Film Composer Production Facility

Welcome to your new home, the Film Scoring Academy of Europe headquarters in Sofia, Bulgaria, where you will have 24/7 key fob access to our training facility. Our building is equipped with a high tech classroom that contains your own composer workstation, a student lounge that doubles as a score and parts printing facility, a kitchen with free coffee and an ambience that inspires your creativity. Plants, custom lighting, fresh air and an atmosphere tailored to the needs and vibes of the modern composer.

Welcome to the Academy

The Film Scoring Academy of Europe has been outfitted to be a fully functional composer production facility. We've paid close attention to everything having to do with atmosphere: green plants, comfortable seating, smart lighting, welcoming fragrances and inspiration from your favourite films hanging on the walls.

The Classroom

The main classroom at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe simultaneously serves as a fully-functional screening facility, complete with blackout curtains, as well as a composer training lab with 22 composer stations and Mac Studio lecturer station.

The room is equipped with 2 Neumann KH 310 studio monitors, a Neumann KH 750 subwoofer, plus centre and satellite speakers to support 5.1 listening. 2 Ultra HD 4K cinema displays mirror the lecturer’s on-screen content, supported by a projector in the centre of the room so composers can read a score while simultaneously watching a film. The classroom has been acoustically treated by professionals, outfitted with dimmable lighting and an integrated HD streaming rig with 3 Blackmagic 4k Pocket Cinema Cameras. 

Composer Workstations

You have 24/7 access to the composer workstations in the classroom, which are fully equipped with everything you need to create your next masterpiece. Each workstation includes:

  • A Nektar LX 61-key MIDI Keyboard with sustain pedal, mounted on a pull-out tray
  • A Focusrite Scarlett Solo Audio Interface
  • A 24” Curved Samsung Display
  • A USB hub
  • Power hub and ethernet connectivity 

The workstations are self-assigned, so you can choose the location in the room that's right for you. We also have a shared mixing desk with 2 Yamaha HS 7's, a 24” Curved Samsung Display, a Focusrite Scarlett Solo and a Behringer Neutron synth. Dorico Pro 5 also comes included with our MFA composer tuition and is used throughout the year.

Student Lounge

The Film Scoring Academy of Europe has a student lounge that also doubles as a screening room equipped with streaming services and a sound system, a shared mixing desk for double checking mixes, comfortable lounge furniture, plants, dimmable lighting, and 24/7 free coffee access via our house espresso machine.

The student lounge also has a fully functional A4/A3 printer, long tables and plenty of tape and office supplies, so you print and prepare all of your scores to be recorded by the European Recording Orchestra (ERO) right there at the Academy.

The Sound Lab

Brand new for 2025, the Sound Lab is our custom-built mixing studio designed exclusively for MFA composers. This dedicated space features full professional acoustic treatment, Focal studio monitors, a Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Quad interface, and a powerful workstation equipped for modern scoring and mixing workflows.

Available to students throughout their time in Sofia, the Sound Lab offers a peaceful, inspiring environment where you can refine your mockups, mix your recordings, experiment with sound design, or simply listen with a level of detail and clarity impossible to achieve at home. Whether you’re polishing a cue after a recording session or exploring new sonic ideas, the Sound Lab gives you the space and precision to bring your music to its highest potential.

 

Have questions about this programme?

Speak with our Admissions Department. Submit our enquiry form to receive personalised answers to your questions.

Additional Information: Master of Fine Arts

Tuition and Fees

2026-2027 MFA Programme Tuition: €36,950

Tuition Schedule

Programme Deposit: €2,000 (Due Immediately to Enroll)
Tuition Downpayment: €5,000 (Due May 1, 2026)
Payment 1: €11,950 (Due September 1, 2026)
Payment 2: €9,000 (Due December 1, 2026)
Payment 3: €9,000 (Due March 1, 2027)

The MFA programme at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe is the most affordable full-time Masters programme in film & game scoring available today, while simultaneously offering more recording sessions than any other programme in the world, thanks to our partnership with the European Recording Orchestra (ERO).

Be sure to check out the "Costs of Living in Sofia" dropdown to see how much more affordable Sofia is compared to other major European and American cities.

 

Financial Aid

Students from the United States can take advantage of the FAFSA Federal Student Aid program. For more information, visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

More Financial Aid Programmes:

All students searching for scholarships should search this website: https://www.wemakescholars.com
Norway: Lanekassen - https://www.lanekassen.no/
Colombia: Colfuturo - https://www.colfuturo.org/
South Africa: National Film and Television Foundation (NFVF) - https://www.nfvf.co.za/home/
South Africa: Oppenheimer Trust - https://www.omt.org.za/

 

2026-2027 Academic Calendar

2026-2027 Academic Calendar

Term 1 - Full time, presence in Sofia required
13 September, 2026 - 6 December, 2026

Term 2 - Remote
11 January, 2027 - 8 March, 2027

Term 3 - Full time, presence in Sofia required
10 March, 2027 - 4 June, 2027

Term 4 - Remote
7 June, 2027 - 30 August, 2027

 

Costs of living in Sofia

Sofia offers an excellent quality of life at a comparatively accessible cost, making it an attractive European destination for graduate study.

According to Numbeo’s 2026 Cost of Living Plus Rent Index, Sofia is approximately:

  • 66% less expensive than New York City
  • 59% less expensive than Boston
  • 58% less expensive than London
  • 55% less expensive than Los Angeles
  • 18% less expensive than Valencia

Students can explore current city comparisons at Numbeo.

A variety of accommodation options are available throughout Sofia, including furnished apartments, shared accommodation, hotels, hostels, and short-term rentals. Prices vary according to location, season, length of stay, and accommodation type.

The Film Scoring Academy of Europe provides students with local guidance and accommodation resources to help them identify options that suit their schedule, preferences, and budget. Students are encouraged to begin exploring accommodation early and may also choose to share with classmates during their time in Sofia.

 

Technology Requirements

Technology Requirements:

  • Avid Pro Tools 12
  • DAW (Logic Pro X, Cubase, Digital Performer, etc.)
  • NI Kontakt Full
  • Serum by Xfer Records
  • High Quality Reference Headphones
  • Industry Standard Orchestral Sample Libraries

Technology Recommendations:

  • Apple Macbook Pro (minimum quad-core, 16GB ram, internal SSD)
  • Cinematic Studio Series samples (CS Strings, CS Brass, CS Woodwinds)
  • NotePerformer Playback Engine
  • Spectrasonics Omnisphere
  • Fabfilter Mixing Suite
  • Minimum 1TB External SSD for Sound Libraries
  • MIDI Keyboard with mod wheel (for home use)

All students will receive a copy of Steinberg's notation and scoring software, Dorico Pro. Students will also have access to a hardware station in the Film Scoring Academy of Europe headquarters that is equipped with a Nektar 61-key MIDI keyboard (with sustain pedal), a 24" curved external display, a Scarlett Solo Audio Interface, ethernet and power connectivity and a powered USB hub.