Music in Vienna, Austria

Fall – 18 weeks (late August to late December)
Spring – 19 weeks (mid January to mid May)
Academic Year

Fall 2008 closed

Sponsored by the College of Music in collaboration with the Institute for the International Education of Students

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Michigan State University students majoring in the College of Music now have the opportunity to spend a semester or academic year abroad in Austria. Participants in this program will study music through the internationally recognized Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) program in Vienna. IES Vienna offers a music program specially designed for music performance majors and other talented instrumentalists and vocalists.

Where does it take place?

Beautifully situated on the River Danube at the edge of the majestic Austrian Alps, Vienna has been an important crossroads since the time of the Romans. It is a magnificent city where music, the visual arts, and history come together to form an unforgettable learning experience abroad.

The IES Vienna Center is situated in the Palais Corbelli, an elegant eighteenth-century palace in the heart of Vienna. It is just minutes away from the city's most renowned museums, theaters, and concert halls that have bestowed international fame on Vienna.

In between classes, students will discover the elegant, turn-of-the-century coffeehouses and beautiful natural setting of Austria 's capital.

What can I study?

Students must carry 15 to 19 semester credit hours. Five courses equal 16 semester credits.

The program consists of a selection of offerings in:

• music history
• music theory
• performance studies

The music history and music theory courses are open to all students (usually music majors) with the appropriate prerequisites. Participation in performance studies and private lessons are contingent upon a successful audition.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP

The Music Performance Workshop is a specially designed workshop offering instrumentalists and vocalists the opportunity to expand their repertoire and enhance their performance skills. Students admitted to the Music Performance Workshop will also receive regular private lessons from leading professional musicians in the city. Depending on the instrument, some students who have been admitted to the Music Performance Workshop may also attend master classes and audition for individual instruction at no extra cost at the Konservatorium der Stadt Wien (Vienna Conservatory of Music), located across the street from the IES Center.

Students may also audition for the Conservatory's Orchestra as well as choral and chamber groups. (Please note that the Conservatory does not begin its fall and spring semesters until the beginning of October and March respectively.) Students are encouraged to bring their own instruments - however, instrument rental is available. Practice rooms and instrument lockers are located in the IES Center.

In addition to courses in music, all students will take an intensive course in German language. Students who already have advanced-level German may also combine IES courses with courses at the University of Vienna.

This is a co-sponsored program.  Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit.  These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. For further details about this policy, visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/people/students.html.
 
To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit http://transfer.msu.edu/Institution.asp and http://www.reg.msu.edu/ROINFO/CSSAP/CSSAPmain.asp. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

FIELD TRIPS

IES Vienna arranges optional weeklong excursions during each semester break between the language-intensive instruction and the start of regular classes.

In the fall, a three-city tour of Cracow , Budapest, and Prague is offered to provide an introduction to the history and culture of Central Europe in relation to Austria and Vienna.

In the spring, a trip to Berlin, with day trips to Dresden and Weimar, is offered. The trip includes lectures focusing on the history and culture of each city, visits to places of historical significance, and social events, including a theater evening and farewell dinner at a popular downtown restaurant.

A number of shorter optional field trips are also offered each semester.

What are the requirements?

Students must be majors in MSU's College of Music, at least junior status and in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 3.0 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission. Students with sophomore status may be considered in special cases.

Additionally, students must also submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

Applicants' participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Housed in private residences throughout Vienna , students will either live in independent apartments or apartments shared with an Austrian landlady or landlord. Two or more IES students normally live together and roommate preferences are accommodated when possible. Meals are not provided.

Vienna has an excellent public transportation system that facilitates the daily commute to and from the Center.

Students should not expect the same freedom found in American university housing, whether on or off campus, and are expected to adapt to and respect the cultural context in which they are living.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Molly Fillmore
College of Music
106 Music Practice Building
Phone: (517) 355-7666
E-mail: mollyf@msu.edu

You can also visit the IES Web site at http://www.iesabroad.org/vienna.do for more information.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of five to six weeks are usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/passports.html

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.

For more information about visas visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/visas.html

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program's itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html

How much does it cost?

The program fee for Spring Semester 2008 is $13,792* and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• on-site orientation including the IES Get Set! Guide and the IES Family Guide
• accommodations
• tuition and fees (maximum of 19 credits per semester)
• residence permit
• accident and sickness insurance
• required field trips
• on-site IES student services

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• airfare
• meals
• books and supplies
• optional field trips
• passport application fee ($100)
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Students may request a cost sheet which estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program's departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

*An IES Scholarship in the amount of $1,500 has been applied to this program fee. All MSU Music Students will receive this scholarship if they apply by IES' deadline.

How can I get help to pay for it?

All MSU Music Students automatically receive a $1,500 scholarship from IES if they apply. The $1,500 scholarship has already been applied to the program fee.

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU's Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

For further information about financial aid visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/finaid/index.html

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are March 1st for academic year and fall semester programs and October 15th for spring semester programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form by visiting http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by September 15th for spring semester participation and by March 1st for fall or academic year participation. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you're abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter. You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html.