A higher education degree is required to be admitted to the Master study programme »Fine Arts« with the degree title Master of Fine Arts. Applicants who do not have a higher education degree at the time of application but who will acquire one in the six months following the end of the application period may also apply.

Applicants must also demonstrate an independent artistic position during an entrance exam.

Proof of proficiency in the German language is not required. However, we strongly recommend that you have knowledge of the German language in order to be able to fully participate in the courses offered (seminar, lectures, group and individual discussions, workshop offerings and more).

Most of the courses offered in Theory and History are held in German.

Applications are only possible for the winter semester. The following application steps are required during the application period from February 1 to March 6, 2023, 4 p.m. (deadline):

Step 1: Online application

Please create an applicant account in CampusNet. As soon as you start your application, it will receive an application number to which you can refer if you have any questions.

Step 2: digital application folder

Applicants for "Theory and History" must submit a digital documentation of artistic works or projects for the entrance examination for the major in theory and history. If you have sent your online application, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing an upload link. Upload your digital artistic application portfolio with works including PDF-files, videos, films, documentation of performances from the past two years along with the documents listed below. They should be summarised in ONE pdf document:

• A written presentation of three to five A4 pages should demonstrate the applicant's ability to formulate and express himself/herself and must include the following: Reasons for choosing the Master's program, an exposé of the scientific project, own objectives. The exposé must include the name and address of the applicant.
  
• Curriculum vitae in German or English language
  
• A copy of your university degree
  (Certificate or, if applicable, provisional certificate from the respective examination office)
  Applicants whose university degree(s) were not written in German or English must also attach a certified copy of their original certificates with a translation in German or English.

The file size is limited to 8 GB. It is no longer possible to submit a physical application portfolio. Late, incomplete and/or by e-mail received applications or subsequently submitted documents cannot be considered.
You don't have to spend any extra money to have your application portfolio professionally digitized. Simply use your smartphone or photo camera to document your work.

All documents/work uploaded with the digital application portfolio will be considered for your application to the HFBK Hamburg. Links to external platforms will not be considered.

And further:

The decision on admission to the program is made until the mid of June of the application year at the latest. If the admission committee is not already able to make a clear decision based on the digital portfolio, you may be invited to a short personal interview with your physical application file (application file with the original artistic works). The interviews usually take place from mid to end of May. Please refrain from making inquiries until then!
You will find all information and decisions in your applicant account in CampusNet.
Your application data will be stored for a maximum of 12 months.

At the end of the application period, an entrance examination committee will examine the application folders. The commission is composed of three professors, one member of the intermediate academic staff with voting rights and two students without voting rights.

The commission evaluates the application folders in categories A and C. Applicants who are rated A can begin their studies in the following winter semester.