Musicology (Master's degree subject)Historical and Musicological Expertise for the Mediation of Music
The study of musicology serves to analyze, understand and interpret music from different time, language and cultural areas. It deals with the prerequisites and manifestations of music, its interrelationships with other arts and its role in society. The subject includes everything that falls under the term music, in particular written text and music sources, images, musical instruments and sound recordings. The Master's degree subject offers modules on older and more recent music history as well as an in-depth module on music history, aesthetics and popular music forms, thus enabling a well-founded historical and musicological examination, which includes the mediation of music as a central aspect.
Focal areas of teaching and research
At the University of Basel, musicology is taught primarily as a historical discipline (from the Middle Ages to the present day, including rock, pop and jazz), supplemented by other areas of musicology. Special attention is paid, for example, to aesthetic issues and the close connection between cultural studies and philological aspects of music.
It is also important for students to gain an insight into professional musicology practice during their studies and to be able to work on relevant projects. This is possible thanks to the dense network of music-related institutions in Basel with which the subject area of Musicology cooperates. The proximity to the Paul Sacher Foundation is of central importance for modern music history, as is the neighboring Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the Music Museum for all questions of historically informed performance practice. In combination with the rich concert and theater life of the music city of Basel, these are ideal conditions for a fruitful interaction between research, teaching and artistic and academic professional practice.
Short profile
| Degree | MA in Musicology |
| Type | Subject |
| Start date | February, September |
| Credit points | 120 |
| Study structure | The Master's degree is the second degree after the Bachelor's degree. The Master's program comprises a total of 120 credit points (CP). In the Master's program, students choose two independent subjects (one of which is musicology), each worth 35 CP. The subject in which the Master's thesis (30 CP) is written becomes a major, the other a minor. In addition, there is the free elective area (20 CP). One credit point (CP) ECTS corresponds to approximately 30 hours of work. |
| Subject combination | A subject from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences or a non-faculty subject can be considered as a second Master's subject. Students can choose it according to their interests and professional goals. The free elective area consists of freely selectable courses that can be used to deepen knowledge of the subjects, to gain insight into other subjects offered by the University of Basel or to acquire language skills. |
| Language of instruction | German, English |
| Subject area | Musicology |
Master’s admission requirements
Admission to master’s programs is regulated by the university student regulations and the stipulations of the individual degree program descriptions. More details of the general master’s admission requirements are provided here.
For students to be admitted with no additional requirements, they must hold a bachelor’s degree worth 180 CP from a higher education institution recognized by the University of Basel.
Subject-related requirements are defined in the admission requirements (section 3) of the study program for the relevant subject. The guidelines may also contain further useful information that is key to successful studies.
Registration dates
Students must register for their bachelor’s or master’s degree program within a specified timeframe – even in cases of delayed registration.
Information events
The University of Basel organizes regular information events for bachelor’s and master’s programs. Details can be found on the events page of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Some subject areas also offer their own separate information or welcome events. Please consult the page for the relevant subject area for event dates and locations.
Deadlines and dates for the Master's studies
See also factsheets under Documents & Factsheets.
Master's thesis
Fall semester 2026
Master's examinations for students of the subject and degree program
Master's degree
All data subject to subsequent changes.
Career opportunities
Musicologists work wherever the well-founded communication of music is at the center of their work. The most important professional fields include editing (radio, newspapers, publishing houses, etc.), cultural management (concert organization, theater, concert and opera dramaturgy, etc.), archives (libraries, special collections, etc.) as well as research and teaching (university, research institutes, adult education, etc.). In the context of school music, future music teachers can focus on musicology.
School music
When studying School Music II C at the FHNW School of Music (HSM), the academic part of a full Master's degree in Musicology (without a second subject and without a free elective area) is delegated to the University. School Music II C students are enrolled at the HSM of the FHNW, where they must also pass the entrance examination, and take their workload at the university as tuition-free students. Please find out about the details and applicable regulations for the Music Education with School Music II degree program at the HSM of the FHNW.
Student advisory service
Teaching commission
Quick Links