Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar
Weimar, Thüringen, Germany
- Founded
- 1872
- Students
- 699
- International
- 45%
About HfM Weimar
The Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar is the public music university of the Free State of Thuringia, located in Weimar's city centre. Its tradition reaches back to an orchestral school founded in 1872; it has borne Franz Liszt's name since 1956 and today carries the brand 'LISZT University'. It is a full music academy with ten departments: String Instruments and Harp, Wind/Brass Instruments and Percussion, Conducting and Opera Coaching (répétiteur studies), Vocal Studies and Theatre, Guitar, Piano, Early Music, New Music and Jazz, Music Education and Church Music, and Musicology Weimar-Jena. Degree levels span Bachelor, Master, Konzertexamen and postgraduate programmes, with doctorates available in musicology. The university also runs the Music High School Schloss Belvedere for highly gifted young musicians and hosts international competitions (Louis Spohr young violinists, Franz Liszt piano Weimar-Bayreuth, Joseph Joachim chamber music). Around 700 students are taught by roughly 67 professors across a scattered campus of historic buildings.
Tradition since 1872; officially named after Franz Liszt since 1956
Ten departments from Early Music to New Music/Jazz and Musicology Weimar-Jena
Hosts international competitions: Louis Spohr (young violinists), Franz Liszt piano (Weimar-Bayreuth), Joseph Joachim (chamber music)
Operates the Music High School Schloss Belvedere for highly gifted young musicians
The ALTENBURG, Franz Liszt's former residence, belongs to the university
Internationalization Strategy 2023-2027 adopted October 2022; STIBET support for international students
Doctoral studies offered in the Musicology Weimar-Jena department
Key facts
- Founded
- 1872
- Students
- 699
- International
- ~45%
- Faculties
- 10
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Public institution: no tuition fees; third-party databases list 100% of its programmes as fee-free. Students pay standard Studierendenwerk Thüringen semester contributions administered through the thoska card (exact amount not published on the pages reviewed).
Admission requirements
All applicants must pass an artistic aptitude examination (Eignungsprüfung); the university publishes detailed guidance under 'All about the aptitude test' and lists required prior qualifications per programme. International applicants need recognised German proficiency for enrolment - specific certificate thresholds were not stated on the reviewed pages. The International Office advises international students by appointment (phone/e-mail), supports them via the DAAD STIBET programme and runs exchange programmes including Erasmus+ and PROMOS.
Application deadlines
Winter-semester entry: artistic programmes (B.Mus., M.Mus., Diplom, Konzertexamen) and teacher-training (Lehramt) apply 15 February to 15 March, while Kulturmanagement (M.A.), Musicology (B.A./M.A.) and Intercultural Music and Event Management apply until 30 June; entrance exams run late May to early June. Summer-semester entry: artistic programmes apply 1 October to 2 November, Kulturmanagement and Musicology until 15 January, with exams in mid-January.
How international applicants apply
Not used. Applications are paperless and purely digital via the university's own online application portal (HISinOne), with documents uploaded there; a EUR 50 fee applies to the aptitude test. Chinese applicants additionally present the original APS certificate. Deadlines unchanged: artistic programmes 15 Feb-15 Mar (winter) and 1 Oct-2 Nov (summer).
Languages of instruction
German is the principal teaching language; the university maintains a language centre. Third-party programme databases list no English-taught degree programmes.
Student accommodation
What HfM Weimar publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studierendenwerk Thüringen
Not by the university. Apply to them directly, and expect a waiting list.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing pageFrom the university
Studierendenwerk Thüringen provides dining halls (e.g. Am Park) and accommodation guidance; campus services include instrument lending, a recording studio, university sports, language centre and counselling.
Campuses & locations
Platz der Demokratie 2/3, 99423 Weimar
former Carl-Alexander-Kaserne site used for teaching
former Franciscan monastery, home of school and church music
Beethoven House, Bach House, Haydn House and Studio Theatre in Belvedere park, plus Music High School Schloss Belvedere
Franz Liszt's former Weimar residence, used by the university
Rösslersches Haus and Kaufstrasse administration buildings, Weimar
Living in Weimar
Weimar is a compact Thuringian city of roughly 66,000 inhabitants, famous for Goethe, Schiller and the Bauhaus, with UNESCO World Heritage classical ensembles. Culture dominates daily life - theatres, museums and the university's own concert series. Jena and Erfurt are nearby, extending housing and study options.
Student life & support
Studierendenwerk Thüringen provides dining halls (e.g. Am Park) and accommodation guidance; campus services include instrument lending, a recording studio, university sports, language centre and counselling. Student ensembles range from symphony orchestra and jazz orchestra to chamber choir and early-music ensemble. Exchange is organised through Erasmus+ partner institutions, PROMOS funding and an alumni network ('Alumni Lisztiani').
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