Music Schools and Programs in Chile

Music Studies in Chile

Music in Chile is studied at universities, in institutes or conservatories that belong to a faculty of arts or education. The undergraduate programmes lead to an academic degree (licenciatura) and, in performance and teaching, also to a professional title. Applicants normally have to pass a special music test on top of the national university entrance exam.

Our directory lists 3 universities in Chile that teach Music: one in Santiago de Chile, one in Valparaíso and one in Valdivia.

How Music degrees are organised

Chilean universities separate the academic degree from the professional title. Some programmes award only the degree (bachiller or licenciado), others also a título profesional. Length is counted in semesters.

The three universities in our directory show the main options:

• Music (theory, composition, musicology): the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) offers Música, an 8-semester programme leading to the degree of Bachiller/Licenciado(a) en Música, with specialisation in composition, musicology or music theory and literature. The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) offers an 8-semester Licenciatura en Ciencias y Artes Musicales with a major in composition.
• Performance: UC's Interpretación Musical lasts 12 semesters and leads to the title of Intérprete Musical. At PUCV, Interpretación Musical with a major in a principal instrument takes 8 semesters for the licenciatura and 9 for the title. The Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) teaches Interpretación Musical Superior at its Conservatorio de Música in Valdivia over 9 semesters.
• Music and sound creation: UACh's Artes Musicales y Sonoras, on the Isla Teja campus in Valdivia, lasts 9 semesters and leads to the title of Artista Musical y Sonoro.
• Music teaching: PUCV's Pedagogía en Música lasts 10 semesters and awards the title of Profesor/a de Música together with a licenciatura in education.

The programme pages are in Spanish and none of those consulted mentions teaching in another language, so applicants should expect to study in Spanish.

Admission

Regular admission to Chilean universities goes through the Sistema de Acceso of the Ministry of Education, which had 47 member institutions in 2026. Applicants sit the Prueba de Acceso a la Educación Superior (PAES); for admission in 2027 the regular test takes place on 30 November and on 1 and 2 December 2026.

Music programmes add their own test. At UC a special test that measures musical skills is compulsory for both Música and Interpretación Musical; for Interpretación Musical it weighs 40% and the PAES results 60%. UACh also requires a special admission test for Artes Musicales y Sonoras, and states that no previous knowledge is needed for it. PUCV accepts applications to its performance programme only through its special admission route (Ingreso Especial).

Students who finished school outside Chile can use special routes instead of the PAES. UC, for example, has a route for applicants who completed at least the last two years of secondary education abroad and have no university studies. It opens twice a year, for the semester that starts in March and the one that starts in August.

Tuition fees in 2026

Each university publishes an annual fee (arancel) per programme, in Chilean pesos:

• UC: $6,360,000 a year in 2026 for Música and the same for Interpretación Musical
• UACh, Artes Musicales y Sonoras: $6,339,000 a year plus an enrolment fee of $270,000 (2026 admission)
• UACh, Interpretación Musical Superior: $5,887,000 a year plus the same enrolment fee (2026 admission)

UC and PUCV state that they take part in Gratuidad, the state scheme of free tuition, and in the scholarships and loans of the Ministry of Education.

Student residence permit

Foreigners who want to live in Chile to study at a state-recognised institution apply for a temporary residence permit as a student. According to the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (page updated on 18 December 2025), the application is made online from abroad. The documents include a valid passport, a criminal record certificate for applicants over 18, a recent photograph, a certificate of enrolment or of regular student status, and proof of financial support. The current list is on the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones site.

Recognition of foreign degrees

A music degree obtained outside Chile is not automatically valid there. The Universidad de Chile is in charge of recognising and revalidating professional titles and academic degrees obtained in countries that have no recognition agreement in force with Chile.

Careers

The universities describe similar fields of work. PUCV names professional concert work as a soloist or as a member of instrumental ensembles, university teaching, music academies and freelance practice. UACh mentions soloists and members of chamber and orchestral ensembles, and teaching an instrument in specialised institutions or privately. For its music and sound graduates it lists creation and production for festivals, recordings, events and audiovisual media.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Music degree take in Chile?

Between 8 and 12 semesters, depending on the programme. Theory and composition degrees at UC and PUCV last 8 semesters, UACh's programmes 9, PUCV's music teaching degree 10 and UC's performance programme 12.

Is there an audition or entrance test?

Yes, in most cases. UC and UACh require a special music test in addition to the PAES, and PUCV admits performance students only through its special admission route.

How much does it cost to study Music in Chile?

In 2026 the annual fees published by the universities in our directory range from $5,887,000 to $6,360,000 Chilean pesos, depending on the university and programme.