Studying Music Abroad: Planning Basics

Studying music in another country adds a layer of planning to an already demanding application: different admission systems, fees that depend on nationality, immigration steps, and funding that is often tied to the country. This guide covers the questions to ask and shows examples from official pages. Immigration rules change, so always read the current official government page for your nationality and destination; this site cannot confirm that you will qualify for a visa, a place or funding.

Start with the admission system

Each country organises music admissions differently, and applicants from abroad sometimes use separate routes.

• United Kingdom: most performance applicants apply through UCAS Conservatoires, which covers undergraduate and postgraduate conservatoire courses for UK, EU and international applicants. UCAS lists a £34.50 application fee for the 2027 entry cycle, up to six course choices, and audition or portfolio fees usually collected at application. The Royal Northern College of Music says all applicants apply through UCAS Conservatoires and then submit an Acceptd application, and it links to overseas auditions under International Students.
• Netherlands: Codarts says registration in both Studielink and its Osiris system is needed before the deadline of 2 February 2027, and that candidates abroad may take the practical exam in Rotterdam or online, a choice made once in the application.
• Other European schools: Lodz (Poland), Bulgaria's National Academy of Music and the Liszt Academy (Hungary) publish separate fee lists for international or foreign students.

Read preparing for auditions and prescreening versus final auditions for how recorded and live stages work, and ask each school whether an overseas or virtual audition is possible and whether it affects scholarship consideration.

Check the language and academic requirements

Schools state English-language, academic and music-theory requirements separately from the audition. RNCM, for example, says applicants must show a high level of performing or composition ability and meet academic and English language requirements, with Grade 8 in the principal instrument and Grade 5 in theory given as undergraduate guidance. Lodz states that the classes listed for foreigners on its fee page are in English. Where a programme is taught in another language, ask what proficiency is needed and how it is tested.

Understand fee categories by nationality

Fees can differ by citizenship, residence or previous study.

• Codarts publishes a statutory fee of €2.694 for 2026-2027 for students with EU/EEA nationality (and some others) who do not already hold a Dutch degree, and an institutional fee of €11.000 for most non-EU/EEA bachelor and master programmes. Study in the Netherlands says non-EU/EEA fees average about €9,000 to €20,000 for bachelor's programmes and €12,000 to €30,000 for master's programmes, with exact figures per course.
• Bulgaria's National Academy of Music lists annual fees for non-EU citizens of €5,500 for a preparatory course, €7,000 for the first year of a bachelor's degree, €8,500 for a master's and €10,000 for doctoral studies, and says EU and EEA citizens generally study under the same terms as Bulgarian citizens.
• Lodz lists fees in PLN, for example a bachelor's at 40,000 PLN for piano, organ and harpsichord and 42,000 PLN for strings, wind and percussion, with a 180 PLN registration fee.

Currency, payment method and exchange rate can also matter; the Liszt Academy, for instance, lists fees in HUF and says international students may pay in EUR at the Hungarian National Bank rate on the first day of classes. See costs beyond tuition for the wider list of expenses. This site does not convert currencies.

Student visa basics

The principle is the same everywhere: you usually need an offer or admission document from the school before you can apply, and you must show how you will pay. The details are country-specific.

United Kingdom. GOV.UK states that you must be 16 or over and have been offered a place by a licensed student sponsor, show enough money for yourself and your course, and be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You can apply up to 6 months before the course from outside the UK. The fee listed is £558 from outside the UK, and the healthcare surcharge is paid as part of the application. Decisions usually take 3 weeks from outside the UK. The page also notes graduate visa stay lengths change from 2 years to 18 months for applications on or after 1 January 2027.

United States. The Study in the States page explains that all F and M students need a Form I-20 issued by a designated school official at a SEVP-certified school, that the I-901 SEVIS fee must be paid before entry, and that you bring the original I-20 to the visa interview. It says you may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date and that visas can be issued up to 365 days before the course start. The page was last updated in April 2025, so check the current version.

Other countries. This guide does not summarise the Netherlands or other destinations' immigration rules. Read the destination government's official student-permit page directly, and ask your school who submits the application and which documents it issues.

For every country, check: Who applies, you or the school? What financial evidence is needed? How long does it take? What are the work rules while studying? Can you bring family? Does the visa end when your course ends? Do not rely on forum advice.

Plan for funding

Many national awards are tied to a destination: Fulbright for the United States, Chevening for the UK, DAAD for Germany. See scholarships and graduate funding for how these differ from merit scholarships and assistantships. Check whether a school restricts assistantships by language or nationality conditions; for example, some schools set English-speaking score thresholds for assistantship consideration.

Practical checklist

1. List destination countries and the official admission route for each.
2. Note the fee category that applies to your nationality, with currency.
3. Check the visa page for your nationality and how long to allow; start documents early.
4. Ask whether the school supports the visa process and provides a required letter.
5. Check health insurance and healthcare charges.
6. Budget for travel to auditions and for the move.
7. Check whether the qualification is recognised for your intended use at home; see choosing a music school.

Browse bachelor's programmes and master's programmes for school listings, and read our methodology for how we record details. Confirm all immigration and fee details with the official sources before you apply.