Vocal arts, bachelor and master
The leading degree programme in its field gives you the professional skills needed to work in demanding soloist roles and as a professional vocal teacher.
Why study here?
Study at one of the best performing arts universities in the world. Through your studies, you will gain professional level competence in vocal skills, artistic capability, and musical understanding. Music and drama studies are part of the education at all levels. You will also regularly have the chance to participate in master classes taught by international guest teachers.
Content and objective of the programme
As a bachelor’s student, you will study not only singing but also piano, vocal chamber music, expression techniques, music theory, aural skills and music history, as well as pedagogy and languages.
As a master’s student, you will acquire the extensive professional competence of a vocal artist in the main areas of classical vocal music. Depending on your interests, you can specialise either in voice pedagogy, oratorio music or lied and vocal chamber music. You can choose minor subjects and optional studies from the selection at the Sibelius Academy or Uniarts Helsinki’s other academies. You will also complete studies in career skills that will give you practical training in building your portfolio, finding employment and getting started on your career.
You can also choose to complete the required amount of pedagogical studies to fulfil the requirements to work as a teacher. Through your voice pedagogy studies, you will gain theoretical and practical insight into vocal lessons, vocal coaching methods, and vocal physiology. During teaching practice, you will get the chance to teach practice pupils under the supervision of a teacher. You will develop your pedagogical vision by observing classes and working on your teaching portfolio.
The entrance examination will assess applicants’ educability and suitability for the profession. An important criterion is the quality of the applicant’s voice and suitability for a career as a performing artist. Applicants must also have a sufficient command of Finnish, Swedish or English. After completing the master’s programme in vocal arts, you can pursue artistic doctoral studies.
You can also choose courses organised by the two other Uniarts Helsinki academies and complete joint studies that are available for all students.
Teachers
Our teachers are some of the best experts in their respective fields. In addition to the permanent teaching staff, the programme welcomes top international experts as guests on a regular basis.
Many of our teachers are also renowned performing artists. Over the years, our staff have included, for example, Soile Isokoski, Tom Krause, Karita Mattila, Monica Groop, Jorma Hynninen, Petteri Salomaa, Seppo Ruohonen and Jaakko Ryhänen.
Professors
-
Petteri Salomaa
- Professor, vocal music, Vocal music, Sibelius Academy
- +358405004828
- petteri.salomaa@uniarts.fi
Doctoral studies
You can complete a licentiate and a doctoral degree at Uniarts Helsinki as a third-cycle degree. After graduating with a master’s degree, you can apply for doctoral studies in music and specialise in research-oriented, artistic or applied doctoral studies.
Related news
Target degree and length of study
Master of Music (MMus)
5,5 years
Application period
Next possible time to apply is in January 2025. Studies begin in August 2025.
Application languages
English, Finnish, Swedish
Read more about the language skill requirements
Tuition fee
From August 2025, the annual tuition fee is € 12,000 for students who are studying in English and come from outside the EU and EEA countries.
Supervising teacher
-
Tero Valtonen
Lecturer, opera coaching and collaborative piano, Vocal music, Sibelius Academy+358503364919tero.valtonen@uniarts.fi -
Petteri Salomaa
Professor, vocal music, Vocal music, Sibelius Academy+358405004828petteri.salomaa@uniarts.fi
Unit
Sibelius Academy
Ask about applying
Why study here?
Study at one of the best performing arts universities in the world. Through your studies, you will gain professional level competence in vocal skills, artistic capability, and musical understanding. Music and drama studies are part of the education at all levels. You will also regularly have the chance to participate in master classes taught by international guest teachers.
Content and objective of the programme
As a bachelor’s student, you will study not only singing but also piano, vocal chamber music, expression techniques, music theory, aural skills and music history, as well as pedagogy and languages.
As a master’s student, you will acquire the extensive professional competence of a vocal artist in the main areas of classical vocal music. Depending on your interests, you can specialise either in voice pedagogy, oratorio music or lied and vocal chamber music. You can choose minor subjects and optional studies from the selection at the Sibelius Academy or Uniarts Helsinki’s other academies. You will also complete studies in career skills that will give you practical training in building your portfolio, finding employment and getting started on your career.
You can also choose to complete the required amount of pedagogical studies to fulfil the requirements to work as a teacher. Through your voice pedagogy studies, you will gain theoretical and practical insight into vocal lessons, vocal coaching methods, and vocal physiology. During teaching practice, you will get the chance to teach practice pupils under the supervision of a teacher. You will develop your pedagogical vision by observing classes and working on your teaching portfolio.
The entrance examination will assess applicants’ educability and suitability for the profession. An important criterion is the quality of the applicant’s voice and suitability for a career as a performing artist. Applicants must also have a sufficient command of Finnish, Swedish or English. After completing the master’s programme in vocal arts, you can pursue artistic doctoral studies.
You can also choose courses organised by the two other Uniarts Helsinki academies and complete joint studies that are available for all students.
Teachers
Our teachers are some of the best experts in their respective fields. In addition to the permanent teaching staff, the programme welcomes top international experts as guests on a regular basis.
Many of our teachers are also renowned performing artists. Over the years, our staff have included, for example, Soile Isokoski, Tom Krause, Karita Mattila, Monica Groop, Jorma Hynninen, Petteri Salomaa, Seppo Ruohonen and Jaakko Ryhänen.
Professors
-
Petteri Salomaa
- Professor, vocal music, Vocal music, Sibelius Academy
- +358405004828
- petteri.salomaa@uniarts.fi
Doctoral studies
You can complete a licentiate and a doctoral degree at Uniarts Helsinki as a third-cycle degree. After graduating with a master’s degree, you can apply for doctoral studies in music and specialise in research-oriented, artistic or applied doctoral studies.