Structure of the study programmes at RDAM
The Academy offers a three-year Bachelor study programme and a two-year Master's programme in which you can specialise and focus on a particular area. Several optional modules are integrated into the programmes, giving students the opportunity to organise their studies in an individual and flexible manner.
After concluding a Master's programme, students may seek admission to the advanced postgraduate programmes, which normally take two years and conclude with a public debut concert. You can also pursue studies at the Opera Academy.
| Three years | Bachelor's programme (BMus) |
| Two years | Master's programme (MMus) |
| Two-four years | Advanced postgraduate (soloist) programme |
The Academy also offers continuing education.
Organisation of the tuition
The tuition is organised as a combination of timetabled weeks and non-timetabled weeks, the latter typically utilised for special orchestral projects or interdisciplinary projects and courses. Teaching is provided both individually, in classes, and in the form of projects.
The academic year at the Academy
The academic year starts in late August and lasts until late May when the summer examinations begin. Summer examinations lasts until late June. The academic year is divided up into 2 semesters: the first from August to December and the other from January to June.
Programmes approved for state education grants
All of the full-time study programmes at the Academy are approved for state education grants. You can apply for a grant, and read about the conditions for receiving grants and loans, at the website of the Danish Education Support Agency: www.su.dk.
The bachelor programme is the fundamental element in an academy education.
Duration of the programme
The Bachelor programme takes three years, and qualifies the student for access to the two-year Master's programme. The Academy provides courses in a wide range of principal studies. You can read more about the study milieus.
Teaching at Bachelor level
You will receive tuition in your principal study and a number of supplementary subjects.
All students receive training in teaching skills, elementary music teaching, educational theory, communication and principal study-specific didactics.
Most Bachelor students attend courses in a number of general subjects: music theory, aural studies, history of music and piano.
Vocationally-oriented teaching
The academy offers special vocationally programmes throughout the study providing you with career guidance and instruction in basic professional skills: IT, basic copyright law, marketing and press management.
Duration of the programme
The Master's programmes takes two years, and we offer tuition in a wide range of principal studies.
Acquire important skills
You will become qualified to create, communicate, teach and work on an independent basis. As a student, you will create your own personal profile through the freedom of choice offered by the study programme, and the concluding Master's project will allow you to produce your own project.
Teaching at Master's level
The Master's programme is designed to cultivate your special talents. The core of the study is the principal study tuition, which will provide you with artistic and didactic skills at a high level. The tuition is often a combination of individual instruction, classes and project work. Participating in masterclasses with international guest teachers will obtain an important supplement to your normal tuition.
Duration of the programme
The advanced postgraduate diploma programme takes two years. In the case of orchestral conducting, however, the programme takes three to four years.
What can you apply for?
You can apply for admission for an instrumental or vocalist principal study or as composer or orchestra conductor. Pianists can also choose to specialise in chamber music, coaching, or accompaniment.
Tuition at advanced postgraduate diploma level
As an advanced postgraduate diploma student, your primary tuition, will be in your principal study. You will also receive tuition in, e.g. entrepreneurship, and you are expected to participate in the many projects organised by the Academy.
The development of your special talent is the key element in your studies, and the goal is to achieve artistic qualifications at the highest level. Masterclasses with Danish and foreign guest teachers will bring an international perspective to your artistic development.
As an advanced postgraduate diploma student, you can choose between three different specialisations (this does not apply to orchestral conducting).
- Soloist Performer. Here you focus on developing your individual musical talent to the highest level.
- Soloist Artistic Research. Here you focus on developing your individual musical talent to the highest level, and you immerse yourself in an artistic research project.
- Soloist with teaching qualifications (advanced level). Here you focus on developing your individual musical talent to the highest level. You receive tuition in pedagogy at the highest level and associated supervised teaching at the bachelor and MGK levels.
Debut concert
As a student of the advanced postgraduate diploma programme, your only examination will usually be the concluding public debut concert. As a debutant from the advanced postgraduate diploma programme, you must live up to the professional requirements imposed by the labour market.
What is a diploma?
The diploma is the official document proving that you have completed your degree. Depending on when the diploma is issued, it may have various designs and content. Your diploma will usually include a diploma certificate in Danish, a diploma certificate in English and a diploma supplement. Only one original certificate is issued. The Royal Danish Academy of Music keeps a copy of your original diploma according to the regulations in the Danish law.
Translation of diploma
If you need to have your old diploma translated in connection with eg job applications abroad, we recommend that you have it translated and confirmed by an authorized translator. The Conservatory cannot be of assistance with this task.
Translation of other documents
The Royal Danish Academy of Music does not keep previous editions of educational schemes, curricula, course descriptions and the like translated to English. The Conservatory cannot be of assistance with translating documents. We can help to find materials to a certain extent in the original language, ie. Danish. You need to make a translation yourself. If you have material translated by an authorized translator, we can assist with confirmation that the translation corresponds to the Danish document. Please note that you should expect several days of case processing time on this.
Conversion of previous education
Courses passed before the transition to bachelor and master programmes do not include ECTS points. The Academy does not have the opportunity to convert subjects, classes or previous study structures into ECTS points.
Lost diploma
If you lose your proof, you will not be issued a new proof. However, if your proof is in the Academy’s archive, you can get a verified copy. Please note that you should expect several days of case processing time on this.
When will a new diploma be issued?
In a few cases, it will be possible to obtain a new diploma. In all cases, the original diploma must be returned to the Academy.
1. In connection with an examination complaint: If, after you have obtained a diploma and within the time limit for complaining, you have complained about your assessment and are successful in the complaint, you may be offered a re-examination. If you accept this offer, you must submit your diploma and when the new assessment is available, a new certificate will be issued to you.
2. Exam cheating: If cheating is detected in connection with an exam and the diploma has been issued, the result of the exam is canceled and then the diploma is revoked. No new diploma will be issued until the original is returned and the test is passed.
3. Errors: If administrative errors occur, a new diploma may be issued. This can be done, for example be if a credit transfer subject is entered incorrectly. Documentation may be required in this regard.