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How much does Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts cost for international students?
HfS Ernst Busch charges no tuition fees, for EU and non-EU students alike. It is a public university funded by the state of Berlin, and that applies to its Diploma and Master's programmes.
What every student pays is the semester contribution. It is made up of the enrolment or re-registration fee, the Studierendenwerk and student body contributions and a semester ticket. HfS gives it as around 300 EUR; the exact amount changes slightly from semester to semester. Each application costs 30 EUR.
| Item | Cost for international students |
|---|---|
| Diploma (Acting, Directing, Contemporary Puppetry) | No tuition fees |
| Master (Dramaturgy, Play and Object, Choreography) | No tuition fees |
| Semester contribution (everyone) | Around 300 EUR per semester |
| Application fee | 30 EUR per application |
Confirm the exact semester contribution with the HfS student service before enrolling.
No tuition does not mean no proof of funds. For the student visa you still need to show 11,904 EUR for the year, usually in a blocked account, and that money has to be transferred months before the semester starts.
What are the application deadlines?
| Programme | Study start | Application period |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma, Acting | Summer (April) | Late May to 6 August of the previous year |
| Diploma, Directing | Summer (April) | 1 to 30 September of the previous year |
| Diploma, Contemporary Puppetry | Summer (April) | Late May to 12 October of the previous year |
| Master, Dramaturgy | Winter (October) | Until 3 March (every two years) |
| Master, Play and Object | Winter (October) | 2 February to 31 March (every two years) |
| Master, Choreography | Winter (October) | 1 to 30 September of the previous year |
HfS publishes one application period per programme, with no separate deadline for non-EU applicants. Dates are from each programme's most recent round; not every programme admits every year, and Dramaturgy and Play and Object admit only every second year, so check the programme page for the next round. Admission is by entrance exam in Berlin, and each application costs 30 EUR.
How many programmes are taught in English?
None. HfS has no degree programme taught fully in English, and all six programmes require German: C1 for Directing and Dramaturgy, B2 for Play and Object and Choreography, and an adequate command of German for Acting and Contemporary Puppetry. Parts of the MA Play and Object are taught in English, but it still requires German at B2.
About Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts
Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts (HfS Ernst Busch) is a public university of the performing arts in Berlin, founded in 1905, with 190 students. It offers six programmes: Diploma degrees in acting, directing and contemporary puppetry, and Master's degrees in dramaturgy, play and object, and choreography. The choreography programme is taught at the Inter-University Centre for Dance Berlin (HZT), which HfS runs jointly with the Berlin University of the Arts.
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