The International Opera Academy (IOA) offers a two year postgraduate programme to help prepare young singers and accompanist repetiteurs for the complex job awaiting them in the opera world. Students are intensively prepared for professional practice and auditions through targeted courses with performing artists, and they benefit from the IOA's affiliation with several major European houses.

The curriculum consists of many hours of coaching in the repertoire, language coaching and acting training. Furthermore, attention is paid to musicology and dramaturgy: students study libretto and performance analysis. 

The IOA cooperates with a variety of partners: opera houses, music theatres, concert halls and orchestras. Its studios are located in Ghent at De Bijloke. Jan Vandenhouwe is IOA’s artistic director and its general manager is Guy Joosten.