How to apply for exchange studies at the Sibelius Academy

Published 9.1.2020 | Updated 30.1.2025

Who can apply?

We accept exchange student applications from all Erasmus+ programme eligible institutions. In addition, students from institutions that have a Bilateral Exchange Agreement with the Sibelius Academy can apply. Please contact your home institution’s International Office to find out whether you can apply for an exchange study period at the Sibelius Academy.

Application schedule and semester dates

Application schedule

The application round for the academic year 2025 – 2026 is now open and the deadline is March 1st, 2025.

We have only one application round each year for the following academic year: fall semester, spring semester or full academic year.

Academic calendar 2025–2026

• Fall semester August 18 – December 20, 2025
• Spring semester January 7 – May 31, 2026

General conditions

The applicant has to be a higher education student at an Erasmus+ programme eligible institution, or a student at an institution that has a Bilateral Exchange Agreement with the Sibelius Academy.

Exchange students can apply to the Sibelius Academy either for the autumn semester, spring semester or the full academic year. Please note, if you have been accepted only for the fall semester, prolongation of the exchange period for the spring semester is not guaranteed. Therefore, if you wish to stay for the full academic year, apply for the entire period from the start.

You can apply to the Sibelius Academy only according to the above-mentioned semester dates, not according to the semester dates of your home institution.

The maximum length of exchange studies at the Sibelius Academy is two semesters within one study cycle (Bachelor/Master/Doctoral).

Exceptions:

• Music Education department accepts exchange students for the full academic year only.
• Arts Management, Society, and Creative Entrepreneurship department: no applications are accepted for 2025 – 2026.
• Orchestral conducting: at the moment no applications are accepted, only reciprocal student exchanges can be arranged in limited situations. However, exchange applications for Choral Conducting and Wind Orchestra Conducting are welcome.

Language requirements

The Sibelius Academy does not have exact requirements for exchange students’ language skills. However, we expect CEFR level B2 on language proficiency in English (or Finnish / Swedish). You can use the CEFR self-assesment grid to evaluate your level of proficiency in English.

Application guidelines

All applications have to be submitted through the EASY Mobility Online by the deadline March 1st (midnight Finnish time UTC+2). Do not to leave starting the application too close to the deadline: there are steps that you need to follow to be able to confirm the final submission.

• On the starting page, click on Become an applicant and continue to choosing the country and name of your home institution.
• Next, choose your destination: Country = Finland; Institution = University of the Arts Helsinki; Faculty: Sibelius Academy.
• After submitting the registration form, you will receive an email with a link to get access to your application workflow where you will complete the rest of the application.
• You need to answer all questions and add documents, study plan and media file links, and confirm final submission by the deadline March 1st.

We will not accept any applications submitted after the deadline.

Required documents

Before you start your online application, please prepare the following documents:

• Letter of motivation
• Transcript of records and/or a certificate of previous studies

Audition videos or portfolio

Depending on your field of study, you will need to submit specific audition videos or a portfolio:

Classical Music Performance, Jazz, Folk Music, Global Music, Music Education

• Video Recording: Submit 2-3 video recordings of your playing or singing in contrasting styles. The total length should not exceed 20 minutes.
• Submission: Add the video links (YouTube, Vimeo, or Dropbox) to your application in Mobility Online.
• Note: You can add up to 4 individual video links.

Conducting

• Video Recording: Submit 2-3 video recordings of your conducting and playing or singing in contrasting styles. The total length should not exceed 20 minutes.
• Submission: Add the video links (YouTube, Vimeo, or Dropbox) to your application in Mobility Online.
• Note: You can add up to 4 individual video links to your application.

Composition

• Scores: Submit the score of one or two works showing your technical and compositional skills.
• Submission: Upload the scores online (e.g., Dropbox) and add the links to your application in Mobility Online.
• Interview: Be prepared for an online interview.
• Note: You can add up to 4 individual video links to your application.

Music Theory

• Portfolio: Submit a portfolio documenting your music theory work (e.g., analysis exercises). You can also attach a video of yourself playing or singing, but this is optional.
• Submission: Upload your works or portfolio online (e.g., Dropbox) and add the links to your application in Mobility Online.
• Note: You can add up to 4 individual links to your application.
• Interview: Be prepared for an online interview.

Music Technology

• Portfolio: Include a portfolio of your previous works in your application.
• Submission: Upload the works or portfolio online (e.g., Dropbox, Soundcloud) and add the links to your application in Mobility Online.
• Note: You can add up to 4 individual links to your application.

Arts Management, Society, and Creative Entrepreneurship

(Note: No applications for 2025-2026)

• Portfolio: Include a portfolio of your previous works in your application.
• Submission: Upload the portfolio online (e.g., Dropbox) and add the link to your application in Mobility Online.
• Note: You can add up to 4 individual links to your application.
• Interview: Be prepared for an online interview.

A study plan must be included in the application

You must fill in a Study Plan as part of your application in Easy Mobility Online. You can find guidelines for compiling one through the link below. We will not accept applications with an empty Study Plan.

Please note:

• We cannot guarantee 25-30 ECTS per semester.
• You may only have one main subject during exchange.
• If you wish to have a second instrument, you have to state it in the Study Plan – however, we cannot guarantee a second instrument.
• We will not consider applications with an empty Study Plan.

Evaluation and final decisions

Complete applications submitted through the online application system by the deadline will be sent for evaluation to the department in question. The Head of the Department makes the final decision based on the quality of the application and the availability of study places and suitable teachers.

We evaluate the applications in March–April. We will notify both the applicant and the coordinator of the sending institution about the result of the selection procedure in April–May. Accepted students will receive the decision and the Letter of Acceptance through the Easy online application system. The students who are placed on a waiting list, and the students that are not selected, will also be notified through Easy.

Contact

If you have questions about the application process, please send an email to siba.international@uniarts.fi.