About Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is a specialist public university in Weimar, Thuringia, tracing its institutional roots to the 19th century and the historic State Bauhaus founded by Walter Gropius in 1919. It is the direct successor institution to what is widely regarded as the most influential school of architecture, art, and design of the 20th century, and several of its buildings are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The university operates across four faculties — Architecture and Urbanism, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Art and Design, and Media — offering approximately 40 degree programmes at bachelor's, master's, and doctoral level. Its particular strength lies in the intersection of creative, technical, and media disciplines, making it distinct from general research universities.
With around 4,024 enrolled students and nearly 32% international student share (winter semester 2024/25), the university is notably international in character for its size. It maintains over 200 partner universities worldwide and is a member of the BAUHAUS4EU European university alliance.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1919
- Students
- 4,024
- International
- ~32% (approx. 1,290 international students, WS 2024/25)
- Faculties
- 4
Direct successor to the original 1919 Bauhaus school founded by Walter Gropius — a UNESCO World Heritage institution
~32% international student share, one of the highest proportions among German public universities of comparable size
Four tightly focused faculties spanning architecture, civil engineering, art/design, and media/computer science — no generic departments
Member of BAUHAUS4EU European university alliance with nine partner institutions
No tuition fees; low semester contribution (~€338) includes nationwide Germany Semester Ticket
Compact city campus in culturally rich Weimar with below-average cost of living
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
No tuition fees for bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes at this public university (Thüringen does not charge non-EU surcharges). A semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) is payable each semester: approximately €320–€338 per semester (WS 2026/27: €338.20 for re-enrolment; new students pay an additional one-off €20 for the student ID card). The contribution covers the Germany Semester Ticket (unlimited public transport nationwide), Studierendenwerk Thüringen services, and a theatre/museum pass. Students who exceed their standard study period by more than four semesters pay an additional long-term study fee of €500 per semester.
Admission requirements
Bachelor applicants require a university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) or equivalent. Some programmes (notably Art and Design) include an artistic aptitude test. Master applicants need a completed bachelor's or equivalent degree in a related field with above-average grades; faculty examination committees assess qualifications individually. German-taught programmes require DSH-2, Goethe C2, TestDaF TDN 4, or telc C1 Hochschule. English-taught programmes accept Cambridge Certificate, TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic. Applicants from India, China (including HK/Macau), and Vietnam must hold an APS certificate (exception: doctoral programmes, or master's where the qualifying degree was obtained outside those three countries). Applicants whose prior qualification does not directly qualify for university study are referred to Staatliches Studienkolleg Nordhausen. Applications are submitted via the Bauhaus.CampusPortal or uni-assist; no paper documents required at application stage.
Application deadlines
Winter semester (October start): applications typically close 30 September. Summer semester (April start): applications typically close 15 January. Exact deadlines vary by programme — Civil Engineering and Media master's programmes often admit for both semesters; most other programmes are winter-semester only. Check the programme-specific page on uni-weimar.de or the Bauhaus.CampusPortal for confirmed dates.
Languages of instruction
Most bachelor's programmes are taught in German (DSH-2 or TestDaF TDN 4 required). A growing number of master's programmes are taught in English (Cambridge/TOEFL/IELTS/PTE Academic accepted). The Language Centre offers courses in German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Swedish, Russian, Portuguese, and Arabic.
Campuses & locations
Compact city-centre campus in Weimar; several buildings are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Address: Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 15, 99423 Weimar.
Living in Thüringen
Weimar is a small, historically rich city of around 65,000 residents in Thuringia, central Germany. It was the birthplace of the Weimar Republic, a centre of German Classicism (Goethe, Schiller, Liszt), and home to the original Bauhaus school. Several sites in Weimar carry UNESCO World Heritage designation. The city's compact size, low cost of living relative to German university cities, extensive green spaces (including the Park an der Ilm), and lively student-driven cultural scene make it an attractive study location. Living costs for students are typically below the German average of ~€819/month.
Student life & support
The Weimar International Network (WIN) and the student group Bauhaus Internationals organise Language Cafés, cultural potluck evenings, hikes, and celebrations of international holidays. The university runs a buddy programme pairing incoming international students with local students. A Sports Centre, Language Centre, and University Library are available on campus. The Studierendenwerk Thüringen operates student canteens and dormitories; private shared flats (WG) are also common. Annual events include exhibitions, performances, and an open-campus day. The Germany Semester Ticket (included in the semester contribution) covers nationwide rail and public transport.
46
Accredited Programmes
10
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
28
Master
8
Other
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