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How much does Folkwang University of the Arts cost for international students?
Folkwang charges no tuition fees, for EU and non-EU students alike. Every student pays a semester contribution of 374.80 EUR for winter 2026/27, which includes the Deutschlandsemesterticket for public transport across Germany. Applying costs 50 EUR per application, except for the Design faculty's programmes, which are free to apply to.
| Item | Cost for international students |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's and Master's | No tuition fees |
| Semester contribution (everyone) | 374.80 EUR per semester |
| Of which Deutschlandsemesterticket | 226.80 EUR |
| Of which Studierendenwerk and student body | 125 EUR and 23 EUR |
| Application fee | 50 EUR (no fee for Design programmes) |
| Professional Media Creation (M.A., run by SAE Institute Bochum) | 485 EUR per month for 24 months + 400 EUR registration |
Professional Media Creation is the only exception: SAE Institute runs it and charges its own tuition. It is taught in German, mainly in weekend blocks, and SAE aims it at German-speaking applicants from the EU.
For your student visa you also 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?
| Degree | Intake | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Most Bachelor's and Master's (music, dance, design, musicology) | Winter (October) | 15 March |
| Art and Design Science (M.A.), Photography Studies and Research (M.A.) | Winter (October) | 31 May |
| Professional Media Creation (M.A.) | Winter (October) | 15 June |
| Musical (B.A.), Physical Theatre, Directing, Acting | Summer (April) | 15 November of the previous year |
| Selected music Master's | Summer (April) | 15 November of the previous year |
| Other programmes | See the programme page | See the programme page |
Folkwang publishes one set of dates for all applicants. International applicants apply directly to Folkwang, not through uni-assist, and the complete application must arrive by the deadline. The deadline is also the registration for the entrance exam (aptitude test). A foreign school-leaving certificate may need a fee-based evaluation by the ZAB, which can take some time, so start early.
How many programmes are taught in English?
One. The Master's in Design Futures (M.A.) is also offered with an English-language track; you need proof of English by enrolment. German is the language of instruction in all other programmes. You can apply without a German certificate if you have not yet reached the required level, but you must show it by enrolment (end of September for a winter start). The required level is listed on each programme page.
About Folkwang University of the Arts
Folkwang University of the Arts (Folkwang Universität der Künste) is a public university of music, theatre, dance, design and art and design science, founded in 1927, with about 1,600 students, 37 percent of them from abroad. Its main campus is in Essen-Werden, with further campuses at the Zollverein World Heritage Site in Essen, and in Duisburg, Bochum and Dortmund.
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