European Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia is an Instructional Site of Irish American University, oferring a 1) Master of Fine Arts in Music for Motion Pictures and Contemporary Media at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe and 2) MFA in Piano Performance, Recording and Contemporary Career Development at The Piano Academy.

An MFA (Master of Fine Arts), alongside a PhD, is considered to be a terminal degree (especially in the United States) whereas an MA (Master of Arts) is considered to be a stepping stone to doctoral study. A substantial portion of an MFA programme is comprised of applied, practice-based activities and production, whereas an MA will usually give greater weight to traditional academic study and research. Many universities accept an MFA as a qualifier comparable to a PhD for professorship and tenure.

Simply put, we offer the most comprehensive recording portfolio opportunities of any of the world's film scoring masters degree programs. Our faculty have an extensive history in education and industry practice. Living expenses in Sofia are a fraction of the cost of other cities such as Valencia, Los Angeles, Boston, London, or New York City.

The Admissions Board will review applications and issue admissions decisions every month. The application portal will close as soon as the MFA programme has reached capacity with accepted and enrolled candidates. There is no application deadline, but composers are advised to submit an application as soon as they are able, in order to avoid the risk of losing an opportunity to be selected for the 2020 MFA class.

At the moment, the European Academy of Fine Arts does not provide institutional financial aid, but grants four (4) merit-based scholarships of €5,000 to deserving students as determined by the admissions board, two (2) merit-based scholarships of €2,500 to deserving students who participate in the Film Scoring Summer Program and wish to transition into the MFA Programme, and one (1) merit-based scholarship of €2,500 to one of the Top 10 Finalists of the Oticons Faculty International Film Music Competition. In order to be eligible to be considered for a scholarship, you must pay your tuition deposit on or before the advertised date, as listed in the Scholarships section on the MFA page. For United States students, Financial Aid is available! Please inquire at info@eafa.iamu.edu

Students coming from within the EU will not need a student Visa. They'll simply enter the country and apply for a residence permit after they arrive. Students coming from outside the EU will need a student Visa. Student visas will be coordinated with the Visa department at NATFA.

The European Academy of Fine Arts partners with the European Recording Orchestra (ERO) for all recording sessions. The European Recording Orchestra (ERO) is a contemporary orchestra based in Sofia, Bulgaria specializing in studio recording for film, TV, and other contemporary mediums and styles. Comprised of some of the finest orchestral session musicians from approximately one dozen countries across Eastern Europe, the European Recording Orchestra (ERO) regularly records at Bulgarian National Radio Studio 1, Doli Media Studio, and the Sofia Session Studio.

Accepted students from the United States will be given individual support on how to apply for financial aid via the FAFSA. If you have an immediate question on this subject, please email us at info@eafa.iamu.edu

Student presence in the coursework Semesters 1 and 2 is required, but not required for Semester 3, which means you can go home (or anywhere!) to complete your Major Project. All submissions for the Major Project can be sent remotely. You do have the option of staying in Sofia for Semester 3, if you wish.

Sofia is a beautiful place to live! The cuisine is lovely, it is home to an incredible amount of culture, and its proximity to other countries and wonderful cities throughout Eastern Europe is a major plus. If you are not familiar with the Bulgarian traditions in music, you should definitely do some research! We're proud to call this lovely city our home.

The Film Scoring Summer Program is a 3.5 week film scoring summer course with 4 recording sessions, 4-star hotel accommodation, and 5 days with Christopher Young, all in the beach town of Varna, Bulgaria. 2 scholarship opportunities are available to alumni of the Film Scoring Summer Program who are accepted onto the MFA programme at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe. More information at the Film Scoring Summer Program website.

Simply submit copies of all degrees and/or certifications in music that you have achieved with your application, and detail their level of study in Music Theory. If applicable, attached proof of additional study in Music Theory.

No. All accepted students (who meet the deposit requirements for each scholarship) are automatically considered by the Admissions Board for the scholarships. No extra applications are necessary.