In the church and organ music programme, students can choose between church music studies, and organ or clavichord solo instrument studies for their major studies. A student of church music can choose between two orientation options: either the Evangelical Lutheran option (both in Helsinki and Kuopio), or the general orientation option (only in Kuopio). A Master of Music degree completed according to the Evangelical Lutheran option is the higher university degree required of applicants applying for the majority of cantor positions in the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church. Studies completed according to the general orientation option are not valid for cantor positions with the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church, but they provide the required skills for positions in other Christian churches or communities, for example. Both options include a Bachelor of Music (180 ETCS credits) and a Master of Music (150 ETCS credits) degree. Annually about 25 to 30 students begin church music studies. Only a few students begin organ music studies annually. Studies for a Bachelor of Music degree require approximately three years, and for the Master of Music degree approximately an additional two and a half years.
