Vienna Study Tour
Explore Europe's Musical City
About the Program
This is your opportunity to examine the music and culture of Vienna, Austria. You will be exposed to a variety of Vienna's key musical offerings and institutions, and will place Viennese music and musicians into appropriate historic, social and cultural contexts.
Trip Information
Why Study in Vienna?
Vienna is located in the northeastern part of Austria along the Danube river. Dubbed Europe’s “City of Music”, Vienna is the ideal study tour location for musicians and music lovers alike. This city is the birthplace of waltz, and has been the home to many acclaimed musicians and composers across history and to today.
There will also be excursions outside of Vienna, including in Eisenstadt, Melk, Moedling, Salzburg and Budapest.
Where You’ll Be Staying
During the course, you will be staying primarily within the city of Vienna in a hotel or hostel (2-4 students per room). Vienna will act as your central hub for most of the study tour, with frequent travel outside the city for your course activities. This study tour also features two overnight trips, which will have you staying in a hotel or hostel in Salzburg and Budapest.
Activities While Abroad
You will have the opportunity to attend a series of concerts during your time in Vienna – from chamber music to symphonic music to opera to Lieder. Additionally, you will visit art galleries, museums, archives, the Vienna Central Cemetery (to see how Viennese composers are monumentalized) and other historical sites that give you a broader understanding of the context of Viennese music.
Course
The Vienna Study Tour is offered every second year and includes a three-week expedition to Vienna in the Spring Term. Students need to apply to participate. Successful applicants will be enrolled in the course listed below:
Spring, May 3-week course
The course examines some of the major Viennese composers from the 18th to 20th centuries, including Mozart, Hayden, Beethoven, Schubert, J.Strauss, Mahler, Brahms, Schoenberg, Webern and Berg. The relationships between music and art, music and politics, and music and society will be explored.
Prerequisite: There are no prerequisites required for this course and is open to any 2-, 3-, or 4-year student.
costs + supplies
A Mandatory Instructional Support (MIS) fee will be charged in addition to regular tuition. The MIS fee for 2026 is estimated between $3,000 - $3,500 (2023 cost was approximately $2,600). All MIS fee payments are non-refundable unless the course is cancelled by the university.
Included in MIS fee:
- Transfer to/from airport
- Public transit passes in Vienna
- Ground transportation in Europe (train/bus/boat)
- Accommodation (hotels w/breakfast included)
- Concert admissions (6-7 concerts)
- Museum admissions
- Three to four group dinners
NOT included in MIS fee:
- Transportation to and from the Edmonton International Airport
- Return airfare from Edmonton International Airport to Vienna
- Daily lunch and most dinners
- Items on the supplies checklist
Funding is also available for students to apply for through Education Abroad Awards. Students participating in the Vienna Study Tour may be eligible to receive up to $500.
Supplies
You will be responsible for the following items at your own expense.
Supplies Checklist:
- Passport (valid at least six months after the completion of the program)
- Student ID
- Flights (approximately $1,500)
- Travel immunizations as recommended by a public health nurse
- Health and travel insurance
- Appropriate clothing and footwear (a complete packing list is provided before departure)
- Typical course supplies
- Pocket money (Euros)
Important Dates
| Applications Open | Open now for May 2026 departure |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Letters Distributed | Ongoing |
| Deposit ($500) | December 1, 2025 |
| First Payment ($1,500) | January 15, 2026 |
| Final Payment (balance) | March 1, 2026 |
| Tentative departure date | May 3, 2026 |
| Tentative return date | May 18, 2026 |
Contact the Vienna Study Tour team
Questions about studying in Vienna? Contact an advisor or connect with the study tour instructor:
— Professor, Music
Email: acarpent@ualberta.ca