Folkwang University of the Arts
The Folkwang University of the Arts is the central training centre, and the only one in North-Rhine Westphalia, for Music, Theatre, Dance, Design and Academic Studies. It has been bringing various disciplines and art forms together under one roof since 1927 – based on the Folkwang idea of an interdisciplinary co-operation between the arts. With campuses and event venues in Essen, Bochum, Duisburg and Dortmund, Folkwang is right amongst it all and firmly rooted in the Ruhr metropolis.
Facts about the university
| Ownership | Public, North Rhine-Westphalia |
|---|---|
| City | Essen |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Students | ≈ 1,506 |
| Programmes | 2 programmes · 2 bachelor's |
| German for enrolment | B1 |
| Tuition fee |
€0 per semester for international students what it consists ofTuition fee of the federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), international students€0 Semester contribution€304.40
Some programmes charge their own fee — see the programme page.
|
| Semester contribution | €304.40 per semester |
| Application | Directly to the university; bachelor's until 15.03 |
| Campuses | Alte Abtei - Folkwang Hauptgebäude, Campus Dortmund, Campus Duisburg, Campus Folkwang Theaterzentrum | Campus Bochum |
About the university
An international impact
The ‘Folkwang School for Music, Dance and Speech’ was founded in 1927 – at the same time as the existing Essen School of Trades and Applied Arts was renamed the ‘Folkwang School of Design’. The Folkwang name has thus been synonymous with teaching, studying and producing art for more than ninety years. The original training format of interdisciplinary co-operation has acted as a beacon at an international level.
New ideas every day
As a place of interdisciplinary artistic, educational and academic research, teaching and practice, the Folkwang University of the Arts consciously gears itself around current transformation processes. Its some 1,600 students and 420 teachers bring the arts themselves to life, providing trendsetting ideas and inspiration.
A number of public events
The varied training provided at the Folkwang University of the Arts is reflected in the more than 400 public concerts, exhibitions, dance and theatre performances, symposia, lecture series and interdisciplinary productions that take place every year. These are not only held on the university’s own seven stages, but also in co-operation with renowned concert halls, theatres, museums, churches, and cultural and educational organisations.
Special people
International students, top-class teachers and highly committed staff enrich and shape the profile of the Folkwang University of the Arts. And our graduates and alumni take the Folkwang name out into the world, with the likes of Pina Bausch (dancer and choreographer), Armin Rohde and Karoline Eichhorn (actors), Frank Peter Zimmermann (violinist), Lothar Zagrosek (conductor), Hagen Rether (cabaret artist), Timm Rautert, Jitka Hanzlová (photographers) and Klaus Rinke (conceptual artist) all having studied here.
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.
Programmes
All 2 programmes →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 B1 and a certificateDSH, TestDaF or telc C1 Hochschule — before you apply, not after.
- 3Application directly to the universityBachelor's until 15.03. Deadlines 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 | €0 per semester for international students |
|---|---|
| Tuition fee of the federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), international students | €0 |
| Semester contribution | €304.40 |
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 Essen: 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 Folkwang University of the Arts
How much does it cost to study at Folkwang University of the Arts?
Are there programmes in English?
When do I need to apply?
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.