Hochschule für Kirchenmusik der Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart
Rottenburg am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Founded
- 1949
- Students
- 40
About HfK Rottenburg
State-recognised Catholic church music academy (Musikhochschule) sponsored by the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, bearing the Latin title 'Institutum Superius Musicae Sacrae'. It trains full-time church musicians (Katholische Kirchenmusik) in a Bachelor of Music (8 semesters) and Master programmes (4 semesters each), including organ literature, liturgical organ playing, Gregorian chant/German liturgical song, voice/voice pedagogy and choral or orchestral conducting; on behalf of the diocesan Office for Church Music it also runs the part-time C-Ausbildung and a Zertifikatsstudiengang C. The institution descends from the Bischöfliche Musikschule founded in 1949 (earlier roots from 1928) and was elevated to a Hochschule by decree of Bishop Walter Kasper on 11 November 1997, confirmed by the Vatican congregation. Since 1999 it cooperates closely with the Protestant church music academy in Tübingen (joint courses, joint university choir). Admission is restricted via an entrance examination aimed at prospective Catholic church musicians.
The Catholic church music academy of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart ('Institutum Superius Musicae Sacrae'), state-recognised
Bachelor Katholische Kirchenmusik (8 semesters) and several 4-semester master programmes incl. voice/voice pedagogy and conducting
Runs the diocese's C-Ausbildung for part-time church musicians and a Zertifikatsstudiengang C
24-hour practice access to 20 pianos and seven organs plus large church organs in town
Own dormitory with 30 single rooms on campus
Ecumenical cooperation since 1999 with the Protestant church music academy in Tuebingen (joint choir and courses)
Rector: Prof. Stefan Palm (since October 2016)
Key facts
- Founded
- 1949
- Students
- 40
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Fees are governed by the academy's own Gebuehrenordnung (fee regulations, published as a PDF); church academies charge modest contributions rather than tuition. An organ scholarship (Orgelstipendium) is offered through the academy's scholarship page.
Admission requirements
Admission is by entrance examination (Aufnahmeprüfung/Eignungsprüfung). Published contents for the Bachelor Katholische Kirchenmusik: organ literature playing (10 min), liturgical organ playing (10 min), piano (10 min), choral conducting (10 min), singing (5 min), plus written (45 min) and oral (10 min) ear training, general music theory and harmony. Application is made with the academy's registration form; dates are published under Termine/Anmeldung.
Application deadlines
Bachelor/Master entrance exams are held twice a year: winter-intake registration by 2 May (2026 exam: 12 June) and summer-intake registration by 1 December (2026 exam: 30 January). The C-Ausbildung entrance exam takes place annually in late June (2026: 26 June) with registration by 2 May, and the Zertifikat C admission deadline is annually 15 May. Re-registration (Rueckmeldung) runs 1-20 February for the winter semester and 1-20 July for the summer semester.
How international applicants apply
Not used. Church academy with direct registration: candidates submit the academy's own PDF Anmeldeformular for the Aufnahmeprüfung (Bachelor/Master: winter-intake deadline 2 May, summer-intake deadline 1 December; C-Ausbildung deadline 2 May; Zertifikat C admission deadline 15 May).
Languages of instruction
German is the teaching language; no English-taught programmes are published.
Student accommodation
What HfK Rottenburg 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 pageRoom types mentioned
What that page describes. Availability varies by intake.
From the university
The academy runs its own student dormitory with 30 single rooms, a library, ensembles including the university choir, and a friends' association supporting students.
Campuses & locations
Single campus with teaching building, own student dormitory with 30 single rooms, about 20 grand pianos/uprights and seven organs in house
Living in Rottenburg am Neckar
Rottenburg am Neckar is a small episcopal town south of Tuebingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg, seat of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart's institutions alongside the diocesan academy and library. Its old town sits on the Neckar river in a rural, hilly landscape. The nearby university city of Tuebingen is only a few kilometres away.
Student life & support
Very small cohort sizes with mentoring for students especially in the first years; practice facilities available around the clock (20 pianos/grand pianos, seven organs in-house, plus time allocations on large church organs in Rottenburg). The academy runs its own student dormitory with 30 single rooms, a library, ensembles including the university choir, and a friends' association supporting students.
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