The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice was founded in 1929. Located in a beautiful neo-Gothic building the Academy holds a variety of artistic events such as concerts, master classes, workshops, competitions, and conferences both on national and international levels, combined with didactic activities.
The Academy offers full-time as well as part-time BA, MA, post-graduate and doctoral studies adjusted to European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The organizational structure of the Academy consists of two departments: Composition, Interpretation, Education and Jazz Department, and Vocal-Instrumental Department. Studies are offered in many fields: composition, conducting, music theory, eurhythmics, music education, music therapy, jazz interpretation, instrumental and vocal performance.
The school prides on its spectacular Concert Hall for 480 people which meets the latest spatial and acoustic requirements. The building is also the seat of one of the largest music libraries in Poland.Being a member of AEC (Association Européenne des Conservatoire, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen) and other music organizations The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice is very active on national and international arena. This includes co-operation with numerous music schools all over the world including more than 30 partner institutions within LLP-Erasmus Programme.
Since the academic year 2011/2012, the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice has been offering paid studies in given specialties in the English language. Bachelor’s degree programs in the field of instrumental performance last six semesters after the completion of which the bachelor’s degree is awarded. It enables access to master’s programs. Master’s degree programs in the field of instrumental performance last 4 semesters after the completion of which the master’s degree is awarded. It enables access to the third-cycle studies.
If you want to spend a part of your studies in the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice as an exchange student, you should apply through the international coordinator at your home institution. You should contact your international coordinator well in advance as it may take some time to prepare your application. The deadline for applications for both semesters in our school is 30 April of the previous academic year. Until then your local international coordinator should have forwarded your application to us. The application along with the recording is forwarded to the Academy Selection Committee / Head of Department who evaluate it. They decide if the applicant has the sufficient level to be admitted. The result of your application is sent to your international coordinator.
Please be aware that even though you have spoken with a teacher here at the Academy and he/she has expressed interest in accepting you in his/her class it is not certain that we can offer you a study place. It is only when you have an official letter from our Erasmus coordinator offering you a study place that you have been accepted.
European Credit Transfer System has been designed by the European Commission to prepare procedures to guarantee recognition of periods of study abroad. This system allows higher education institutions to recognize students’ achievements by using clear “measures”- credits.
ECTS credits are allocated to course units based on the workload students need to achieve expected learning outcomes. They reflect the workload each course unit requires in comparison with the entire workload a student needs to complete an academic year in a given institution which includes: lectures, practical work, seminars, exams, and other forms of assessment. ECTS credits are a relative, not an absolute measure of the workload required from a student. Within ECTS 60 ECTS credits are attached to the workload of a full-time year of formal learning (academic year) and usually 30 credits – to the workload of a semester. ECTS credits are allocated to course units, and they are granted to students who have met the requirements to complete them. According to the Regulations of the Academy, it is necessary to obtain 30 credits to complete a semester.
The Academy of Music's building where the Concert hall, the Library, and the patio are situated, is completely adjusted to the needs of the physically handicapped. To benefit from the free health care service, foreign citizens studying in Poland have to be insured from illness and accidents or to hold a valid European Health Insurance Card or to be insured in the NFZ (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia - National Fund for Health). Because of the differences in health insurance regulations in the countries of the EU and outside, future students are advised to check those regulations in their homeland, before coming to Poland.
Students of the Academy of Music have the possibility of using practice rooms. Students wishing to do that are supposed to pay a Music Fund charge at the Information Desk (from Monday to Friday) or in the dormitory. The Main Library of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music is the oldest and the largest music library in Upper Silesia. Nowadays, the Library has 140 000 books, scores, magazines, periodicals, discs, and other documents.
The Karol Szymanowski Music Academy in Katowice cooperates with many foreign universities and academies of music. The school is a member of the AEC (Association Européenne des Conservatoirea, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen).The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music cooperates with the School of Polish Language and Culture University of Silesia in Katowice. Within this cooperation, the school offers regular language courses with a discount for our Erasmus students. To learn about details contact our Erasmus coordinator.
