Exchange to Fine Art, Music and Design
You are welcome to apply for exchange to the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design (KMD), and most study programmes are open for incoming exchange students. Below you'll find more information about exchange opportunities, the application process and study plans.
Main content
Who can apply for exchange to the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design?
As a general rule courses at KMD have restrictions and require prerequisites, they are therefore not announced as open courses. Most courses are only available for students from institutions with whom we have an exchange agreement in the field of Fine Art, Music or Design. Before you apply we recommend to check with your home institution if there's an exchange agreement within the field of your interest.
There are some exceptions for Musicology, and you'll find an overview of all open courses offered by UiB in this course list.
Please note: a nomination from your home university is no guarantee for admission, as the number of applications is usually higher than the number of available spaces. An offer is made based on the quality of your application (including portfolio/audition material and motivation letter), available studio spaces and tutorial resources.
Language proficiency requirements: we expect that you have sufficient fluency in English, but we do not require a language certificate.
Fine Art
Study options
Studies at the Art Academy – Department of Contemporary Art have an interdisciplinary structure. Core teaching is based on developing your individual art practice, supported by tutoring and elective courses.
The 3 years' Bachelor programme in Fine Art opens for exchanges in the 3rd and 4th semesters (2nd sudy year). When selecting this option in the UiB Application Web, please enter 'ARTBA / BA Fine Art'.
The 2 years' Master programme in Fine Art opens for exchanges only in the 2nd semester (spring semester 1st study year). When selecting this option in the UiB Application Web, please enter 'ARTMA / MA Fine Art'.
Main tutor and courses
If you are accepted as an exchange student, a main tutor will be appointed for you. At the beginning of the semester (August/January), you and your main tutor will set up an individual semester plan for your art practice while studying at KMD.
We recommend you get familiar with the structure of the study programme:
BA Fine Art: Bachelor's Programme in Fine Art - Subject Structure | Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design | UiB
MA Fine Art: Master's Programme in Fine Art - Subject Structure | Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design | UiB
In case of admission, you will receive more information on how to sign up for courses.
ECTS credits and assessment
Your academic performance is assessed as either pass or fail, and the assessment system does not include a grading scale.
How to apply
Follow the general UiB step-by-step guide on How to apply for exchange:
- Step 1 and 2: Exactly like the step-by-step guide.
- Step 3:
- Follow the instructions, and when choosing courses you should select 'ARTBA / BA Fine Art' or 'ARTMA / MA Fine Art' (please select only one).
- Step 4: Upload the documents listed and remember the additional documents required for Fine Art and Design students. Your motivation letter should reflect your main focus area and fields of interest, and master level applicants are expected to define their own independent artistic project in the motivation letter.
- Step 5 and 6: Exactly like the step-by-step guide.
Music
Music Performance/Composition
How to apply
- Please submit your application in EASY Mobility Online by 1 March.
- In late March or April, we will ask students who are offered admission or on the waiting list to register in UiB's application system as well, under the course option GRIEG / Music Performance/Composition. All the information you need for this will be sent by email.
Music Performance
Applicants must prepare a video recording of themselves playing a representative repertoire for their instrument, approx. 20 minutes in total. The recording should be uploaded in YouTube or similar service. A functional and open (not set to private!) link to the recording must be provided in the application form.
Composition
Applicants must submit scores (approx. 20 minutes) available via WeTransfer or similar service. At least some of the scores must also be presented with an audio/video recording. A functional and open link to the recording must be provided in the application form.
Courses for BA level students staying for one semester only:
MUINT201 Principal Study for Exchange Students – 15 ECTS (main instrument, accompaniment, ensemble and orchestra)
MUINT202 Project Work for Exchange Students – 15 ECTS (activities from elective modules)
Courses for BA level students staying for one academic year:
MUV230/MUV232/MUV234 Main Instrument Classical/Jazz/Composition - 30 ECTS
and elective modules - 30 ECTS
Your individual study plan will be set up in consultation with the student adviser.
An overview of elective modules is found in the study plan: https://www.uib.no/studier/BAHF-MUS/plan#tilr-dde-valemne
The following modules are recommended:
MUF202 Improvisation – 10 ECTS
MUF203 Folk Music Performance – 10 ECTS
MUV214 Ensemble/Chamber music 1 – 10 ECTS
MUV227 Second instrument A (audition can be required) 10 ECTS
MUV246 Early Music, Ensemble I – 10 ECTS
MUV251 Project work 1 – 10 ECTS
Courses for MA level students:
MUV301 – Project Work I (autumn) - 15 ECTS
MUV302 – Project Work II (spring) - 15 ECTS
MUV310 – Concert Performance I (autumn) - 15 ECTS
MUV311 – Concert Performance II (spring) - 15 ECTS
Musicology
Study options
Courses in Musicology for exchange students are listed in the course list under the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design.
You are also welcome to apply for open courses at other faculties (if this is ok by your home institution).
How to apply
Follow the instructions on How to apply for exchange.
Design
Study options
At the Department of Design you can follow courses on bachelor or master level, and exchange applicants can select between the following fields:
- DESBA01 / Design BA level, Visual Communication
- DESBA02 / Design BA level, Furniture and Spatial Design
- DESMA01 / Design MA level, Visual Communication
- DESMA02 / Design MA level, Furniture and Spatial Design
When applying for exchange through the UiB Application Web applicants should select only one field of study/study level.
Please note: the Bachelor programme in Design accepts incoming exchange students in the spring semester only (4th semester).
Courses
In case of admission the study administration will assist you in setting up a study plan upon arrival.
We recommend you get familiar with the structure of the study programme:
BA Design: Structure of Bachelor's Programme in Design | University of Bergen (uib.no)
MA Design: Structure of Design, Master's, 2 years | University of Bergen (uib.no)
ECTS credits and assessment
Your academic performance is assessed as either pass or fail, and the assessment system does not include a grading scale.
How to apply
Follow the general UiB step-by-step guide on How to apply for exchange:
- Step 1 and 2: Exactly like the step-by-step guide.
- Step 3:
- Follow the instructions, but instead of choosing courses you choose your discipline (see list of study options above) - you should choose only one.
- Step 4: Upload the documents listed and remember the additional documents required for Fine Art and Design students.
- Step 5 and 6: Exactly like the step-by-step guide.
Please note: Master level applicants are expected define their own independent artistic project in the motivation letter. The project description should not exceed 2 pages, and should explain:
- the topic and area that the design project aims to explore
- your motivation for executing the project and the societal relevance of the project
- the objectives and main questions of the project
- how you intend to carry out and present the project
