Composition

Admission requirements

• The three-year course is open to musicians of any nationality who are no more than 35 years of age.
• Candidates must possess a 1^st or 2^nd Level Degree or Conservatory Diploma (old Italian system) in Vocal Studies. Qualifications obtained abroad shall be considered valid only where formally recognised as equivalent to an Italian Conservatory Diploma. The responsibility for obtaining such recognition, in accordance with applicable Italian legislation, shall rest with the candidate. Candidates should be fluent in the Italian language.

Exceptions to these requirements may be permitted only in extraordinary cases, subject to evaluation and approval by both the professor and the Academic Board, in the presence of outstanding artistic merit.

Admission shall be granted only upon fulfilment of the above requirements and successful completion of the entrance examination.

Applications for admission

Applications for admission must be submitted online via the following link: https://santacecilia.it/en/master-courses/form-di-iscrizione-corsi-di-perfezionamento)

by no later than the 5 July 2026.

Submission of the application will be confirmed via email notification from the Accademia.

The following documents must be attached to the online application:

• diploma certificate
• artistic CV and list of studied repertoire;
• examination programme at the candidate’s choice;
• photocopy of passport or other identification document;
• proof of payment of the examination admission fee.

Entrance examination

Mode

The candidate must submit three scores composed for different instrumental ensembles; they may also include recordings of the same works, if available.

The submitted files must meet the following specifications:

• scores in PDF format; video recordings in MP4 format; audio recordings in MP3 format;
• each file must be named with the candidate’s SURNAME and first name, followed by the title of the work (e.g. ROSSI Mario _Sinfonia.pdf). To facilitate indexing, candidates are requested to follow the indicated format.

Scores and recordings that do not comply with the above specifications will not be considered valid for admission to the examination.

The scores and any recordings must be sent via WeTransfer to the email address didattica@santacecilia.it by 5 July 2026.

Entrance examinations will be held at the Academy’s headquarters at Via Vittoria 6 (Rome), on 8 October 2026 (candidates will receive their official call by email). The examination will consist of the evaluation and discussion of the submitted compositions, as well as any topics proposed by the Examination Committee.

Candidates must present themselves at the examination with a valid form of identification and a printed copy of the examination programme scores.

No alternative examination dates will be offered.

The course runs over a period of three years.

The course includes:

• two intermediate progression examinations (Year I to II; Year II to III);
• a final Diploma examination at the conclusion of Year III.

In exceptional circumstances, and subject to approval by the Academic Board, the Diploma examination may be undertaken at the conclusion of Year II.

At the conclusion of each academic year, students shall undertake a progression examination in order to be admitted to the subsequent year..

Progression from course year I to II

The examination consists of two parts; the assessment of each part contributes to the final mark of the examination. The components are as follows:

1. Public performance of a composition expressly written during the first year of the course, in accordance with the duration and instrumentation specified by the Academic Directorate in agreement with the teacher.
   The student must submit the complete and final materials of the composition (full score and individual parts) no later than the deadline established and communicated at the beginning of the academic year;
2. Interview with the Examination Committee: a summary evaluation of the work completed during the year, and an extemporaneous discussion of topics proposed by the Committee, which may be suggested by the works presented by the student or entirely independent of them.

Progression from course year II to III

The examination consists of two parts; the assessment of each part contributes to the final mark of the examination. The components are as follows:

1. Public performance of a composition expressly written during the second year of the course, in accordance with the duration and instrumentation specified by the Academic Directorate in agreement with the teacher.
   The student must submit the complete and final materials of the composition (full score and individual parts) no later than the deadline established and communicated at the beginning of the academic year;
2. Interview with the Examination Committee: a summary evaluation of the work completed during the year, and an extemporaneous discussion of topics proposed by the Committee, which may be suggested by the works presented by the student or entirely independent of them.

Should a student fail to pass a Progression examination, he/she shall be entitled to re-apply for admission to the course only after one academic year has passed.

Examination and attendance fees

• € 50.00 entrance examination;
• € 950.00 yearly attendance (In the case of simultaneous enrolment in the Chamber Music course, one of the two fees is reduced to €800.00.);
• € 100.00 progression examination;
• € 250.00 diploma examination.

Students who have not paid their tuition and examination fees in full will not be admitted to lessons or examinations.

All payments, specifying as reason “Composition Course,” may be made via:

• wire transfer
  c/c n. 9872, made out to Fondazione Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
  Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL) Agenzia n. 6340 di Roma, Via del Tritone, 31
  IBAN: IT31 I 010 0503 2400 0000 0009 872
  SWIFT: BIC BNL IITRR
• Paypal on Fondazione’s website at this link https://santacecilia.it/alta-formazione/paypal

Proof of payment of the attendance fee must be submitted to the Academic Office within 15 days of admission (Segreteria didattica: didattica@santacecilia.it). The attendance fee may be paid in two equal instalments, the second of which will be due no later than 1 March.

Withdrawal from the course shall not entitle the student to a refund of any fees paid.

For the Academic Year 2026-2027, the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, thanks to the contribution of the Boris Christoff Foundation, has approved the allocation of Scholarships for students of the Advanced Courses with the aim of providing concrete support for attending the academic path. The relevant Regulations with the allocation criteria will be published shortly.

Download regulations (pdf) – Composition 2026-2027