Student Admission - Academic Year 2026/2027 - 5th year / 1st grade to 9th year / 5th grade

Information Index

1. ADMISSION TESTS 

We inform those interested in the Basic Music Courses of Specialized Artistic Education, taught at the Conservatório de Música de Loulé - Francisco Rosado, that below are the documents related to the admission process for students for the academic year 2026/2027, from the 5th year / 1st grade to the 9th year / 5th grade. 

Your careful attention is requested for the following documents, which you should review before proceeding with registration:

• NOTICE
• REGULATIONS
  • ANNEX I - General Examination Matrices
  • ANNEX II - Curricula by Subject
  • ANNEX III - Timeline of Procedures
  • ANNEX IV - Estimate of vacancies, per year/instrument

After reading all the documentation, should any doubts persist, we are available to help and clarify via the email address secretaria@conservatoriodeloule.pt and the telephone number 289 373 590.

1.1 Educational Offer

Do you already know the educational offer of the Conservatório de Música de Loulé - Francisco Rosado? --> CLICK HERE <-- watch the videos and get to know the more than 20 instruments available.

1.2 Documents (mandatory knowledge)

Applications are made through the form provided below, after the documents section.

1.3 Application Form for Admission Exams

Registrations are carried out ONLINE through the following form:

5th year/1st grade to 9th year/5th grade : >>>> HERE <<<<

2. Instrument Experimentation

Did you know that on the upcoming 7th of March candidates for the 5th year / 1st grade at the Conservatório de Música de Loulé - Francisco Rosado can try out the more than 20 musical instruments from its educational offer? Please note that there are limited places, with mandatory registration until March 2nd. Register now! ] Conservatório de Música de Loulé - Francisco Rosado, February 2nd, 2026 The DirectorSérgio Leite_______________________________ 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This information is intended to serve as a guide and does not exempt from nor supersede consultation of the legislation and regulations in force.

If after your consultation, your question is not definitively answered, please contact the Administrative Services - 289 373 590

Do students who already attend the Conservatory have to take admission exams?

It depends. Admission Exams are intended for all those who wish to enter the different music courses. 

For example, a student who is already attending Initiation (1st cycle) and assuming they wish to attend the Conservatory until the 12th year, must, and only, apply for the Admission Exams for the 5th year / 1st grade (access to Basic Courses) and then for the 10th year / 6th grade (access to Secondary Courses). 

The external candidates who wish to enroll in the Conservatório, at any educational level, may formalize their application for the Admission Exams during the period stipulated for the respective academic year.

I am an Initiation student. Do I have to take exams to go to the 5th year?

Yes, the exam is always mandatory for admission to the 5th year, even for our Initiation IV students.

What are the dates or periods when I can enroll my child?

Information regarding student admission is published annually on the Conservatory's website during the first quarter of the calendar year. For updated information, parents/guardians should consult the website: www.conservatoriodeloule.pt.

Registrations for the next academic year (2026/2027) run from:

• February 2 until March 16, 2026 – 5th year/1st grade until 9th year/5th grade;

Note: information regarding registrations for the 1st Cycle (Initiation) and Secondary Courses will be announced shortly on the website.

Who can study at CML-FR?

In the Introductory Regime (1st cycle):

• • Students who attend regular basic education and intend to begin musical training.
  • Vacancies are foreseen for new students in the 1st year and in the 3rd year of schooling.
• In Basic Education (5th to 9th grade):
  • Students who meet the legal conditions provided for in Ordinance no. 223-A/2018, of August 3rd.
  • Candidates with an academic background compatible with the year to which they are applying.
  • In the supplementary regime, the maximum allowed gap between artistic education and general education is two years.
• In the Secondary Courses (Music and Singing – Ordinance no. 229-A/2018, of August 14):
  • Who: Students with a basic music course or with the 9th grade of schooling (upon passing an admission exam).
  • In the Articulated Regime: Candidates who attend a level of artistic training corresponding to their year of schooling in general education.
  • For the Supplementary Music Course: Candidates who turn 18 by August 31st of the year they apply (with a maximum academic gap of 2 academic years).
  • For the Supplementary Vocal Course: Candidates who complete 23 years of age by August 31st of the year of enrollment, without restriction regarding the level of general education they are attending.
• Restrictions and Educational Offerings:
  • The offer is exclusively restricted to the official courses of Specialized Artistic Music Education.
  • Open courses or self-funded classes are not available.

Can I, as an adult, study at CML-FR?

Currently, there are no study programs specifically designed for adults. Refer to the exception provided in the answer to the previous question – secondary singing course.

Which instruments are taught at CML-FR?

At the Conservatory, the subjects of singing, wind instruments (woodwind and brass), percussion, keyboard, bowed strings, and plucked strings are taught:

• Accordion
• Clarinet
• Gregorian Chant
• Double Bass
• Harpsichord
• Bassoon
• Recorder
• Flute
• Classical guitar
• Portuguese guitar
• Oboe
• Percussion
• Piano
• Saxophone
• Trombone
• French Horn
• Trumpet
• Tuba
• Violet
• Violin
• Cello
• Viola da gamba

On the Conservatory's website, you can learn more in detail about each of these instruments.

Is it possible to try the instruments?

Yes, interested parties can learn about the instruments through the information available on the website of the Conservatory – Educational Offerings. Instrument experimentation is organized according to the calendar defined in the Admission Notice for the respective academic year. 

What is the difference between the articulated and supplementary attendance regimes?

O Regime Articulado corresponds to attending a specialized artistic course provided by two distinct schools: the general education school and the specialized artistic education institution. In this regime, the student attends general education subjects at one school and specialized artistic education subjects at another institution, with articulated schedules to facilitate attendance. Due to the existing protocol between the Conservatory and Escola EB 2/3 Eng. Duarte Pacheco, in Loulé, students of the 2nd and 3rd Cycles, admitted under the articulated regime, must attend general education subjects at that school.

The Supplementary Regime, in turn, is restricted solely to attending the technical and artistic training components (Music), with no direct curriculum articulation or subject exemptions in the general education school. The class schedule for students in the Supplementary Regime tends to be scheduled later in the day to avoid clashes with the school schedule these students follow in their respective general education schools.

For more information, consult here

What is the difference between year and grade?

Briefly and practically, it is customary to use the Year in the Articulated Regime and the Grade in the Supplementary Regime.

Correspondence between the Grade Level and the Level of the subjects of the specialized artistic training component attended in Supplementary Regime (basic and secondary courses)

Academic Year

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

Degree

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

Correspondence between the School Year and the year of the subjects of the specialized artistic training component attended in the Initiation level

Academic Year

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Initiation

Initiation I

Initiation 2

Initiation 3

Initiation 4

Is it mandatory to choose three instruments in the application?

Yes, for new candidates to the 5th year/1st grade, it is mandatory to indicate three instrument options in order of preference. This rule only does not apply to students who are already attending initiation at the Conservatory or another official school and intend to continue the same instrument (in this case, they can select only one option, which must be the instrument they are already studying), although this possibility is offered to them. 

What are the schedules for specialized artistic education classes?

Schedules are organized so as not to clash with general education. In the articulated regime, there is direct coordination with the general education school (in the case of the 2nd and 3rd cycles of basic education, with EB 2/3 Eng. Duarte Pacheco). In the supplementary regime, classes normally take place after the regular school hours of other schools, as is the case with the 1st cycle and secondary education.

Is it necessary to acquire an instrument to study at CML-FR?

The student must have access to an instrument for daily practice, which may involve purchase or rental (a modality offered by some stores and which may be advantageous for some students). The important thing is that the student has an instrument available for regular practice. The CML-FR does not rent musical instruments.

Is there transport for CML-FR students?

The Conservatório de Música de Loulé – Francisco Rosado does not provide its own transportation. However, the Loulé City Council has, in recent years, provided transportation for students in the articulated regime during times and routes not covered by the public transport network. Thus, with access to Specialized Artistic Education for children being one of the guiding principles of the current municipal executive's philosophy, candidates admitted to the articulated attendance regime from various parts of the Municipality of Loulé will have the possibility to be transported by the municipality from their parish of residence to Escola EB 2/3 Eng. Duarte Pacheco or to the Conservatory, for the start of classes, and from Escola EB 2/3 Eng. Duarte Pacheco or the Conservatory to their parish of residence, at the end of classes.

What are the tuition costs at CML-FR?

There are no tuition fees associated with the specialized arts courses at the Conservatory, which are supported by the Ministry of Education. 

The associated values are:

• School Insurance for students (except Articulated Regime).
• Registration for the Admission Exams has a non-refundable cost of €12.00 (€6.00 for tier B and exempt for tier A);
• Registration for Instrument Experimentation (optional) at a non-refundable cost of €5.00.

There may also be an investment in a musical instrument, which can be made through purchase or rental, depending on the student's and family's choice and availability.

Additionally, participation in complementary activities, of an optional nature (such as internships, masterclasses, exchanges, study visits, or other extracurricular initiatives), may involve the payment of a registration fee or contribution of a variable amount depending on the activity.

Are there private lessons at CML-FR?

At the Conservatory, only the official courses provided for in the legislation are taught, in the articulated and supplementary regimes. There are no private lessons or open course regimes.

I'm going into the 9th grade and I have no musical experience. Can I join?

You may apply, but please note that, even in the Supplementary Regime, where a greater discrepancy is allowed, this is limited to up to two years. For example, in the case of a student attending the 9th year of general education, they would have to enter, at minimum, the 3rd or 4th grade at the Conservatory, having to take entrance exams and demonstrate the necessary knowledge for admission to these levels (theory and practice).

What happens if my student misses the admission exams?

Absence from any of the tests (Musical Aptitude/Music Theory or Instrumental Aptitude/Instrument) results in immediate exclusion from the selection process.