MA Course in Kodály Music Pedagogy
The 2-year MA Course in Kodály Music Pedagogy is the Institute's flagship programme, offering the highest level professional training currently available in this field in the world. What makes this programme unique and truly exceptional is the internationally sought after faculty, possessing vast experience and expertise on the Kodály concept implemented throughout the full spectrum of musical training, from early years to university level. The variety of specialisations available for students wishing to enrich their general understanding of Kodály-based music education creates wonderful opportunities for immersion in the fields of:
- Choral Music Education
- Voice Pedagogy and Repertoire
- Instrumental (Piano) Music Pedagogy
- Kokas Pedagogy
- Solfége Methodology
- Church Music Studies
- Conducting and Repertoire
- Kodály in Research
- Music for Students with Special Needs
- Early Childhood and Primary Music Education
Regular visits to the Institute's partner schools, where Kodály-based school music education can be experienced in its most authentic form, together with teaching practices of graduate students all contribute to the harmonious blending of theoretical understanding and practical skills.
MA Course Content
Semester-by-semester credit table (with the number of credits and contact hours) is available here in this document.
Detailed course list is available here.
General Information
This comprehensive study programme provides an authentic background into, and an all encompassing scientific knowledge about the world-famous educational philosophy of Zoltán Kodály.
Those graduating from this course are capable of:
- adopting, preserving, developing and transmitting/teaching the Kodály method,
- taking part in writing and editing educational materials that affect public music education,
- taking part in analysis and research opportunities dealing with the development of the entire spectrum of music education, based on their musical and historical knowledge, and their knowledge of pedagogy philosophy and methodology,
- using their international music pedagogic knowledge to benefit Hungarian music education,
- taking part in the quality development of music education through their acquired knowledge, imagination and taste,
- sharing their musical and music pedagogical knowledge with others,
- training qualified new professionals and amateurs through their direct instruction as well as their own example (and pedagogical efforts in the case of a teacher's degree),
- actively taking part in the shaping of the general musical knowledge and the musical life within the community,
- playing useful active and initiative roles in the institutions of Hungarian and international musical life,
- the continuous broadening of the (vocal and instrumental) musical repertoire relevant to the practical aspect of Kodály music pedagogy.
Eligibility for admission:
- BA, BEd, BMus or equivalent
- proficiency in English
- successful completion of entrance examinations - Musicianship entry requirements are available HERE.
Non-native English speakers must submit proof of English proficiency. As a guide, we expect an intermediate, type C general language, or intermediate (B2) complex-type state-recognized exam, or an equivalent: TOEFL iBT min. 60, IELTS Academic min. 6.0, Cambridge min. 154, etc. Additionally, at the beginning of the academic year there is an English language test focusing on musical terms and expressions for every new student whose first language is not English. For those whose level is not sufficient, a special English language course is compulsory.
The programme is comprised of 4 semesters, with the fall semester starting at the beginning of September, and the spring semester lasting until the middle of June. The graduation ceremony is usually at the end of June.
Entrance examinations are held online and in-person on 4-5-6 June, 2025.
Applicants will be notified individually about the procedure after the application deadline.
For applicants residing in the following continents/countries (current residence at the time of the entrance examination) online examination is NOT available:
- Europe (up to Russia and Turkey, from these two countries online examination IS available)
For applicants residing in the following continents/countries (current residence at the time of the entrance examination) online examination IS available:
- Asia (including Russia and Turkey)
- North America
- South America
- Africa
- Australia (Oceania)
For details about accommodation please follow this link.
The Institute reserves the right to change or amend any of its programmes, requirements for degrees, tuition, fees, etc. from year to year.
Application
Application deadline for others is 31 March each year.
However, applicants are kindly asked to send the applications at their earliest convenience so that necessary arrangements can be made and applicants can be informed of acceptance in time.
Do not forget to attach the following documents to your application:
- detailed curriculum vitae including a photo of you
- completed questionnaire that can be downloaded from here: doc file / pdf file
- motivation letter in English
- copy of your highest school certificate(s)/degree with English translation (Copy of the original certificate and an official translation of it in English, if it is not in English originally. If you are to graduate in the summer this year, please upload a statement (doc/PDF/jpeg) saying when you will receive your diploma. English translation has to be done based on the original document and NOT copies of the original document.)
- copy of your academic transcripts translated into English (if any)
- photocopy of your passport
- proof of English proficiency
- proof of payment of the non-refundable application fee of 120 EUR
Notification of acceptance will be sent out no later than 15 June.
For those who are applying through the felvi.hu system, the notification of acceptance will be sent out by the end of July 2025.
EXPENSES FOR THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR
| Tuition fee: | 1 900 000 HUF per year (950 000 HUF for each semester) |
| Application fee: (non-refundable) | 120 EUR (for new students) - Must be paid until the application deadline. A copy of the bank transfer must be attached to the application form. - Application fee for Hungarian or EU citizens applying through the Hungarian felvi.hu system must be paid according to the instructions of felvi.hu. - Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship applicants are exempt from paying this fee. Unless they are offered to start their studies as tuition-fee paying students in case of failing to receive the scholarship, in which case they need to pay the application fee along with the first installment of the tuition fee. |
| Additional fees, if applicable, must be paid according to the regulations of the Liszt Academy. |
Expenses For the 2024-2025 academic year
| Tuition fee: | 1 900 000 HUF per year (950 000 HUF for each semester) |
| Additional supplies: | 10 000 HUF per month (use of library, musical instruments in the building of the Institute and audio-visual equipment, educational material received at lessons, Wi-Fi, computer room, etc.) |
| Library & Archives membership fee: | 1100 HUF per academic year |
| Exam fee: | 5 000 HUF per exam – this special fee applies if someone misses exams in the exam period |
| Copies of study documents: | 5 000 HUF for a copy of certificates 12 000 HUF for a copy of evaluations, degrees |
PAYMENT
The tuition fee - based on the pro-forma invoice issued by the Institute - must be paid for the first semester prior to enrolment, and for the second semester no later than 15 February.
Ways of payment:
1) bank transfer:
Bank name: MAGYAR NEMZETI BANK (=Hungarian National Bank)
Bank address: 1054 Budapest, Szabadság tér 9., Hungary
Name of account holder: Liszt Ferenc Zeneművészeti Egyetem (=Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music)
Address of account holder: 1061 Budapest, Liszt Ferenc tér 8., Hungary
HUF-based account number: IBAN HU22 1003 2000 0142 6768 0000 0000
EUR-based account number: IBAN HU34 1003 2017 0142 6768 0601 0014
Swift code (SWIFTBIC): MANEHUHB or HUSTHUHB (or HUSTHUHBXXX if the system requires 11 characters to input)
Please make sure you pay your tuition fee in the given currency, and to the account that accepts that given currency.
Please write this reference into the appropriate field when transferring: "Kodály Institute".
2) by banking card:
Types of cards accepted: all kinds of VISA, EUROCARD/MASTERCARD, American Express.
Please contact us for details regarding this way of payment.
Please be aware that paying by banking card involves a 2-5% commission that the bank charges on the card holder. Please make sure with your bank at home that transactions are allowed in Hungary.
Please note that we cannot accept cash and cheques.
LATE PAYMENT
Those students who do not pay their fees by the given deadline the following late payment fines will be applied: 1st week: 3 % of total amount, 2nd week: 5 % of total amount, 3rd week: 10 % of total amount.
If payment is not done by the end of the 3rd week the student is not allowed to continue studies in that semester.
Exams & Evaluation - in general
The entrance examination is usually in June for studies commencing in September. Students will be notified of the exact dates by e-mail no later than 1 April.
Examinations are held at the end of each semester in January and May. Students are notified of the content of the examination and the exact dates during the semester. Examinations are evaluated by five grades: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – 5 being the highest and 2 the poorest grade. 1 is considered as fail.
CONTENT OF THE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
The entrance examination consists of two parts (written and aural).
Solfége - Music Theory - written: 20 points
Solfége - Music Theory - aural: 20 points
Piano: 14 points
Singing: 14 points
Folk Music (aural exam only): 10 points
Kodály Concept (aural exam only): 20 points
Total points: 98
Solfége - Music Theory (Musicianship) entry requirements are available HERE.
Download sample exam tasks here: ma_entrance_exam_samples / ma_student_copy / ma_teachers_copy
See an example of sight-reading and figured bass.
Piano:
- a freely chosen Bach piece
- first movement of a Classical sonata (Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven)
- a freely chosen piece by a 19th- or 20th-centruy composer
At least one of the pieces must be performed by memory. Applicants must provide a list of the chosen pieces.
Singing:
- a Baroque or Classical aria or art song with instrumental (piano, organ, guitar, etc.) accompaniment
- a Romantic art song with instrumental (piano, organ, guitar, etc.) accompaniment
- a freely chosen art song or aria with piano accompaniment OR unaccompanied song
The chosen repertoire must be in minimum two languages and the pieces must be sung in the original language and by memory. Applicants must provide a list of the chosen pieces.
Folk Music:
The applicant must present a brief summary of the musical traditions of the applicant's home country including folk music.
Singing unaccompanied 5 folk songs from the applicant's home country, in the applicant's native language, by heart. Applicants are expected to provide a list of the scores and texts of the 5 songs for the examination.
Kodály Concept
- personal interview to have a better understanding of the applicant's musical background
- background of music pedagogical interest
- level of familiarity with the Kodály concept of music education