Merz Akademie Hochschule für Gestaltung, Kunst und Medien, Stuttgart - Staatlich anerkannt

About Merz Akademie Hochschule für Gestaltung, Kunst und Medien, S

Merz Akademie – Hochschule für Gestaltung, Kunst und Medien is a state-recognised private university of applied arts in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. Founded in 1918 as the Free Academy for Cognition and Design by Albrecht Leo Merz, it received formal state accreditation in 1985 and institutional accreditation by the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) in 2008. It is operated as a non-profit GmbH within the broader Merz Bildungswerk educational group.

The academy positions itself deliberately between a classical art academy, a technical college, and a humanities faculty, integrating design, art, technology, and theory. It offers a Bachelor of Arts (7 semesters) across Film and Video, New Media, Visual Communication, and Theory, and an English-taught Master of Arts (3–4 semesters) with seven specialisation tracks including Photography, Film, Graphic Design, Illustration, 3D/Interaction/Games, Media Art/Digital Folklore, and Artistic Research.

As a small specialist institution, Merz Akademie is known for its close individual supervision, practice-oriented study in small groups, and well-equipped facilities including VR lab, sound studio, green-screen/video suites, print studios, and bookbinding workshops. It maintains active international partnerships through Erasmus+ and hosts incoming exchange students each semester.

Key facts

Founded: 1918

Founded 1918; state-recognised since 1985; institutionally accredited by the Wissenschaftsrat (2008)

Unique positioning between art academy, technical college, and humanities faculty

English-taught Master of Arts with seven specialist tracks (Photography, Film, Graphic Design, Illustration, 3D/Interaction/Games, Media Art/Digital Folklore, Artistic Research)

Small class sizes with close individual supervision and project-based learning

Active Erasmus+ partnerships and DAAD-funded STIBET I scholarships for international master's students

Fully equipped specialist labs: VR, sound studio, green-screen, print studios, bookbinding workshops

Admissions & costs

Tuition & fees

Merz Akademie is a private institution and charges tuition fees. Bachelor: €479/month. Master: €595/month plus a one-time enrollment fee of €250. Semester contribution (Studierendenwerk Stuttgart + VVS StudiTicket) is approximately €96.50 per semester (from WS 2024/25). As a private university, the Baden-Württemberg non-EU surcharge of €1,500/semester (applicable at public state universities) does not apply here; tuition is uniform and set by the institution.

Admission requirements

Bachelor: Applicants must hold a higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung); international applicants need a recognition confirmation from the Studienkolleg Konstanz. German language proficiency at B2 level (DSH or TestDaF) is required. Admission involves a portfolio/work samples review and an interview with a practical assignment. APS certificate is required for Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants as a prerequisite for the German student visa. Master: A Bachelor's degree or equivalent (Diplom) with 210 ECTS (or 180 ECTS with a mandatory preliminary semester) in artistic, design, humanities, or sciences fields is required. English proficiency at B2 level minimum is required. Application materials include CV, degree certificates, project outline (2–3 pages), motivation letter, and portfolio of 1–3 works.

Application deadlines

Bachelor WS 2026/27: June 11, 2026 (application test: June 25, 2026). Further deadlines announced per semester capacity. Master WS 2026/27: July 6, 2026 (applicants not requiring a visa); Master SS 2027: September 7, 2026 (all applicants). Both programmes accept applications for the next three upcoming semesters.

Languages of instruction

Bachelor programmes taught in German. Master of Arts programme taught in English (B2 level required at application).

Campuses & locations

Stuttgart – Teckstraße

Main campus at Teckstraße 58, 70190 Stuttgart

Living in Baden-Württemberg

Stuttgart is the capital of Baden-Württemberg and one of Germany's major economic hubs, home to the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. It has a compact, hilly city structure with strong cultural infrastructure including the Staatsgalerie, Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, and a lively independent art and design scene. The public transport network (S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses) is covered by the VVS StudiTicket included in the semester contribution. Cost of living is moderate relative to Munich or Frankfurt, with student accommodation available through the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart.

Student life & support

Merz Akademie's small size fosters a close-knit student community with direct access to professors and staff. The student committee (AStA) is active on campus. Students have access to specialised labs including virtual reality, sound studio, green-screen, print, and bookbinding facilities. Exhibitions, symposia, and public screenings are held regularly. On-campus housing options are referenced, and the broader Merz Bildungswerk campus in Stuttgart provides a mixed educational environment. Incoming exchange students participate each semester under Erasmus+ and Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM programmes.

International Office: [email protected] International students page →

Accredited Programmes

Bachelor/Bakkalaureus

Master