The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music

The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in a few words

FCUM Authorities
The FCUM is managed by the rector and four prorectors: the prorector for students' and foreign affairs, the prorector for artistic affairs, the prorector for teaching affairs, the prorector for research affairs.

Fields of Studies
The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music teaches at six departments in Warsaw and the Instrumental and Educational Department in Białystok. The following fields are covered: composition and theory of music, conducting, instrument studies, vocal studies, artistic education in the musical arts, dance, and sound engineering.

The University offers first level (junior) and second level (senior) courses and a homogeneous graduate course from which it is gradually withdrawing. It launched postgraduate doctoral studies in the academic year 2006/2007. Another form of paid studies is also offered, i.e., postgraduate artistic traineeships. The costs of running these studies are covered entirely by the participants. The courses at the different departments are run according to curricula passed by the respective faculty councils and accepted by the FCUM Senate.

Students have general music courses and special courses such as ear training, the history of music and music literature, musical forms, piano, conducting; general subjects, foreign language and physical training; humanistic subjects (philosophy, aesthetics, history of art, 20th century art, history of the cinema). Group classes are open for all.

The FCUM confers the following degrees:

bachelor of arts - on successful completion of level one (junior)

master of arts specifying the holder's qualifications - on successful completion of the homogenous graduate course or level two (senior).

Students who are scientifically and artistically active, students who are preparing for international competitions or other significant artistic or scientific endeavours, and students who are suffering serious hardship or are temporarily ill may study according to an individual plan and program specified by the faculty council. About 150 students graduate from the FCUM every year. The University has nearly 900 students.

The University's organisational units are entitled to confer the following doctoral and postdoctoral (habilitation) degrees:

The Department of Composition, Conducting and Theory of Music
	- doctor of the humanities in the art sciences - doctor of music arts in conducting - habilitated doctor of music arts in conducting - doctor of music arts in composition and theory of music - habilitated doctor of music arts in composition and theory of music

The Department of Piano, Harpsichord and Organ
	- doctor of music arts in instrumental studies - habilitated doctor of music arts in instrumental studies

The Instrumental Department
	- doctor of music arts in instrumental studies - habilitated doctor of music arts in instrumental studies

Vocal Department
	- doctor of music arts in vocal studies - habilitated doctor of music arts in vocal studies

The Department of Music Education
	- doctor of music arts in conducting - habilitated doctor of music arts in conducting

The Department of Sound Engineering
	- doctor of music arts in sound engineering

University structure
The different departments' teaching programs are rooted in the history of the University and related to its evolving structure. Hence several departments teach the same field of music (Departments 2 - 6) whereas others combine several fields (Department 1 or the Instrumental and Educational Department in Białystok). Some fields can also be studied at various departments (e.g., instrumental studies at Departments 2 and 3 or the Instrumental and Educational Department in Białystok).