Vienna, Austria - Music Program

at-a-glance:

Founded in 1950, IES Vienna offers a rigorous academic program for semester and academic year students with or without German language training who want to study in a German-speaking country. You can focus your studies on music or other disciplines, taking courses relating to the whole of Europe from the perspective of its center, where the creative tensions in politics, economics, culture, and social traditions between the East and West are most apparent.

academics

The program consists of a selection of offerings in Music History, Music Theory, and Performance Studies, as well access to the IES Area Studies and Language courses in English and German (for those qualified). The Music History and Music Theory courses are open to all students (usually Music majors) with the appropriate prerequisites; Performance studies are available only to those students admitted to the Music Performance Workshop.

IES Vienna encourages Music students with an adequate command of German to enroll at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst (University of Music and Performing Arts), which offers a variety of lecture courses and seminars in Music History, Theory, and Composition. The number of semester credits awarded for these courses is normally two. You should note when university courses start and end when planning your schedule.

Academic Links:

Online Course Catalogue

Vanderbilt Course Evaluation List

University of Vienna

University of Music & Performing Arts Vienna

IES

student life

IES Vienna routinely arranges cultural events and guest lectures for the general student body and for individual courses. Examples of past events include tours to the United Nations, the Freud Museum, "Jewish Vienna," "The Third Man" tour of Vienna's sewers, as well as visits to folk dance performances, concerts, theater performances, and opera.

Students are also encouraged to explore other parts of Austria and Europe, and there are many opportunities for independent travel. The well-organized and user-friendly public transportation system easily allows students to travel throughout the country and to other European destinations. Students are required to attend classes throughout the week and are expected to schedule their independent travel on the weekends and holidays.

housing

Students have the option of living in independent apartments, in apartments shared with an Austrian landlady or landlord, or in residence halls with Austrian students. Two or more IES students normally live together and roommate preferences are accommodated when possible. In the residence halls, students are housed in doubles with a shared bath. There is a kitchen on each floor of the residence hall, which is shared by all students on that floor.

Meals are not included in the program fee and may be prepared by the student at home, or taken at university cafeterias or restaurants.

The commute from IES-assigned housing to the IES Center varies from a short walk to a 45-minute ride using public transportation. Vienna has an excellent public transportation system which facilitates the daily commute to and from the Center.

location

Vienna is a thoroughly modern city where the past and future of Europe converge. Vienna has adopted the best of the new while still preserving its rich culture and history. The waltz and Mozart are still very much alive in this city where film, music, opera, and museums draw hip and sophisticated crowds. The Viennese elevated the coffee house to a cultural institution in Europe and still set the standard. Friends spend hours in the coffee houses, discussing ideas and enjoying pastries first served at the imperial court.

expenses

Program Costs: Semester Costs; Summer Costs

application

Vienna Application