Akademie der Bildenden Künste München

Bayern, Germany

About Akademie der Bildenden Künste München

The Akademie der Bildenden Künste München (Academy of Fine Arts Munich, AdBK) is one of Germany's oldest and most internationally renowned art academies, situated in the Maxvorstadt district of Munich within the city's Kunstareal cultural quarter. Founded in 1770 as the Electoral Drawing School and formally constituted in 1808 as the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, it has been a leading centre for fine arts training alongside Paris since the 19th century.

The academy enrolls approximately 700–800 students across 25 classes, each led by a professor with a distinct approach to contemporary fine art. Roughly a quarter of students come from abroad, reflecting a strongly international study environment. Programmes are offered at diploma, bachelor's, master's, and advanced degree levels, covering fine arts, art education, interior architecture, architecture and art, and fine arts and therapy.

Teaching is organised primarily through individual class associations complemented by 22 specialist study workshops, a library, and the cx centre for interdisciplinary studies. The academy's philosophy emphasises artistic autonomy and personal responsibility, and it hosts an annual summer exhibition each July at which students display work in ateliers, workshops, and the garden.

Key facts

Founded: 1770
Students: 800
International: approx. 25% (about a quarter of students from abroad)

Founded 1770 — one of the oldest and most prestigious art academies in the German-speaking world

25 individual classes each led by an internationally recognised professor

Approx. 25% international students from around the world

Located in Munich's Kunstareal, adjacent to the Pinakotheken and major state museums

22 specialist study workshops covering a full range of fine-art media and techniques

Annual July student exhibition (Jahresausstellung) open to the public

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

No tuition fees are charged for degree-seeking students (standard Bavarian public art academy model). The semester re-registration contribution is €85 per semester (as of the 2025 re-registration cycle), payable via the myCampus portal. Note: Bavaria granted its universities discretionary authority to charge non-EU tuition fees from WS 2023/24 onwards; as of mid-2025 AdBK has not introduced non-EU fees, but applicants should confirm this directly before enrolment. Guest students (Gaststudium) pay €300 tuition + €97 semester contribution = €397 per semester.

Admission requirements

All applicants must first pass a portfolio selection; programmes in Interior Architecture, Art Education, Master of Fine Arts and Therapy, and Master of Architecture and Art additionally require a practical and oral examination in early July. Fine Arts applicants are admitted solely on the basis of submitted artistic work. New students in Fine Arts and Art Education are admitted on a probationary basis and must pass a probationary examination in their second semester. Prospective applicants are encouraged (but not required) to attend a portfolio consultation with professors before applying. The application portal opens on 15 March annually. International applicants sending portfolios by post must include a customs declaration and should dispatch materials early to allow for customs delays. APS certificate requirements (for Indian, Chinese, or Vietnamese nationals) are not addressed on the official site — applicants should verify directly with the academy and the relevant APS office. Language of instruction is primarily German; B1 German proficiency is referenced for Fine Arts applicants.

Application deadlines

Application portal opens: 15 March annually. Interior Architecture deadline: 30 April. All other programmes deadline: 15 May (at 12:00 noon). Practical/oral examination invitations sent approximately 22 June; examinations held in the first week of July. For exchange/incoming students: application deadline is also 15 May each year (e.g. 15 May 2026 for AY 2026/27).

Languages of instruction

German is the primary language of instruction. Exchange students are expected to have at least B1 level German and/or English. No formal language certificate is required for exchange applicants, though it is strongly recommended.

Campuses & locations

Akademiestraße Campus

Historic main building (Altbau) and adjacent New Building (Neubau) at Akademiestr. 2–4, 80799 München, in the Maxvorstadt / Kunstareal district

Living in Bayern

Munich (München) is the capital of Bavaria and Germany's third-largest city, with a population of approximately 1.6 million. It combines world-class museums and galleries — including the Pinakothek trio and the Kunstareal, directly adjacent to the academy — with a strong technology and creative economy. The city has excellent public transport (MVV), a low crime rate, and is consistently ranked among Europe's most liveable cities. Cost of living is high by German standards; student accommodation is competitive, with Studentenwerk München housing and options such as Studentenstadt Freimann available.

Student life & support

Student life at AdBK is centred on the class system: each of the 25 classes forms a close-knit working community around its professor. The academy's annual summer open-house exhibition (Jahresausstellung) in July is a major public event. The cx centre for interdisciplinary studies offers thematically rotating courses open to all students. The Kunstareal location gives students direct access to Munich's state museums, galleries, and the broader contemporary art scene. A student council (AStA) represents student interests. Enrolled students receive a student ID providing canteen access and discounted MVV public transport.

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Master

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus