Dresden University of Fine Arts
Dresden University of Fine Arts (HfBK Dresden) is an autonomous fine arts academy. Its autonomy is based on the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of art and freedom of education and research in art and science.
Dresden University of Fine Arts is one of the oldest training institutions for fine arts in Europe. There are currently about 550 students studying in five study programmes at the academy.
Facts about the university
| Ownership | Public, Saxony |
|---|---|
| City | Dresden |
| Founded | 1764 |
| Students | ≈ 550 |
| Programmes | 1 programme |
| German for enrolment | B2 |
| Tuition fee |
set by the university for international students — see the programme page what it consists ofSemester contribution€295.70
Some programmes charge their own fee — see the programme page.
|
| Semester contribution | €295.70 per semester |
| Application | Directly to the university |
| Campuses | Brühlsche Terrasse, Güntzstraße, Pfotenhauerstraße |
About the university
The Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden (HfBK Dresden) is an autonomous fine arts academy. Its autonomy is based on the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of art and freedom of education and research in art and science.
Founded in 1764, the academy is committed to a liberal-minded, international, free, creative and scientifically methodological mission statement. We strive towards regenerating awareness about our rich yet problematic tradition, and understand art and science as independent yet interrelated systems of knowledge.
The key goal of our educational programme is to pave the way for multi-talented, creative personalities whose capabilities exceed the limits of their respective core discipline. The academy promotes interdisciplinary cooperation in artistic and scientific research projects. For us, artistic research is the practice of artistic development more than anything else.
We see art as an indispensable part of civil society and attach great importance to making it accessible to the public. With this in mind, the academy has three galleries and an extremely well-equipped laboratory theatre with a capacity of 100 seats. OKTOGON is an outstanding art gallery. Its reconstructed historical rooms are spread across 800 square metres and it holds primarily exhibitions of contemporary art that is related to what is taught in the academy.
The academy has a wide network of connections to international universities and institutions. Its members actively participate in international discourse on questions related to art and society.
As an institution, we stand firmly against any form of discrimination and see the pursuit of equality as a priority task.
At present, HfBK Dresden has about 120 employees. In addition, there are student, art and research assistants as well as lecturers.
Approximately 550 students are currently enrolled in the study programmes of Fine Arts, Art Technology, Preservation and Restoration of Artistic and Cultural Assets, Stage Setting and Costume Design, Theatre Setting (technical college) and the postgraduate programme Art Therapy. This course profile is complemented by the subject areas of Art History, Philosophy/Aesthetics, Architecture and Interior Design as well as Applied Theatre Studies/Production Dramaturgy. The key facilities that are available are the Archive and the Custody with the historical anatomical collection, the Library with a Media Centre, the Exhibition Department, the Laboratory Theatre, Career Service and the Electronic Data Processing Centre.
The individual fields of study are spread over three different locations in Dresden. These too have 23 labs and workshops pertaining to the disciplines. The academy attaches great importance to the quality of its staff and the material equipment in its laboratories and workshops, and strives to keep them up to date with the latest technologies at all times.
The art academy, which has a university status, has the right to award doctorates in scientific disciplines, Restoration and Conservation (also Habilitation) and Art Therapy.
Faculties
The faculty determines the campus, the language of its programmes and the admission committee that evaluates your grades. Requirements can differ between faculties of the same university.
All faculties →Programmes
1 programme →How to apply
The general procedure is the same for all programmes of the university; the required grade, language and additional requirements are on the page of each programme.
- 1Check your school-leaving certificateDirect admission, admission after a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — it depends on your country and certificate.
- 2German B2 and a certificateDSH, TestDaF or telc C1 Hochschule — before you apply, not after.
- 3Application directly to the universityDeadlines differ between programmes — check the programme page.
- 4Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account — start them in parallel with the application.
What it costs to study
| Tuition fee | set by the university for international students — see the programme page |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €295.70 |
Some programmes charge their own fee — see the programme page.
Campuses
About the campuses in detail →A programme is tied to a campus — when looking for housing, go by the campus, not by the university's main address.
Studying in Dresden: housing, transport, costs →If you don't meet the requirements yet
Two typical stops: a school certificate without direct admission and German below the required level. Both can be solved within a year, but plan them before you apply, not after a rejection.
Questions about Dresden University of Fine Arts
How much does it cost to study at Dresden University of Fine Arts?
Are there programmes in English?
Universities nearby
University chosen — next come the programme and the deadlines
Requirements and deadlines differ within one university. We will pick 3–5 programmes for your certificate and language and plan everything back from the deadline.