The Conservatory Exchange Program expands opportunities for students by creating enriching study abroad opportunities between the Eastman School of Music and leading international music conservatories. A semester or year abroad offers the chance to improve language skills, appreciate a different culture, find a unique educational experience, learn about national performing styles, complete important research, and/or seek career opportunities.
Conservatory Exchange Partners
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Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing, China)
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China Conservatory of Music (Beijing, China)
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Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse de Paris (Paris, France)
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Hochschule fĂĽr Musik (Freiburg, Germany)
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Hochschule fĂĽr Musik (WĂĽrzburg, Germany)
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Mahidol College of Music (Bangkok, Thailand)
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Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham, England)
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Royal Danish Academy of Music (Copenhagen, Denmark)
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Royal College of Music (London, England)
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Sibelius Academy (Helsinki, Finland)
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Univertität für Musik und darstellende Kunst (Vienna, Austria)
Application Process for Incoming Exchange Students
International students are only eligible to apply for study at the Eastman School of Music through the Conservatory Exchange Program if they are enrolled at one of our partner institutions. Students may apply for an exchange period of one or two academic semesters in in one of the areas of study listed below. If you are an international student who is not enrolled at one of our partner institutions but is interested in an exchange, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@esm.rochester.edu.
Applicants are responsible for submitting complete applications. Applications that are incomplete cannot be processed. Application fees are non-refundable, and application materials will not be returned. The Eastman School of Music reserves the right to rescind admission to any applicant whose file documentation is found to be insufficient and/or incomplete.
If you encounter questions or problems with your application, please contact the Eastman Office of Admissions at admissions@esm.rochester.edu
Choose your Area of Study
Students applying as incoming exchange students will be asked to choose from one of the areas study listed below. Please note, some areas of study are only available for graduate level study. All students at the undergraduate level are required to take lessons on an instrument or voice during their exchange. Finally, those applying for incoming exchange will be asked to identify the professor with whom they would like to study during their time at Eastman. There is no guarantee that it will be possible for students to study with a preferred professor at Eastman, but this information will be taken into consideration. Learn more about our faculty here.
Composition
Available for Undergraduate and Graduate Level Study.
Focuses on developing the craft of the manipulation of musical materials through a thorough understanding of contemporary harmonic, melodic, rhythmic, contrapuntal, and timbral elements. Undergraduates studying in the area of composition must take required lessons on an instrument or voice in faculty studios and participate in student ensembles.
Contemporary Media & Film Scoring
Available for Graduate Level Study Only.
Prepares students for increasingly evolving opportunities to write, produce, and perform music for film and contemporary media. Study includes variety of courses in acoustic and computer score production, film scoring techniques, counterpoint, orchestration, conducting, arranging for the recording studio, and more.
Early Music - Historical Instruments
Available for Graduate Level Study Only.
Study includes Collegium Musicum and Baroque Chamber Music ensembles—as well as support courses such as baroque performance practice, continuo realization, lute literature and pedagogy, harpsichord performance and literature, and numerous theory and musicology courses.
Jazz Composition
Available for Undergraduate and Graduate Level Study.
Study is designed for students seeking careers in jazz composition. Students partake in a broad range of composing and arranging experiences. Undergraduate composition applicants must audition on and maintain proficiency on one of the jazz performance instrument options listed in the “Jazz Performance” section below.
Jazz Performance
Available for Undergraduate and Graduate Level Study.
Study includes participation in small combos and large jazz ensembles, as well as coursework in jazz history, classical theory and jazz theory. Performance study is offered on the following instruments: trumpet, saxophone, trombone, piano, guitar, double bass, drum set, and voice.
Music Theory
Available for Undergraduate and Graduate Level Study.
Study includes analysis, style composition, improvisation, and music making. Graduate students engage in advanced study with a world-class faculty to develop original research and innovative teaching. Undergraduates pursuing music theory study must take required lessons on an instrument or voice in faculty studios and participate in student ensembles.
Musicology
Available for Graduate Level Study Only.
Study includes creatively designed courses that explore the intricacies of musical meaning and aesthetics in widely divergent historical, cultural, and geographical settings. Students receive broad training in a range of musical traditions and critical methodologies.
Performance (classical performance)
Available for Undergraduate and Graduate Level Study.
Performance-intensive study that is designed for students who are seriously considering futures as professional performers: soloists, opera and concert vocalists, orchestral and band musicians, conductors, chamber musicians, recording artists and studio musicians, church musicians, studio teachers, and other professions in the music business.
Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music
Available for Graduate Level Study Only.
Students are prepared with an intensive study of instrumental and vocal repertoire, enhanced by a rigorous academic education emphasizing the study of foreign language, music history, and music theory. Study is dedicated to the pursuit of artistic, pianistic, and collaborative excellence, offering a uniquely comprehensive training for future professional collaborative pianists.
Upload the Required Application Materials
In addition to some brief biographical information, students interested in being considered for conservatory exchange at Eastman will be asked to submit the following materials by the application deadline:
- Academic Transcript(s) or Record of Study: This can be a PDF that your school provides, or a document you have scanned yourself. Scanned transcripts must be clear and legible. If your transcript is not in English, you must also provide a certified English translation.
- English Proficiency Requirements: All international students whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency by submitting a Non-native English Essay and an official English proficiency test score that meets the minimum requirements listed below. Students can choose from among the following test options: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home edition, Duolingo, or IELTS.
Minimum Score Guidelines:
TOEFL iBT: 83 iBT
Duolingo English Test:Â 115
IELTS: 6.5
Please note: Your score should be no more than two years old and must be sent directly to Eastman by the test agency. Eastman’s school code for TOEFL is 2224.
The Non-native English Essay is a one page essay that should tell us about your experience with the English language, including any formal study in English, any time spent in an English-speaking environment, and your comfort level speaking and writing English. Do not use translation from your native language or the services of a translator.
- Personal Statement: 1-2 pages discussing how the exchange will help with the student’s future educational and career plans
- Two (2) Recommendation Letters: One letter must be from the conservatory exchange representative at the student’s home institution.
- Portfolio- Performance Materials: Those interested in performance programs must upload digital video recordings of three works of contrasting styles. These recordings can be uploaded as individual files within the portfolio section and should total no more than 30 minutes of content. All undergraduate exchange applicants in non-performance areas of study must upload at least one video or audio recording on an instrument/voice as all undergraduate students at Eastman are required to study a primary instrument/voice.
- Portfolio- PDFs of Scores and/or Scholarly Papers: Non-performance applicants should upload samples of written work and/or artistic output such as scores, academic or research papers, or other pertinent materials.
Decisions and Response Deadlines
A review of materials will occur after the application deadline of March 15th. Each applicant for conservatory exchange at Eastman will be reviewed thoroughly by an admissions committee, resulting in a notification of decision that will be sent out by May 15th. Conservatory exchange students who have been offered admission are kindly asked to reply no later than 2 weeks after the date listed on their acceptance letter to let us know whether or not they will attend.
Application Process for Outgoing Exchange (Current Eastman Students)
The Conservatory Exchange Program expands opportunities for Eastman students by creating student exchanges with leading International music conservatories. A semester or year abroad offers the chance to improve language skills, appreciate a different culture, find a unique educational experience, learn about national performing styles, complete important research, and/or seek career opportunities. Eastman students participating in an exchange pay tuition and receive financial aid through Eastman, and receive tuition-free study at a cooperating conservatory. Living and travel expenses, as well as other costs and/or fees, are borne by the student. Student can opt to continue with the university’s health insurance option, if they choose.
Undergraduate students who may be interested in a year or semester abroad are urged to plan their course schedule several semesters into the future in order to fit study abroad into their curriculum. Ideally, students will study abroad during their junior year. Master’s or doctoral students may use the exchange program to extend their degree studies by a semester or a year, as they are required to complete the minimum number of semesters in residence at Eastman.
All applications to partner institutions will open by the first week of January and are due by March 1st. Students are encouraged to begin their application process at least six weeks in advance of this deadline.
If you are a current Eastman student and have questions about outgoing conservatory exchange, please contact the Eastman Office of Academic Affairs academicaffairs@esm.rochester.edu
Step 1: Learn about Program Options
Browse University of Rochester’s Center for Education Abroad Program Discovery Page for information about available schools/programs. In the results, all Eastman Conservatory Exchange programs will be listed with the prefix “ESM” followed by the name of the school. Questions or issues with this online search tool can be directed to academicaffairs@esm.rochester.edu.
Step 2: Meet with Academic AffairsÂ
Once you have identified a program of interest, email academicaffairs@esm.rochester.edu to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor to discuss the possibility of conservatory exchange. During this meeting you will discuss academic planning for a potential exchange semester and how this would fit with your complete program of study. An academic advisor will also confirm your eligibility for study abroad and determine if your plan to pursue conservatory exchange can be approved.
Step 3: Apply to Potential Host Institution
Once your conservatory exchange plans are approved with the Office of Academic Affairs, you will receive a link via email to apply to your host institution. All applications to partner institutions are due by March 1st. Students are encouraged to begin their application process at least six weeks in advance of this deadline.
Requirements can vary slightly depending on the partner intuition, however, most application will require the following:
- Application form with personal statement
- Letter of recommendation (studio teacher)
- Letter of recommendation (foreign language evaluation)
- Transcripts – Make a request via the ESM Registrar’s Office (registrar@esm.rochester.edu). State that it’s for a Conservatory Exchange application.
- Recording – Provide the URL to an audio or video recording for review. The link can be to a private YouTube or Vimeo video, a Dropbox file, or through any other standard file-sharing service. The recording should be no more than 10 minutes in length and include at least two contrasting musical selections.
Please note: Final approval remains with the host institution and may be dependent upon having a vacancy in that particular instrument or studio. Note that the final decision may not be reached until late spring, or even after Eastman has completed the spring semester, as it relies on the admission season at the host school.  Our conservatory exchange agreement calls for a one-for-one student exchange, so if the host institution has no student to send to Eastman, they may choose not to accept an Eastman student that year.
Step 4: Submit Information to Education Abroad
Once you have been approved for study at the host partner institution, please inform the Office of Academic Affairs. They will send you a link via email to submit your paperwork to University of Rochester’s Center for Education Abroad. Paperwork and documentation will include pertinent information for those studying abroad, required acknowledgements and waivers, and a profile of documents that is required by the University of Rochester for studying abroad.
Additional Opportunities to Study Abroad
Eastman students also have the option of participating in programs offered by the University of Rochester’s Study Abroad Office, although these programs are not always directly relevant to a musical education. IES (the Institute for the International Education of Students, www.iesabroad.org) offers music-based study programs in London, Milan, Paris, and Vienna. The Milan program in particular offers instruction at several conservatories, including the Accademia Musical G. Marziale, the Civica Scuola di Musica, and the Conservatorio G. Verdi.  IES also offers opportunities for non-musical study in additional locations. Application to IES programs is made directly to IES (an independent organization) or the University of Rochester’s Study Abroad office, with support from Eastman in securing the best possible teacher.