Hochschule für Katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikpädagogik
Regensburg, Bayern, Germany
- Founded
- 1874
- Students
- 132
- International
- 25%
- Programmes
- 24
About Hochschule für Katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikpädagogik
The Hochschule für Katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikpädagogik Regensburg (HfKM) is a state-recognised church university located in Regensburg, Bavaria, and is widely regarded as the world's oldest continuously operating institution for church music education. Founded in 1874 as the Kirchenmusikschule Regensburg under the Diocese of Regensburg, it gained formal university status in 2001 and introduced Bologna-aligned bachelor's and master's degrees in 2008/09.
The HfKM offers a tightly focused curriculum centred on Catholic sacred music, music pedagogy, and school music (Lehramt am Gymnasium, in cooperation with the University of Regensburg). Core subjects include organ, choral conducting, liturgical singing, voice, music theory, and contemporary sacred music. Graduates receive dual recognition under both state law (B.Mus./M.Mus.) and church law (Baccalaureatus/Magistratus in Musica Sacra by authority of the Holy See). The institution enrolls approximately 130 students from more than a dozen countries, making it an internationally oriented specialist conservatory with an intimate study environment.
Founded 1874 by Franz Xaver Haberl as the world's first Catholic church-music school (Katholische Kirchenmusikschule); raised to Musikhochschule rank in November 2001 under its current name.
State-recognized church university; carried since 1909 by the Stiftung Kirchenmusikschule Regensburg affiliated with the Diocese of Regensburg; Grand Chancellor is the sitting Bishop of Regensburg.
'Regensburger Modell': cooperative music-teacher training (Lehramt Musik an Gymnasien) with the University of Regensburg in three variants.
Programmes include Katholische Kirchenmusik (B/M), artistic and artistically-pedagogical programmes in organ, harpsichord, piano, voice, strings, winds, choral conducting, plus Gregorianik, Musiktheorie and Neue Geistliche Musik (programme list as of March 2025).
161 students (summer semester 2024, per Hochschulverwaltung HfKM cited on Wikipedia).
Key facts
- Type
- Kunst- und Musikhochschulen
- Founded
- 1874
- Students
- 132
- International
- approx. 25% (WS 2024/25 preliminary figures)
- Faculties
- 1
- Programmes
- 24
Study programmes
24 accredited degrees at Hochschule für Katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikpädagogik.
Showing 1–24 of 24 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
As a church-administered non-state university, the HfKM does not charge general tuition fees for its accredited degree programmes. A fee schedule (Gebührenblatt) is published on the official website covering examination registration and administrative charges; the current schedule is valid from Summer Semester 2023. The HfKM is not subject to the Bavaria-wide non-EU tuition fee of €3,000/year introduced for state public universities from WS 2025/26, as it is a church institution. Applicants should confirm the exact semester contribution and any enrolment fees directly with the institution via the Anmeldung und Gebühren page.
Admission requirements
Admission to all bachelor's and master's programmes is contingent on passing a multi-part Eignungsprüfung (aptitude examination). The bachelor's entrance exam covers six components: choral conducting, organ repertoire, liturgical organ playing, piano, voice, and a written music-theory test (120 minutes). Master's programmes have programme-specific audition formats (e.g., the Neue Geistliche Musik master requires a piano recital, choir/band direction, and an arrangement exercise, plus pre-submission of a self-composed piece). International applicants from India, China, and Vietnam must present an APS certificate as part of the German student visa process. There is no published minimum German language certificate requirement on the official website, but programmes are delivered entirely in German and applicants should demonstrate solid German proficiency. Contact for study advice: Hon. Prof. Markus Rupprecht, [email protected].
Application deadlines
Aptitude examinations for bachelor's and master's programmes starting Winter Semester are typically held in September-October, with application deadlines around late April/early May of the same year (e.g., 30 April 2025 for WS 2025/26 entry). Summer Semester entry is also possible for some programmes. Exact dates are published per intake cycle on the Eignungsprüfungen/Termine section of the official website.
How international applicants apply
Direct application to the HfKM with an aptitude/entrance examination (Eignungsprüfung); registration, fees and exam dates are handled through the university's own Bewerbung section (hfkm-regensburg.de/bewerbung/anmeldung-und-gebuehren/ and /bewerbung/eignungspruefungen-termine/). No uni-assist procedure documented. Church-music training is tied to commissioning by a diocese for the Kirchenmusik A/B career paths.
Languages of instruction
All degree programmes are taught in German. Applicants are expected to have sufficient German proficiency for study and liturgical contexts; no formal minimum language certificate level is published on the official site, but B2 competence is typically assumed for music-theory and pedagogy coursework.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Student accommodation
What Hochschule für Katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikpädagogik publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing pageFrom the university
On-campus dormitory accommodation is available.
Campuses & locations
Main campus at Andreasstraße 9, Regensburg - includes concert hall, study church (St. Andreas), library, and student dormitory. Relocated to this site in 1977; fully refurbished 2008.
Living in Regensburg
Regensburg is a city of approximately 160,000 inhabitants in eastern Bavaria, located at the northernmost point of the Danube. Its medieval Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 and is one of the best-preserved large medieval city centres in Germany. The city hosts around 32,000 students across three universities and is also Bavaria's third-largest IT hub. Students benefit from a compact, walkable historic centre, a lively café and cultural scene, and good rail connections to Munich (1.5 hours) and Nuremberg (1 hour).
Student life & support
The HfKM's small size (approx. 130 students) creates a close-knit community with intensive individual instruction. Students are integrated into the liturgical and concert life of the Diocese of Regensburg - performing at cathedral services, festivals, and regional church venues. On-campus dormitory accommodation is available. The institution runs a Hochschulchor, departmental concerts, and close collaboration with the world-renowned Regensburger Domspatzen tradition. Regensburg's broad student population (32,000 across all institutions) means a full range of social and cultural options alongside the specialist music environment.
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