The Master’s is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time international degree focused on composing music for screen. It supports artistic development and builds the creative, technical, and conceptual skills needed for composing in film, TV, games, and online media.
Students refine their musical voice while developing collaborative skills through international partnerships with film schools and large-scale recording sessions with internationally renowned professional scoring orchestras. The flexible, interdisciplinary structure encourages professional-level engagement and artistic independence.
A key feature is the option to pursue a personal artistic focus, introduced during admission and developed in lessons and projects, with a dedicated budget for custom workshops. This topic forms the basis of the Master’s Thesis, supported by academic guidance.
Students without a specific focus follow a clear curriculum, including established collaborative projects. The programme combines core lessons, elective workshops, expert feedback, and culminates in a final exam project and thesis. Balancing structure with personal direction, it offers a distinct and progressive model within Germany’s academic landscape.
The Master’s programme in Screen Composition combines artistic excellence, technical proficiency, and hands-on project work at an international level — offering a profile that is unparalleled in the European academic landscape.
A defining element of this programme is the formal collaboration with Master’s film students from the Loyola Marymount University (LMU) School of Film and Television in Los Angeles. This transatlantic partnership enables real-world scoring projects in close dialogue with emerging filmmakers — a unique opportunity for creative exchange and international network building.
In addition, the programme includes established collaborations with several leading film schools in Cologne: the ifs internationale filmschule köln, Macromedia Film School, the Academy of Media Arts Cologne (KHM), and the film department of SAE Cologne. Students compose for actual student film productions and gain valuable practical experience in interdisciplinary teamwork, laying a strong foundation for future professional networks in the media industry.
Another highlight of the programme is the large-scale orchestral recording session with the internationally renowned ensemble Four For Music in Sofia, Bulgaria. Specialised in soundtracks for high-profile international film, TV, and game productions, the orchestra provides students with professional recordings of their works and first-hand insight into high-end production workflows.
A distinctive aspect of the programme is the opportunity to pursue a self-defined artistic focus, introduced during the admissions process and developed throughout the course via project modules and a personal workshop budget. This focus can also form the basis for the optional Master’s Thesis, which is supported by academic supervision.
The programme is available in both full-time and part-time formats, making it one of the most flexible options on the market — ideal for working professionals or internationally active composers. With its unique blend of personal development, international partnerships, and professional-level practice, this Master’s programme sets new standards in screen music education across Europe.
Program start
Sep. 2026
Program End:
Aug. 2027
Program duration:
2 semesters, 60 ECTS (full time study)
4 semesters, 60 ECTS (part time study)
Lesson type:
One-on-one lessons
Project work
Recordings sessions with orchestra
Master classes
Prerequisites:
See: Admissions Master of Music Composition for Film Games and Media
Maximum number of participants:
Eight per year
Instructors:
Various
Course fees:
€ 759,- per month for students with residence within the EU
€9000,- per year for students with residence outside the EU
Degree:
Master of Music (M.Mus)
Admissions criteria:
- Completion of a “Bachelor of Arts” or “Bachelor of Music” degree.
- Successful passing of the entrance examination.
- Proof of sufficient English language proficiency by presenting a passed TOEFL B2 or IELTS 5.5 test.
Admissions exam:
The applicant presents their musical works to an examination committee and demonstrates their compositional and production skills.
At least four different musical works must be submitted, one of which must include a score for a film with more than five minutes of music.
Participation in the preparatory course “Advanced Film Scoring and Production” is highly recommended for preparing for the master’s program.
