Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg

About Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg

The Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg (HFBK Hamburg) is a state art academy and one of Germany's most internationally recognised fine-art universities. With roots in a drawing school established in 1767, it now enrols approximately 950 students across seven artistic and scientific departments — Sculpture, Painting/Drawing, Graphic Art/Photography, Film, Design, Stage Design, Time-based Media, and Theory and History — supported by around 70 teaching staff and 20 fully-equipped workshops.

HFBK Hamburg offers a tightly focused range of degree programmes: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts, art-teacher education at both undergraduate and postgraduate level (B.Ed./M.Ed.), and doctoral qualifications including the Dr. phil. in artibus and, from 2025, a PhD in Art Practice. The curriculum is explicitly interdisciplinary, giving students access to all workshops and specialisations regardless of their declared focus.

The institution maintains active international partnerships through its Art School Alliance with universities in 11 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and hosts an Institute for Contemporary Art and Transfer (ICAT). Its main building on Lerchenfeld 2 in Hamburg-Uhlenhorst, a landmark brick complex completed in 1913, sits on the Kuhmühlenteich waterfront.

Key facts

Founded: 1767
Students: 950
Faculties: 7

State art academy with roots in a drawing school founded in 1767 — among Germany's oldest fine-art institutions

Approximately 950 students taught by around 70 professors and lecturers across 7 specialised departments

20 fully-equipped workshops spanning sculpture, film, digital media, graphic design, stage design, and more

Art School Alliance partnerships with universities in 11 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas

Doctoral programmes in art: Dr. phil. in artibus and PhD in Art Practice (from 2025)

No tuition fees; semester contribution of approximately €371 includes a Germany-wide public-transport ticket

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

No tuition fees are charged — tuition was abolished for students at state universities in Hamburg. Students pay a semester contribution of approximately €371 per semester (Summer 2026 figure), comprising: semester ticket (Deutschlandsemesterticket) €208.80, Studierendenwerk contribution €101.00, AStA student committee €10.20, hardship fund €1.00, and administration costs €50.00. Incoming Erasmus/exchange students pay a reduced rate of €321. There is no additional non-EU or international-student surcharge.

Admission requirements

All programmes are admission-restricted (zulassungsbeschränkt) with admission based on artistic aptitude assessed through a portfolio entrance examination. Applicants submit a digital portfolio of approximately 20 artworks plus CV, educational credentials (with certified translations for non-German documents), and proof of German language proficiency. The application portal is HISinOne and accepts applications for winter semester only, typically February to early March (e.g. 4 Feb–5 Mar 2026). Admission decisions are communicated by late April. Applicants from India, China, and Vietnam must hold an APS certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre (Akademische Prüfstelle) at the German Embassy in their country before applying; this is a formal requirement for credential recognition. Applicants who have not yet reached the required German level may indicate this in their application and must complete intensive German language courses during their first two semesters.

Application deadlines

Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts: winter semester only; application window typically 4 February to 5 March (check official site for current year). Art teacher education (B.Ed./M.Ed.): same winter-semester window. Dr. phil. in artibus (doctoral): applications accepted until 30 September. PhD in Art Practice: applications accepted until 14 October.

Languages of instruction

Instruction is primarily in German. Knowledge of German is required for degree programmes; B2-level German strongly recommended. Some programme documentation is available in English.

Campuses & locations

Lerchenfeld 2

Main building, Hamburg-Uhlenhorst; built 1911–1913 by Fritz Schumacher on the Kuhmühlenteich waterfront

Wartenau 15

International Office and additional teaching spaces

Finkenau 42

Additional departmental teaching location

Living in Hamburg

Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city and its principal port, with a population of approximately 1.9 million. It is home to a dense cultural infrastructure — including the Elbphilharmonie, the Kunsthalle, Deichtorhallen, and numerous independent galleries — that makes it particularly suited to an art-academy education. Hamburg's economy is anchored in media, logistics, and the creative industries; graduates from HFBK have a well-established local labour market for creative and cultural work.

Student life & support

HFBK's small size (around 950 students) fosters a close-knit community. The 20 workshops covering traditional and digital production are open to all students across departments. The library functions as a transdisciplinary learning and discourse space, with an 'Extended Library' serving as an informal social area. The AStA (student committee) organises cultural events and provides social support. The semester ticket included in the semester contribution covers public transport across the Hamburg metropolitan area (Deutschlandsemesterticket). International students can access advising through the International Office (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–3 p.m., Wartenau 15, Room 06a/06b).

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus

Master