The Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin does not charge tuition fees. This applies to all students equally, regardless of their country of origin. However, all students must pay a semester fee of approx. 305 € per semester. The semester fee covers the costs of the semester ticket (bus, tram, metro), the dues for the Studierendenwerk Berlin and administrative expenses.
No. We do not offer an Open House Day at the moment. However, you are invited to visit our buildings and to contact the academic advisors and/or teacher of your desired study programme directly. Contact details can be found on Our Study Programmes and via the Persons Filter. Upon consultation with the respective teacher, you may be allowed to participate in a lesson. Visit our Events Calender for concerts and further events.
Please contact us via email studium(at)adm.hfm-berlin.de for all questions relating to your studies.
You must apply regularly for your desired study programme. If your application is successful, credits gained at an official musical institution of higher education can be transferred. If applicable, you may also be admitted to a higher semester. The admissions committee will allocate you to the appropriate semester after the audition exam.
When you create your applicant profile, you must enter your personal data. Upload your videos and fill in your résumé (previous studies, professional artistic experience, competitions, awards, etc.). Under the section “Documents” you can upload, e.g., a letter of recommendation (optional). Please provide an account of your artistic development that is as detailed as possible. Under the section “Media” you have to link your video-/audio-recording on your profile.
Please consult the muvac-guide for further information:
If you are applying for the Master's programme and you do not yet have your Bachelor's degree certificate at the time of application, please attach to your muvac application a certificate of the achievements, the credit points and of the average grade that suggests that the Bachelor's degree will be obtained before the start of the Master's programme (Transcript of Records and provisional degree certificate from your previous school).
No. In a second step you have to apply through muvac at the Hanns Eisler for your desired study programme You will be asked to complete a personal letter regarding your preferred subject teacher and your expectations of studying at the Hanns Eisler.
The links for applying for vacancies at the Hanns Eisler can be found on our Website under Application and on muvac via Institutions - HfM Hanns Eisler Berlin.
Your application is complete, if
- your personal data are correct.
- your curriculum on muvac is complete (including competitions, awards etc.).
- you have completed the section of your personal letter.
- you have selected your preferred subject teacher.
- you have linked the required video/audio recordings on your application profile (section “Media”) and/or uploaded further/other programme-specific documents (section “Documents”).
In a phoniatric report, a specialist, e.g. for phoniatrics or an ear, nose and throat specialist, certifies the suitability of the person examined for voice-intensive study programmes such as the voice programme.
The phoniatric report includes a thorough vocal examination. The report should show that the vocal cords function to the extent required for the desired studies and that, from the doctor's point of view, there is no contraindication to the studies with a major in voice. An examination of the vocal folds is essential.
After submitting your application, you will receive an automated email confirming that your application has been received. You can view your active applications on muvac throughout the application process under “My applications”/“Active Applications”. If nothing is listed under “Active applications”, this means that your application has not been processed successfully. In this case, make sure to complete all obligatory fields and re-submit your application.
Note: Only applicants have access to their muvac-account and can review their applications.
You can withdraw your application within two hours after submission. Log into your muvac-account, click on “Active applications” and withdraw your application. It is possible to withdraw an application and re-apply at a later point within the application deadline. However, the application fee is not refunded on withdrawal. After the two hour deadline, your application can only be cancelled by the School. In this case please contact: audition(at)adm.hfm-berlin.de.
You must pay the application fee at the end of your application on muvac via credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express). This is possible only before the application deadline. You must pay the application fee on muvac in order to submit your application.
No. The application fee is non-refundable, even if you later choose to withdraw your application or not attend the audition exam.
You can make changes in your muvac profile after the application deadline. However, the selection commitee will start to review applications right after the application deadline. If the committee cannot find the required videos on your profile, you will be excluded from the application process. It is your responsibility to make sure that your videos are retrievable on muvac even after the application deadline.
No, the application is exclusively via the muvac platform. Application documents sent to the university by post will not be considered.
Pre-selection for all study programmes takes place via the digital application platform muvac. Applications are assessed on the basis of the information, video and audio recordings, and supporting documents provided by the applicant. Selected applicants receive an invitation to participate in the audition exams via muvac, which must be attended in person in Berlin.
This depends on your study programme. Please go to your study programme on Our Study Programmes. Look for information under "Pre-selection" and "Requirements Recordings".
You will be notified as soon as the results of pre-selection are available. You will be notified of the outcome of pre-selection via muvac. Please do not send us individual inquiries via email. You will be informed about the dates of the audition exams via muvac and email.
Requirements for the individual audition exam programs can be found on our website under Our Study Programmes. If you have any questions regarding the content of your audition exam, please contact the relevant academic advisor listed on the same page.
For instrument and voice applicants, a piano accompaniment will be provided. Please bring the piano part with you on the day of your audition exam. On exam day we decide who is going to accompany your exam.
Conductors have to provide their own correpetitor for a piece accompanied by piano in the first round.
Orchestra conducting (BA): In the opera scene of the second round, candidates will play the piano part themselves and mark the vocal parts.
Correpetition: Participants for the opera scene in the second round will be provided by the School.
Lied Interpretation for Pianists: Please note that you have to provide your own vocal partner for the audition exam.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to practice at our School prior to the exam day. You have the option to warm up for 30 minutes on the exam day after your registration (without correpetitor).
The audition exam compulsory in piano, ompositional technique and ear training take place in presence. The dates and details will be announced to the applicants in due time via muvac.
Further details on the compulsory subject exams can be found on our website in the right-hand column under Our Study Programmes.
The location for all exams attended in person is Charlottenstraße 55.
Applicants who study at a German RKM-Musikhochschule can ask for an exemption from the audition exam compulsories (piano, compositional technique, ear training) by sending a valid enrolment certificate via email at audition(at)adm.hfm-berlin.de.
A list of German RKM-Musikhochschulen cna be found under: Die deutschen Musikhochschulen - Institutions.
You will indicate your prepared audition programme when you confirm your participation at the audition exam. Should you need to make changes to your programme after your application has been submitted, please bring an updated programme with you on the day of the audition exam.
Language Requirements BA:
Foreign applicants who have not obtained their university entrance qualification in Germany have to prove their language proficiency in German. This can be done through providing: Language Certificate B2.2 (GER) of the Goethe Institute, ÖSD, telc GmbH or Test DaF - Level 4, DSD II, DSH I or UNIcert II. In the theoretical parts of the audition exam, applicants have to prove sufficient programme-related communication skills.
If you cannot provide proof of adequate language skills, you will be required to take our intensive language course prior to the beginning of your first semester and will continue taking German during the semester until you reach B2.2 level.
Language Requirements MA / Konzertexamen:
For MA and Konzertexamen studies, applicants do not have to provide a language certificate. However, we recommend our students to learn German, as it is extremely helpful for studying and living in Berlin. Applicants are welcome to participate in our language courses (subject to charges).