Music and Science, Master of Arts (2 yrs), autumn 2026

Scope of studies

120 ECTS credits

Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens

10 000 €

Scholarship

03000 €

Language of instruction

English

Teaching time

Day time teaching

Planned duration

2 years

Form of teaching

Contact teaching

Education description

Have you ever wondered about music’s role in modern society? Are you interested in learning how music influences our moods and emotions, or why music is so good at bringing people together? If you would like to study these questions at a deeper level, the Master's Degree Programme in Music and Science might be the degree you are looking for. Here, you will develop an understanding of how humans experience and perceive music, and why so many people love it so much. You will become an expert in several areas of music research, well-versed in various technologies used to study this fascinating topic. Our courses will provide you with valuable skills, transferable to a great number of exciting careers within the broader music, arts and culture sector, as well as academia.

The degree (120 ECTS) consists of subject studies (50 ECTS), a thesis (30 ECTS), and elective studies (40 ECTS). The subject courses cover today’s most important and relevant topics within contemporary interdisciplinary music research such as music & emotion, musical creativity, music embodiment, music perception, music and neuroscience, along with the therapeutic and pedagogical dimensions of music. With the thesis, students prioritize one of these areas and carry out an empirical or theoretical project with the aid of an advisor. Elective studies offer students the possibility to create a flexible and personal profile based on individual interests and aspirations. Course work is complemented with opportunities to take part in ongoing research projects and/or apply for internship periods with industry partners. In general, studying on the programme requires full-time attendance. Hope to see you here!

The Master’s Degree Programme in Music and Science offers great flexibility when creating a study plan. The degree structure includes elective study modules (40 ECTS), which can be used to create a study plan that caters to your individual interests and future ambitions. At the beginning of your studies, you’ll devise a personal study plan (HOPS) with the help of a pedagogical mentor. The aim of the plan is to provide a roadmap for your studies and courses, and the plan can be refined and updated as you progress.

The master's degree consists of the following studies:

Advanced studies in music and science, including dissertation and work life studies
Optional study units/modules, e.g., studies from other subjects, communication and language studies and/or other optional studies.

The scope of the master's degree is at least 120 credits.

Please see the study guide for more detailed information: Master's Degree Programme in Music and Science (jyu.fi)

The master’s thesis is worth 30 ECTS. Thesis topics are linked to the department's music research profile, and the thesis can be written in Finnish or English. The thesis project is carried out while attending Master’s Seminars. In the seminar, you develop a research plan and receive feedback from professors and peers. The thesis should be completed by the end of the seminar. Your thesis supervisor provides support and advice throughout the thesis project and seminar.

Before applying, please familiarise yourself with completed master's thesis topics from our former students in Music Therapy; Music, Mind & Technology; and Musicology.

Our alumni go on to work in a range of research, technical, administrative and other senior positions in the music and cultural sectors. Typical employers include festivals, music schools, universities and research units, music libraries, orchestras, organizations, music industry and media. Many of our alumni have gone on to doctoral training, leading to exciting careers in academia.

The University of Jyväskylä offers students excellent opportunities for internationalization. The Department of Music, Art and Culture Studies has students and staff members from many different countries. On our programme, you will be exposed to a bilingual and multicultural working environment. You can develop your language skills by selecting optional language courses and participating in pair programmes coordinated by the Centre for Multilingual Academic Communication (Movi).

Because our studies focus on the role of music in everyday life and society (e.g. through music institutions, concerts and events, hobby activities, various music-related business forms, welfare services and technological applications), the programme’s practical dimensions are relevant to multiple stakeholders and collaborators both nationally and internationally.

Our unit has a unique cooperation within the Finnish Music Campus, which is a development unit for music, dance and applied arts formed by JAMK University of Applied Sciences, the University of Jyväskylä and Jyväskylä Educational Consortium Gradia. This collaboration offers our students versatile opportunities to expand their practical skills in event planning, research and development.

A 1,500 € early bird discount from the first year tuition fee is offered to those who accept their study place within 14 days and pay the annual tuition fee by the deadline. You are not required to pay tuition fees if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland or hold a specific type of residence permit in Finland. For more information, please see: Scholarships and tuition fees (jyu.fi).

Application options

Music and Science, Master of Arts (2 yrs)

Application starts

7.1.2026 08:00

Application ends

21.1.2026 15:00

Application procedure

Joint application

Places of study

Prior education

University Bachelor's degree

University of applied sciences Bachelor's degree

University of applied sciences Master's degree

Foreign Master's degree

Foreign Bachelor's degree

University Master's degree

Admission criteria

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, you must have a suitable higher education degree and demonstrate adequate English proficiency, as described below.

1. A higher education degree that fulfils the following requirements:

As a rule, the degree must give eligibility for master’s-level degree studies in the awarding country. If the degree is significantly less extensive than a Finnish bachelor’s degree (comprising a minimum of 180 ECTS credits and three years of full-time study), it may not provide eligibility. If your degree qualifies you for doctoral-level studies, you should seek admission to a doctoral programme instead.

The higher education institution awarding the degree must be officially recognised in the national education system, i.e., listed as a degree-granting higher education institution by the country where it is located or by a relevant international organisation (such as UNESCO).

Suitable fields for the degree include:

musicology
music education
arts and culture
health and well-being
humanities
information technology
psychology

If the degree is incomplete at the time of application, you may be admitted on a conditional basis. In this case, you must graduate and submit officially certified copies of the final educational documents so that they are received by the University by the specified deadline. The deadline will be posted on the University’s website before the application period begins.

Separate higher education studies that are not part of a completed degree may be taken into account when assessing the compatibility of your previous studies and calculating your admission score. These studies must have been completed at a recognised higher education institution, and an official transcript must be provided.

You cannot be admitted if you currently hold a study right for this master’s programme at the University of Jyväskylä.

2. English proficiency demonstrated in one of the given ways:

Each applicant must demonstrate they possess the necessary English language profiency. Please visit the following web page for further information: How to prove your English skills (jyu.fi)

We do not grant waivers for the language skill requirement. In case you fail to prove your proficiency in one of the pre-given ways, your application will be rejected.

Selection criteria description

These admission criteria are valid for student selections made in 2026. The faculty reserves the right to make changes between application rounds as necessary.

In 2026, the number of available study seats is 15.

Admissions procedure

Online application, required attachments and interview

The application process is divided into two parts: 1) submitting the application and all required attachments, and 2) participating in a non-synchronous video interview.

Please note that if you use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to aid your application, you must indicate which model (e.g., ChatGPT) you have used and in what way through proper citations. Citations are not required if you use AI solely for ideation, proofreading, stylisation or similar purposes.

Claiming AI-generated content as your own without acknowledging it is considered plagiarism. If we detect that a supporting document or assignment has been generated by AI, either wholly or in part, without proper acknowledgement, it will be given zero points.

Phase 1: Application and required attachments

First, you must submit your application on Studyinfo along with the necessary attachments by the given deadlines.

Phase 2: Non-synchronous interview video

You must record and save your video interview in the RecRight system, which is separate from the Studyinfo application portal. You will be invited to take part in the interview in the RecRight system via email. The invitation with further instructions will be sent to you right after the application period ends on 21 January 2026. Please make sure to check your email (including the spam folder) regularly at that time. The deadline by which the video must be recorded and saved in RecRight is 29 January 2026 at 3.00 p.m. (UTC+2). You are responsible for providing yourself with the space, time, and equipment to enable participation in the non-synchronous online interview.

In the RecRight video interview, please articulate your reasons for applying for this programme clearly by answering the following questions:

Describe your previous studies, activities, and commitment in relation to the contents of the master’s programme. (max. 5 minutes)
What is it about this bilingual program that interests you? Why are you motivated to study with us? (max. 5 minutes)
What are your future professional plans? What skills and knowledge do you expect to gain from this programme for your career after graduation? (Max. 5 minutes)

The video interview must be recorded in English.

Eligible applications that include all the compulsory attachments are evaluated according to the criteria explained below. Ineligible applications will not be processed further after they have been found not to meet the eligibility criteria/documentary requirements.

Category	Points
Education background	0–5
Statement of research interest	0–10
Motivation and proven interests in the field	0–15
Total maximum points	30

The evaluation of education background considers overall study performance (0–2 points) and the relevance of the degree(s) (0–3 points) to the Master’s Degree Programme in Music and Science.

The evaluation of the statement of research interest (0–10 points) is based on the guidelines provided in the section “Required attachments”. Emphasis should be placed on creating a clear, well-structured plan that demonstrates a solid understanding of the field and the research framework relevant to the chosen topic.

Motivation to study in the programme should be evident through a strong interest and familiarity in the programme's content (0–5 points), a desire to study in a multinational and bilingual setting, including a commitment to residing in Finland during the programme (0–5 points), and the alignment of future professional goals with the programme's focus (0–5 points).

The Coordination Committee of the master's degree programme will assess the applications as described above.

There is a minimum score limit for each of the evaluation categories. The application must receive at least the minimum required score from each of the assessment categories (previous higher education degree, preliminary research plan and motivation) to be admitted for the programme. If the application does not meet the required score limit in any of the assessment categories, the subsequent categories will not be scored.

The minimum score limits are as follows:

Category	Minimum required points
Education background	4
Statement of research interest	7
Motivation and proven interests in the field	8

Final selection

Applicants will be ranked according to their admission scores, and the highest-scoring applicants, in accordance with the number of available study seats, will be admitted. If two or more applicants are tied for the last study place, all of them will be accepted. The faculty may also, at their discretion, admit more applicants than there are study places to ensure there will be enough students to start their studies in the programme. There are no arrangements for clearing, i.e., unaccepted study seats will not be reallocated.

All applicants will be notified of the results via email by the date given on the University’s website. If your application was rejected, you will be informed of the policy and the deadline for requesting rectification of the admission decision.

More information about the application process

Please see the following website for further information: How to apply? (jyu.fi)

Attachments

The required application attachments are listed below. Some attachments may be optional or apply only to some applicant groups. If a document is not listed below, it will not be considered.

If a mandatory attachment is not submitted following the instructions, your application will be deemed ineligible and not processed further. More detailed instructions will be published on the University’s website before the application period begins. The instructions may change between application rounds, and you must make sure to comply with the requirements for the correct round.

1. Copy of an official transcript of records of a higher education degree

A transcript of records (mark sheet) is a list of courses and study attainments a student has completed at an educational institution.

2. Official translation of the transcript into English, Finnish, or Swedish (if needed)

If the official transcript of records is issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, an official translation into one of these languages is required in addition to the original language version.

3. Copy of a degree certificate of a higher education degree

If the degree used for proving your eligibility is unfinished at the time of application, a degree certificate is not required in the application phase.

4. Official translation of the degree certificate into English, Finnish, or Swedish (if needed)

If the degree certificate is issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, an official translation into one of these languages is required in addition to the original language version.

5. Proof of English language proficiency

The required document is either a language test certificate or an educational document, depending on how you prove your language skills. See Eligibility for the approved methods.

If an educational document is issued in a language other than English, Finnish, or Swedish, an official translation into one of these languages is required in addition to the original language version.

6. Copy of a valid passport (if needed)

A copy of the identification pages of a valid passport with your (the applicant’s) name, date of birth, and nationality. If you do not hold a valid passport, another official identification document (such as a personal identity card or driving licence) stating the same information is accepted. If you are a Finnish citizen, this document is not required, since your nationality can be verified from a national database.

7. Copy of a residence permit card (if applicable)

A copy of both sides of the residence permit card. The document is required only if you, the applicant, hold one of the following: a valid residence permit in Finland of type A (that is not based on studies), P, P-EU, EU Blue Card, or a certificate of the permanent right of residence of a UK citizen in Finland, or residence card for a family member of an EU or UK citizen residing in Finland.

8. Curriculum vitae (CV)

A CV is a document that provides information about the applicant's educational and work history, skills, and competencies. The CV must be written in English.

9. Motivation letter

Clearly articulate your reasons for applying for this programme by answering the following questions:

Describe your previous studies, activities, and commitment in relation to the contents of the master’s programme.
Describe why you are applying specifically for this programme, and what about its focus and contents motivates and interests you.
What are your future professional plans? What skills and knowledge do you expect to gain from this programme for your career after graduation?

The maximum length of the motivation letter is two pages (A4 size) using Times New Roman font size 12 pt and line spacing 1.5. The motivation letter must be written in English.

10. A statement of research interests

Write a statement of research interest describing what kind of research you would like to conduct in the field(s) related to the MuSci programme. Connect your statement to your personal experience and support it with relevant research literature. Please remember that we are not looking for generic or AI-generated text. Rather, we are interested in your own voice and your critical perspective on the topic. The statement can address questions such as: Why is this research area and topic important? How would you study the topic? What kinds of skills do you think you would need in conducting research in this area? The document must include a reference list (maximum five references) if citing published sources.

The maximum length of the statement of research is two pages (A4 size) using Times New Roman font size 12 pt and line spacing 1.5. The statement must be written in English.

Attachment is uploaded on the application form

Must be submitted by
Jan. 28, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC+2

Have you also considered these alternatives?

Development, Education and International Cooperation, Master of Social Sciences or Master of Arts (Education) (2 yrs), autumn 2026

University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

120 ECTS credits

Game Studies, Master of Arts (2 yrs), autumn 2026

University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

120 ECTS credits

Language, Globalization and Intercultural Communication, Master of Arts (2 yrs), autumn 2026

University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

120 ECTS credits

Music and Science, Master of Arts (2 yrs), autumn 2026

Education description

Learning Outcomes

Specialisations

Structure of studies

Thesis

Career opportunities

Internationalisation

Co-operation with other parties

Research focus

Scholarship

Tuition fees

Contact persons

Application options

Music and Science, Master of Arts (2 yrs)

Sign up for our newsletter

Development, Education and International Cooperation, Master of Social Sciences or Master of Arts (Education) (2 yrs), autumn 2026

Game Studies, Master of Arts (2 yrs), autumn 2026

Language, Globalization and Intercultural Communication, Master of Arts (2 yrs), autumn 2026