
You can find even more information about the general admission requirements on the AP University College website.
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Language requirements
For the bachelor, master and postgraduate programmes Music there are no official language requirements.
Students are advised a B2 Dutch or English proficiency level for an effective day-to-day communication and high quality written assignments.
The Royal Conservatoire Antwerp does not organise language courses. Students are free to take courses at a language institute of their own choice.
- LINGUAPOLIS: offers Dutch and other language courses. A Linguapolis language certificate is attributed credits that can be validated by the RCA. https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/centres/linguapolis/
- ATLAS- Huis van het Nederlands: offers Dutch for foreigners. http://www.nt2antwerpen.be
- Any Centre for Adult education (“Centrum voor volwassenenonderwijs”) that offers language courses. http://data-onderwijs.vlaanderen.be/onderwijsaanbod/lijst.aspx?hs=cvo
More info:
taalpunt@ap.be
petra.vangeel@ap.beFor the master of arts & education in Music and performing arts a Dutch language proficiency level B2 is mandatory.
STEP 2. Register for the artistic entrance examination
The dates and information about the artistic entrance exams bachelor in Music can be found underneath the different sections. Please make sure you don't miss any early deadlines regarding the other documents you need to enrol like a visum!
Classical Music:
- Composition (bachelor, master, postgraduate).
- Conducting: choral conducting, wind band conducting or orchestral conducting (master's only).
- Woodwinds: clarinet, bassoon, oboe, flute, saxophone (bachelor, master and postgraduate) + piccolo, bass clarinet, contrabassoon and alto oboe (master and postgraduate).
- Brass instruments: horn, saxophone (soprano cornet, cornet, alto cornet, baritone, euphonium), trombone (alto, tenor, and bass), trumpet, tuba (bachelor, master and postgraduate).
- Percussion: percussion (bachelor, master and postgraduate) + marimba (master and postgraduate).
- String instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass (undergraduate, master and postgraduate).
- Keyboard instruments: accordion, harpsichord, piano, organ (bachelor, master and postgraduate) + pianoforte, collaborative piano (master and postgraduate).
- Plucked instruments: harp, guitar (bachelor, master and postgraduate).
- Vocal studies (bachelor, master and postgraduate)
Jazz Music:
- Jazz: bass guitar, double bass, drums, flute, guitar, clarinet, piano, saxophone, trumpet, violin, voice, live electronics (other instruments possible on request).
STEP 3 till 7. After the artistic entrance examination
Additional information
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Tuition fees and course related fees
You can find the Regulations of tuition fees, study costs and various expenses on the general regulations page of the AP website. In the Excel file underneath, you can easily calculate the total amount you need to pay.
In September or October, you’ll receive an invoice for the tuition fee and course related fees based on your signed study contract. The invoice will be sent to your AP-mail.
Tuition fees 2024-2025
Students who are nationals of a member state of the European Economic Area (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Spain, Czech Republic, Sweden) for a diploma or credit contract: tuition fee fixed part: 288.00 euro + 13.80 euro / ECTS + 66 euro course related fee.
Students who are nationals of other countries: tuition fee fixed part: 904.90 euro + 123.50 euro / ECTS + 66 euro course related fee.
The tuition fee for foreign students does not apply for nationals of those other countries in certain specific circumstances as described in the regulations. Swiss nationals are part of the European Free Trade Association and can obtain an E card and pay the same tuition fees as EEA citizens. Students with British nationality enrolled in 2020-21 will continue to be subject to the normal tuition fee for the completion of the study started in 2020-21.
Example:
A student from inside the EER enrolling for 60 ECTS within a diploma contract pays 1,182.00 euro tuition fee. A student from outside the EER enrolling for 60 ECTS within a diploma contract pays 8,380.90 euro tuition fee.Course related fees 2024-2025
All Bachelor and Master students who register for 27 ECTS or more pay 66 euro, students with less than 27 ECTS pay 36 euro.
Extra costs are also charged for attending performances and concerts. These extra costs will be invoiced separately in May 2025 on the basis of actual expenses:- students who register for the course History of music 1 and 2, History of music (jazz) 1 and 2, Art criticism and Art criticism (Media, writing and performance art) pay a maximum of 50 euro extra;
- students who register for the Bachelor in Dance pay a maximum of 80 euro extra.
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Learning account
The learning account is applicable to each student who enrols in a University College or University in Flanders. With this tool the Government aims to encourage you to make the right study choice and monitor your study progress.
Principle
Every student starting higher education in Flanders receives a learning account of 140 study credits. Study credits are deducted from your learning account for each course you enrol for. If you pass your exam you earn back your credits. If you fail for your exam, the study credits are irrevocably deducted from your learning account. If you don't have any credits left in your learning account you can no longer continue your studies.You can check the balance of your learning account on https://studentenportaal.vlaanderen.be/ (website in Dutch only).
Example
If you enrol for a course of 6 study credits, then those 6 study credits will be deducted form your learning account. If you pass your exam with at least 10/20 then those 6 credits will be added again to your learning acount. If you fail, the 6 credits will be irrevocably deducted.Bonus
The first 60 credits you obtain under diploma contract in higher education in Flanders are doubled. Those 60 credits don't need to be earned in one academic year, one study programme or one institution.For whom?
The learning account applies to any student who enrols with a diploma contract or credit contract for a bachelor or master programme. It does not apply to students who enrol for a teaching qualification programme, for a bridging or preparatory programme or for a postgraduate programme. Also enrolments with an exam contract are not taken into account.Goal
The learning account aims to encourage you as a student to make the right study choice and to encourage you to change your study programme in time.Made the wrong choice?
Is your study not running so smoothly as you expected or do your realise that you made the wrong choice? Then you should make an appointment with your student counselor. You can withdraw or choose a new programme. This way you do not unnecessarily lose credits from your learning account. The quicker you decide, the more chance you have to gain back your credits.Already obtained a master's degree?
The balance of your learning account is reduced by 140 credits when you obtain a diploma for a master programme. If this results in a positive balance, you can use the remaining credits to enrol in an initial bachelor or master programme. If the balance of your learning account is less than 60 credits, you can build it up again to a maximum of 60. Ten credits are added to your learning account every academic year after you obtained your master diploma.More information about the learning account can be found in the Education and Examination Regulations under article 8.1 and on http://onderwijs.vlaanderen.be/leerkrediet (Dutch website only).
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Financial support
For general information about international scholarships, please check http://www.studyinflanders.be/en/scholarship-programmes/ and https://www.studentsonthemove.be/en/.
In order to receive a scholarship from the Flemish Community, you must fulfill multiple conditions. If you are temporarily staying in Belgium because of your studies, national conditions will be an obstacle and you might not be eligible to request this scholarship. If you do not meet the requirements, you will have to fund your studies yourself and (if possible) apply for financial assistance and/or study aid in your home country. For more information about the scholarship of the Flemish Community, please check https://centenvoorstudenten.be/english/scholarship-flemish-community/.
Students from outside the European Economic Area are not eligible for financial aid from the AP University College. It is not possible to pay the tuition fee in instalments.
Looking for an accommodation? What about the rental agreement? And the prices? Do you need insurance? Visa? Learn all about it on the practical information page of AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp:
https://www.ap.be/en/international/practical-information
For incoming master's students from abroad, there is also the Mastermind scholarship (read the requirements carefully).
The Conservatoire also offers some internal scholarships (between 1,500 and 3,000 euros per selected student) to regular students of the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp: the Soroptimist scholarship, the Orange scholarship and the Bolster scholarship. Every year an internal call is made for these.
There are also external support initiatives such as:
This is just a sample of what support is offered by externals. KCA staff regularly posts opportunities for support for projects, workshops, competitions and residencies on the student platforms Intranet and DigitAP.
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Students with specific needs
If you have specific needs you can request facilitating measures.
You can request these if you:
- have a (learning) disability (dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism spectrum disorder, adhd, a motor, visual or aural disability,…);
- suffer from a medical or psychological problem;
- combine top sport / work / family with studying.
The studentcounselor Petra Vangeel (petra.vangeel@ap.be) will assist you in applying for facilitating measures to meet your individual needs.
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Regulations and year calendar
You can find the Education and Examination Regulations, ICT Regulations and Library Regulations on the general regulations page of the AP website. You can also find the specific year calendar of the Conservatoire on this page.