What if earning your music degree didn’t mean choosing between your dream and your bank account?

What if you could study voice, piano, jazz, or music education—in world-class institutions across the globe—while experiencing new cultures, expanding your artistry, and spending far less than you would at most U.S. universities?

It’s not a fantasy. It’s a real and rising trend: American music students are discovering that studying abroad can offer exceptional education, global experiences, and major financial savings. And with many international schools teaching in English, accepting U.S. financial aid, and charging lower tuition, it might be the smartest move you’ve never considered.

Why Study Abroad for Music?

We all know college is expensive—especially for music majors, who often face additional costs for private lessons, ensemble fees, and travel to auditions or performances.

In the United States:

• In-state tuition averages around $11,200 per year
• Private colleges can cost as much as $50,000 annually

Now compare that to:

• Hungary, where tuition can be under $3,000 per year
• South Africa, where tuition can start around $1,500 per year

These aren’t back-alley institutions—they’re respected music schools and conservatories (see our [interactive pop-up list] for details).

Real Costs, Real Currency Advantage

Here’s something many families don’t realize: the U.S. dollar is strong in many regions. That means your money goes further—and the difference can be huge.

Take a look:

• 1 USD = ~18 South African Rand (ZAR)
• 1 USD = ~375 Hungarian Forints (HUF)
• 1 USD = ~1.35 Singapore Dollars (SGD)
• 1 USD = ~47 Egyptian Pounds (EGP)

So, when you convert $1,000 in tuition into local currency, that money stretches farther than it would at home. In some cases, your entire year of college abroad could cost less than a single semester in the U.S.

Can You Use Financial Aid?

Yes—and that’s a game-changer. Many accredited foreign universities qualify for U.S. federal student aid through FAFSA.

That means:

• Pell Grants and federal loans can be used toward tuition, travel, and even housing
• Private scholarships from arts foundations, cultural groups, or global education organizations can help you save even more

In short, your financial options don’t disappear when you cross a border—they often multiply.

What About Travel and Visas?

Traveling abroad might sound expensive, but it’s often cheaper than you think:

• Round-trip airfare can range from $400–$1,000, depending on the country and season
• Student visa fees vary from $50 to $400, and some countries may require an in-person embassy interview

Even when you factor in travel, documents, and relocation, the total still often costs less than a year at an American school—especially when you compare full-package pricing (tuition, room, board, meals).

Do You Need to Speak Another Language?

Not at all. Many music programs in non-English-speaking countries offer full instruction in English, especially in:

• Singapore
• South Africa
• Hungary
• Egypt
• Lebanon

Several of these universities even follow an American-style curriculum with familiar grading systems, course structures, and performance expectations. You’ll feel academically at home, even while soaking up an entirely new culture.

Will You Be on a U.S.-Friendly Schedule?

Yes, in many cases you will.

Most international music schools that welcome American students follow either:

• A September–May academic calendar (like the U.S.), or
• A modular calendar with extended winter or summer breaks

This means students can often return home during the summer—just like their peers studying in the U.S.—to:

• Work summer jobs
• Attend music camps or festivals
• Intern with arts organizations
• Reconnect with family and friends

For example:

• Hungary, South Africa, Egypt, and Singapore often start in August or September and end in May or June
• Some offer optional summer terms, similar to many American colleges

Always confirm individual calendars—but in most cases, you won’t miss a beat.

Meet Kairi: A Real-Life Example

Kairi, a former high school student from Georgia, always dreamed of studying flute performance. But when she saw the $40,000 yearly tuition price tag of her top-choice school in the U.S., she thought she’d have to give up that dream.

Then she learned about a conservatory in Budapest, Hungary, where classes were taught in English and tuition cost under $3,000 a year. She applied, auditioned virtually, and received a scholarship. Now, she’s getting the same caliber of education for less than she used to pay in annual marching band expenses.

Final Note: Reimagine What’s Possible

Studying abroad isn’t just for the wealthy, the privileged, or the wildly adventurous. It’s for you—the passionate music student who knows deep down that your gift was meant for more than a classroom or a stage close to home.

This isn’t just a shortcut to save money. It’s a pathway that expands your future. One that invites you to:

• Earn your degree for less, without drowning in debt
• Study in English at schools that honor your talent and help you grow
• Travel to places you’ve only seen in books or on YouTube—and live there
• Perform on international stages, collaborating with musicians from every corner of the world
• Experience music across cultures, styles, and languages, deepening your understanding of your art
• Build a global network of artists, mentors, and friends who’ll walk with you for years to come
• And most importantly—discover who you are, outside the borders of what you've always known

This journey changes more than your résumé. It changes your voice. Your heart. Your story.

Imagine walking into your first class with students from five different countries. Imagine playing an ancient instrument in a town square in Budapest or composing a jazz suite in Cape Town. Imagine the depth you’ll bring to your music when it’s shaped not only by talent—but by adventure, resilience, and a global perspective.

And yes, you can still come home in the summer. You can still be part of your family’s life, play gigs with your hometown friends, and attend that summer music festival. But what you bring home after a year abroad? That’s a version of you the world hasn’t met yet.

In a world where college often means sacrificing your creativity for cost, or your dream for something “safe,” studying music abroad refuses to make you choose. It gives you both: excellence and affordability, education and exploration, skill and soul.

So don’t settle for what's expected.
Don’t think small because you were told that’s all you could afford.

Instead—
Dream boldly. Prepare wisely. And let the world be your classroom.
Don’t just dream big. Dream global.

Accoladi Guide to English-Taught Music Schools Abroad

Tier 1: Native English-Speaking Countries

Definition: Countries where English is the primary language of instruction in higher education. Institutions here offer programs entirely in English, making them accessible for international students without language barriers.

🇨🇦 Canada

• University of Toronto – Faculty of Music
  Tuition: Approximately $6,000–$7,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Classical performance, composition, music education
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  music.utoronto.ca
• McGill University – Schulich School of Music
  Tuition: Approximately $13,000–$15,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition, music technology, music education
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  mcgill.ca/music
• University of British Columbia – School of Music
  Tuition: Approximately $29,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition, musicology, music education
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  music.ubc.ca
• Western University – Don Wright Faculty of Music
  Tuition: Approximately $25,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition, music education
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  music.uwo.ca

🇬🇧 United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

• Royal College of Music (London)
  Tuition: Approximately $30,000–$35,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Classical performance, composition
  Music Education Major: ❌ Not a dedicated major
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  rcm.ac.uk
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama (London)
  Tuition: Approximately $25,000–$30,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition, jazz
  Music Education Major: ❌ Not a dedicated major
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  gsmd.ac.uk
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Glasgow)
  Tuition: Approximately $25,000–$30,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition, Scottish traditional music
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  rcs.ac.uk
• Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (Cardiff)
  Tuition: Approximately $25,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  rwcmd.ac.uk

🇮🇪 Ireland

• Royal Irish Academy of Music (Dublin)
  Tuition: Approximately $20,000–$25,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  riam.ie
• University College Dublin – School of Music
  Tuition: Approximately $20,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Musicology, composition, performance
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  ucd.ie/music

🇦🇺 Australia

• University of Melbourne – Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
  Tuition: Approximately $25,000–$30,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition, musicology, music education
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au
• Sydney Conservatorium of Music – University of Sydney
  Tuition: Approximately $30,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition, music education
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  sydney.edu.au/music
• Queensland Conservatorium – Griffith University
  Tuition: Approximately $25,000 USD/year for international students
  Focus: Performance, composition, music technology, music education
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  griffith.edu.au/music

Tier 2: Non-English-Speaking Countries with English-Taught Programs

Definition: Countries where English is not the primary language, but many universities offer full degree programs in English, especially targeting international students.

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music – National University of Singapore (NUS)
  Tuition: Highly subsidized; many international students pay under $5,000 USD/year
  Focus: Classical performance, composition, audio arts
  Music Education Major: ❌ Not offered
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  ystmusic.nus.edu.sg
• Lasalle College of the Arts – School of Contemporary Music
  Tuition: ~$15,000–$18,000 USD/year
  Focus: Pop music, jazz, composition, music tech
  Music Education Major: ❌ Not offered
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  lasalle.edu.sg
• Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
  Tuition: ~$13,000–$16,000 USD/year
  Focus: Classical, Chinese traditional music, composition
  Music Education Major: ❌ Not offered
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  nafa.edu.sg

🇿🇦 South Africa

• Stellenbosch University – Department of Music
  Tuition: ~$6,300 USD/year
  Focus: Classical, performance, musicology, jazz
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes (BMus, Honours, MEd available)
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  sun.ac.za/music
• North-West University – School of Music
  Tuition: ~$1,600–$2,100 USD/year
  Focus: Performance, composition, music education
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  humanities.nwu.ac.za/music
• University of Cape Town – South African College of Music
  Tuition: ~$3,200–$4,000 USD/year
  Focus: Classical, jazz, African music
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  sacm.uct.ac.za
• University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University)
  Tuition: ~$2,700–$3,500 USD/year
  Focus: Composition, production, ethnomusicology
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  wits.ac.za/wsoa/music

🇭🇺 Hungary

• Franz Liszt Academy of Music – Budapest
  Tuition: ~$5,400–$8,600 USD/year
  Focus: Classical performance, conducting, theory
  Music Education Major: ❌ Not offered
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  lfze.hu
• University of Pécs – Faculty of Music and Visual Arts
  Tuition: ~$3,200–$4,800 USD/year
  Focus: Performance, jazz, composition
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes (as Music Pedagogy)
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  international.pte.hu
• University of Szeged – Béla Bartók Faculty of Arts
  Tuition: ~$3,800–$5,400 USD/year
  Focus: Piano, strings, voice, pedagogy
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes (as Music Pedagogy)
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  u-szeged.hu

🇪🇬 Egypt

• The Cairo Conservatoire – Academy of Arts (Giza)
  Tuition: ~$320–$480 USD/year
  Focus: Arabic and Western classical music
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  academyofarts.edu.eg
• The American University in Cairo (AUC)
  Tuition: ~$20,000–$25,000 USD/year
  Focus: Music technology, performance
  Music Education Major: ❌ Not a dedicated major
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  aucegypt.edu

🇱🇧 Lebanon

• Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music
  Tuition: ~$100–$170 USD/year
  Focus: Arabic and classical music traditions
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  conservatory.gov.lb
• Notre Dame University – Louaize (NDU)
  Tuition: ~$8,000–$10,000 USD/year
  Focus: Western and Eastern music, education
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  ndu.edu.lb
• Lebanese American University (LAU)
  Tuition: ~$15,000–$20,000 USD/year
  Focus: Offers music minor
  Music Education Major: ❌ Not offered
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  lau.edu.lb

Tier 3: Emerging English-Taught Music Programs

Definition: Countries where English-taught music programs are emerging, often at the graduate level, and may offer unique cultural perspectives or specialized programs.

🇲🇾 Malaysia

• University of Malaya – Cultural Centre
  Tuition: ~$2,500–$4,000 USD/year
  Focus: Ethnomusicology, performance, composition
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  um.edu.my
• Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) – Faculty of Music
  Tuition: ~$2,000–$3,500 USD/year
  Focus: Contemporary music, music technology
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  uitm.edu.my

🇳🇱 Netherlands

• Royal Conservatoire The Hague
  Tuition: ~$9,000–$11,000 USD/year
  Focus: Classical performance, early music, composition
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  koncon.nl
• Conservatorium van Amsterdam
  Tuition: ~$9,000–$12,000 USD/year
  Focus: Jazz, classical, pop, early music
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ✅ Yes
  ahk.nl/en/conservatorium

🇩🇪 Germany

• Hochschule für Musik und Theater München
  Tuition: Low or no tuition fees; administrative fees ~$300 USD/year
  Focus: Classical performance, composition, conducting
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  hmtm.de
• Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin
  Tuition: Low or no tuition fees; administrative fees ~$300 USD/year
  Focus: Classical performance, contemporary music
  Music Education Major: ✅ Yes
  FAFSA Accepted: ❌ No
  hfm-berlin.de