- Founded
- 1950
- Students
- 1,400
- International
- 33%
- Programmes
- 18
About Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg
Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg (HfMT Hamburg) - known in English as Hamburg University of Music and Drama - is one of the largest arts universities in Germany, with around 1,400 enrolled students. It offers artistic and academic training across music, theatre, education, therapy, and cultural management, organised under four deaneries: Music (Deaneries I and IV), Theatre Academy (Theaterakademie Hamburg), Education/Therapy/Science (Deanery III), and the Institute for Culture and Media Management (KMM).
Founded in 1950 as the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik and renamed in 1991 to its current form, the university operates across two main campuses in Hamburg: the historic Budge-Palais on the Outer Alster (Campus Außenalster) and a second campus in Barmbek opened in 2021 for theatre and media management programmes. The institution hosts approximately 700 public events per year. It was the first arts university in Germany to complete system accreditation in 2017.
The university maintains partnerships with over 100 international universities and is a member of the Association Européenne des Conservatoires and the European Opera Academy. Its language support team (L-team) covers Bulgarian, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian alongside German.
Around 1,400 students - one of the largest arts universities in Germany
Founded 1950; renamed to current form in 1991 after adding theatre programmes
First arts university in Germany to complete system accreditation (2017)
Two campuses: historic Budge-Palais (Außenalster) and Barmbek (opened 2021)
Over 100 international partner universities; member of Association Européenne des Conservatoires
Approximately 700 public events hosted per year
Key facts
- Type
- Kunst- und Musikhochschulen
- Founded
- 1950
- Students
- 1,400
- International
- ~33%
- Faculties
- 4
- Programmes
- 18
Study programmes
18 accredited degrees at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg.
Showing 1–18 of 18 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
Hamburg is a public university in a German state (Hamburg) that does not charge tuition fees for EU and non-EU students in consecutive Bachelor's and Master's programmes. A semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) is payable each semester; the exact current amount was updated for Winter Semester 2026/27 but a specific figure is not published on the main site pages reviewed - students are directed to the re-registration (Rückmeldung) section or can contact [email protected]. There is also an application and admission procedure fee. Hamburg state does not apply the Baden-Württemberg non-EU surcharge (€1,500/semester).
Admission requirements
Admission to all programmes requires passing an artistic and academic entrance examination (Aufnahmeprüfung) specific to the chosen programme. For music programmes the examination includes the main instrument/voice, music theory, aural training, and piano. A passed entrance exam is valid for four semesters (except the BA Acting course, which is valid only for the application semester). Applicants must also hold a recognised higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur); exceptional artistic aptitude (grade ≥1.5 or 23 points in the main subject) may substitute the formal qualification. International applicants whose prior qualification is from outside the German-speaking area must prove German language proficiency at B2 CEFR before enrolment in German-taught programmes; this requirement does not apply to English-taught programmes. Applications are submitted online via the hispro.de portal during designated application windows only. APS certificate: not listed as a requirement on the official site; as an arts university with audition-based admission, APS is not part of the published admission process - applicants from India/China/Vietnam should verify directly with the international office.
Application deadlines
Specific application window dates are published on the hispro.de application portal and the HfMT admissions pages only during open periods; they are not hard-coded on the static site. General pattern: Winter Semester begins 1 October; Summer Semester begins 1 April. Prospective applicants should monitor https://www.hfmt-hamburg.de/en/studium/bewerben/bewerbung-an-der-hfmt and the hispro.de portal for current opening/closing dates. Contact: [email protected].
How international applicants apply
No uni-assist. Application is made exclusively through the university's own online portal (elisa.hfmt-hamburg.de) during programme-specific windows, followed by the mandatory entrance examination (Aufnahmepruefung); some programmes require a video upload during the application window. Applicants without a German Abitur must prove German at B2 CEFR (C1 for some programmes such as Musiktherapie).
Languages of instruction
The primary language of instruction is German for most programmes. English-taught degree programmes are available (e.g. certain master's in the Culture and Media Management area and the CoPeCo joint master's). Applicants without a German-language higher education qualification must demonstrate German at B2 CEFR level for Bachelor's and Master's admission to German-taught programmes. The international office language-support team (L-team) operates in 11 languages.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Student accommodation
What Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
From the university
Housing is not managed directly by the university; students typically access Hamburg's Studierendenwerk accommodation or the private market.
Campuses & locations
Main campus in the Budge-Palais on the Outer Alster; music and core programmes
Second campus opened 2021; theatre and media management programmes
Dedicated research and new-music facility; part of federal funding initiative from 2023
Living in Hamburg
Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city (population ~1.9 million) and a major port and media hub on the Elbe river. It has one of Europe's most active live-music and theatre scenes, making it a natural home for an arts university. The city offers excellent public transport (HVV network), a large student population across multiple universities, and strong connections to the music industry, including concert halls, opera, and a thriving jazz and pop sector.
Student life & support
The International Office ([email protected]), led by Nele Hellmold and staffed by Christiane Brück and Nely Peinemann, supports incoming and outgoing students, administers Erasmus+ mobility, ISAP, PROMOS, STIBET, and performance scholarships. An L-team provides language support in 11 languages. Health insurance is mandatory and must be proved at enrolment; public student insurance (e.g. TK, AOK) is the standard route for students under 30. Housing is not managed directly by the university; students typically access Hamburg's Studierendenwerk accommodation or the private market. The campus hosts approximately 700 events per year, providing performance opportunities integral to student training.
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