FAQ Popular Music

There are 20 students accepted per year.

Two years, i.e. four semesters.

You can only enrol starting in winter semester.

This is for creative, talented composers, songwriters, lyricists, singers, rappers, DJs, instrumentalists (keyboard, drums, electric guitar, electric bass), music educators and producers from all areas of popular music, from the fringes of avant garde to commercially oriented compositions, e.g. pop, rock, progressive rock, singer/songwriter, country, funk, sould, latin, R&B, hip-hop, drum&bass, trip-hop, reggae, ska, dub, techno, clicks & cuts, ambient, industrial, wave, punk, hardcore, grunge and metal.

No, but you will have to learn a second instrument, either guitar or keyboard, or voice.

No, but you will have to learn an instrument, either guitar or keyboard.

Yes, as long as your grades suffice, your M.A. in Popular Music will entitle you to continue on to a doctorate degree.

Yes, a three month long internship is required.

Periods of study, courses and examinations from other master’s programmes may be recognised by filling out an application after being admitted to the Popular Music programme, as long as you can establish the equivalence of contents, scope and level of demand in relation to those of our programme.

We do not offer a degree in sound engineering

Yes, our Open House day usually takes place in February. The exact date will be posted on our calendar.

Applications are accepted online and will be available starting February 05, 2022.

No.

In place of your graduation diploma, please attach any final grades completed thus far to your application materials. You can deliver your graduation diploma at the time of the entrance exam or upon enrolment.

Several years of musical experience.

Yes, of course! In order to apply, you need to get your (foreign) diploma recognised and show evidence of sufficient German language skills if you did not graduate from a German-speaking school.

For refugees, more information can be found on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst).

German language skills are required for studying at the Popakademie. The following certificates are recognised: DSH-exam from a German university, assessment test from the Studienkolleg, German Language Diploma Level II (Deutsches Sprachdiplom Stufe II), Goethe Institute’s Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS) or Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS), Goethe Institute’s Central Upper Secondary Exam.

The date for the entrance exam for the degree programme Popular Music will be announced under Facts.

The entrance examination consists of a written and a practical examination.

• The written examination includes a music-theoretical analysis of several pieces of music with regard to the melodic course and the harmonic and rhythmic structure. In addition, a sound aesthetic and production technical as well as historical classification should take place. In addition, questions on general music theory must be answered and a statement made on a specific topic of the history and aesthetics of popular music.
• The practical examination consists of a public live prelude with an accompanying band or playback of three tracks for the main focus Educating Artist and Performing Artist and five tracks for the main focus Producing/Composing Artist with a total playing time of 15 minutes (own or third-party compositions in own interpretation; Producing/Composing Artist: also prelude of own productions on CD or laptop possible). In addition, the flexibility of the accompaniment in different styles is checked, and technical and aesthetic questions regarding production are clarified for the Producing/Composing Artist focus. Questions relevant to music as well as questions regarding the written exam, qualification and motivation must be answered in an individual interview.

Unfortunately we are not able to invite all applicants to the entrance examination, which is why there is a pre-selection based on the submitted application documents.

You can take the entrance exam twice.

Unfortunately that is not possible. If an applicant rejects his acceptance, admission will lapse and the candidate concerned will have to go through the selection process again.

The student union fees are currently 85 € per semester.

Yes, as a Popakademie student you are entitled to funding through BAföG.

The Popakademie is a member of the Mannheim Student Union. Since our students pay student union fees, they are entitled to a discounted semester ticket.

The Popakademie does not have its own student dormitories. However, through membership in the Mannheim Student Union, our students can take advantage of its housing referral service. One of the largest student dormitories is located very close to the Popakademie.

Unfortunately it is not possible to attend a lecture as a guest. However, we offer open lectures during our Open House, which is usually in February - this is a good opportunity to see what a lecture is like.