The first step is to apply online via our application platform.

The platform will be open from 1 March to 15 March and we will publish the login details here the day before at the latest.

As part of your application, you will be asked to upload the following documents in PDF format:

• Enter your personal details in the online application form
• if available: Upload films, videos as individual mp4 files
• Upload a PDF file with Diploma and curriculum vitae in tabular form 
• General higher education entrance qualification certificate or other school and/or vocational school leaving certificate; school leaving certificate or last half-year report; school leaving certificate; transcript of records, etc.
• Certificates and testimonials that are not in German or English must be uploaded as officially certified German or English translations. In this case it is not necessary to upload the original certificate).

You must have completed the online application before submitting the application portfolio or sending it by post.

If you are applying with purely digital work (see section below), please upload this as well. A scan of your physical work does not constitute a 'digital only' application and will not replace it.

MEDIALITY OF THE WORKS

A specific medium, technique or theme is not specified. For example, painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, installations, film/video, performances, artistic actions, digital art, net art, sound works, texts, sketchbooks, etc. can be submitted.

The application is made by submitting originals, as far as this is possible. Since the media of the works do not necessarily correspond to the possibilities/formats of the submission, please note the conditions explained below so that your application can be considered.

NUMBER OF WORKS

In principle, you should apply with at least 20 artistic works in the medium of your choice, which must be submitted as originals*.

The only exception to this rule is if you wish to apply exclusively with films/videos. In this case, you must submit at least three films/videos (file size max. 350 MB to ensure streaming)

* If you need to document your work, as submission as an original is excluded by the application conditions, please note the information below under Documentation of original work.

If you are applying with only original digital work** and/or documentation, you do not need to submit a physical application portfolio.

**Please refer to the section Original works to clarify what is meant by original digital works.

*ORIGINAL WORKS

Original works within the meaning of the submission conditions are those submitted in the medium in which and for which they were designed.

Digital submissions are only considered original works if they were designed for an exclusively digital presentation (screen, projection, etc.). These original digital works do not have to be included in the portfolio in printed form, but must be uploaded together in an additional PDF file via the online application (max. 20 MB). Do not upload the files individually!

Important:

Documentation of analogue work (e.g. scans, photographed work) are not originals!

Documentation can only be considered for the number of works to be submitted if an analogue submission is generally not possible (e.g. for sculptures, room installations or performances). For more details, see Documentation of original works.

*DOCUMENTATION OF ORIGINAL WORKS

Spatial works such as sculptures, installations, as well as original paintings, drawings or analogue photographs that exceed the DIN A0 format must be submitted as documentation in the portfolio (e.g. scan printout, photo printout).

Time-based analogue works such as performances can be submitted as digital film documentation or as photographic documentation (printouts). Analogue films can be submitted in digitalised form or as photographic documentation (printouts of exemplary film stills).

It must be labelled in each case whether it is the documentation of a work (photographed sculpture, photographed painting, documented performance, etc.) by labelling the photo or printout on the reverse, in the case of digital film documentation by clearly naming the file (‘filmically documented performances’ or similar).

Original works that are smaller than DIN A0 and fit into the physical application folder must be submitted as originals.

Format and labeling of the application folder

Commercially available folder, maximum size of the folder DIN A0 (0,84 m x 1,19 m), a minimum size is not specified.

Please write on your application portfolio:

• Your first and last name,
• your desired course of study and
• your application number (this will be sent to you by e-mail after uploading your digital application).

Further notes:

Please place the work samples loosely in the folder so that they can be easily removed and repacked. Please do not use clear plastic sheets, binders, etc.

Not accepted:

Boxes, suitcases, rolls or similar, framed work, canvases stretched on stretcher frames (please unstretch if necessary!) and loose work that is not in the application folder.

Mailing options:

• If you do not wish to hand in your work samples (application portfolio) in person at the university on the above dates, you have the option of sending us your portfolio by post at your own risk (unsolicited) --> for deadline see dates at top of this paga <-- Kunstakademie Münster, Student Services, Leonardo Campus 2, 48149 Münster
• Sending outside the EU: the university does not make any declarations to the customs authorities and does not accept parcels that incur fees for the recipient. Please stamp and label your consignment accordingly, as delays due to storage in customs, for example, may lead to exclusion from the procedure. Please contact your shipping company and the customs administration directly in this regard. The transport risk is borne by the applicant, so please make sure that the application documents for a university degree programme are clearly marked as such!
• Please note that the university cannot provide any information on customs clearance, associated fees and services.

A physical application portfolio does not have to be submitted in the following cases:

Films/videos

If you wish to apply to the Kunstakademie Münster exclusively with films/videos, you must submit at least three films/videos (file size max. 350 MB to ensure streaming).

Films/videos, film documentations of performances etc. can be uploaded as mp4 files. Video files must be playable with a VLC player.

Please name the digital works with:

    Surname, first name
    Title of the work
    Type of artwork (film/video, film documentation of a performance) and
    Provide information about your authorship (author of the script, director, cinematography, editing, etc.)

Original digital works

Original digital works are works that have been created digitally and are also to be presented digitally as a work of art.

If you wish to apply exclusively with original digital works, you must submit at least 20 original digital works.

Insert all original digital works into a PDF file (max. 20 MB), name it ‘Last name, first name_application portfolio’ and upload it. Do not upload the files individually!

A total of at least 20 original works (digital and non-digital works) must be submitted:

1. physical application portfolio containing all work that is not original digital.

and

2. insert original digital works into a PDF file (max. 20 MB), name it ‘Name, first name_application portfolio’ and upload it. Do not upload the files individually!

3. individual mp4 files: Films/videos, film documentation of performances etc. can be uploaded as mp4 files. Video files must be playable with a VLC player (file size max. 350 MB to ensure streaming).

Naming of the films/videos:

    Surname, first name
    Title of the work
    Type of artwork (film/video, film documentation of a performance) and
    Provide information on your authorship (author of the script, director, camera work, editing, etc.)

Original digital works

Original digital works are works that have been created digitally and are also to be presented digitally as a work of art.

The following applies to all degree programs:

The prerequisite for admission to the program is the applicant’s artistic aptitude for the chosen course of study. This is determined by reviewing the applicant’s own artistic works, which must be submitted in an application portfolio. Please note the questions: “Which artistic works can I submit for application?“ and “What is the assessment test?“

Teacher training programs:

For teacher training programs, the additional requirement is the general university entrance qualification (Abitur) or a previous education recognized as equivalent, e.g. as a profresionally qualified person. Please note the question: “How can I apply as a professionally qualified person?“

Fine Arts Program without A-Levels

You can also apply for the liberal arts program without a high school diploma or equivalent qualification. In this case, the submitted works will be examined for outstanding artistic talent. Please note the question: “Can I apply without a high school diploma (allg. Hochschulreife)?“

In order to be eligible for a place at Kunstakademie Münster, you must apply for a specific course of study.

The following study programs are offered at Kunstakademie Münster:

• Fine Arts degree programme (Academy Certificate / German Diplom)
• High schools and comprehensive schools, single-subject Bachelor of Education degree, followed by a Master of Education degree (You study the subject art at Kunstakademie Münster and in parallel the subject educational science at the University of Münster)
• High schools and comprehensive schools, two-subject Bachelor of Arts degree, followed by a Master of Education degree (You will study art at Kunstakademie Münster and a second subject plus educational sciences at the University of Münster.)
• Haupt-, Real-, secondary and comprehensive schools, Bachelor of Arts degree, followed by a Master of Education degree
• Elementary school, Bachelor of Arts degree, followed by a Master of Education degree (You will study the subject of art at Kunstakademie Münster and basic language and mathematics education plus educational sciences at the University of Münster.)

Only one degree program can be selected per application portfolio via the online application platform.

Admission as an outstanding artistic talent

The following applies to the Fine Arts program: You can apply without a general university entrance qualification (e.g. with a specialized baccalaureate, Real- or Hauptschulabschluss, etc.). In this case, outstanding artistic talent is a prerequisite for admission. For this purpose, the submitted artistic works are examined for outstanding artistic talent in the entrance examination.

Admission as professionally qualified person

For the Fine Arts program and for the bachelor’s training degree programs, admission without an Abitur (general university entrance qualification) is possible under certain circumstances as a vocationally qualified person. Please refer to the questions “How can I apply as a vocationally qualified person?“

Even without the Allgemeine Hochschulreife (Abitur), you can apply as a vocationally qualified person for the following degree programs:

• Fine Arts and
• Bachelor’s degree programs in art teaching

Requirements

The exact requirements are set out in the Ordinance on University Access for Those Qualified in Vocational Education and Training (BBHZVO).

You are considered to be qualified in vocational education if you have

• a masters craftsman’s certificate or comparable qualification according to §2 BBHZVO

or

• a vocational training (of at least two years) and have subsequently pursued a professional activity in the trianing occupation or in an occupation corresponding to the vocational training (of at least three years) in accordance with §3 and §4 BBHZVO.

What additional documents must be submitted?

Upload training certificate, master craftsman’s certificate or comparable qualification if applicable, proof of professional activity (at least 3 years) or equivalent activity according to §4 BBHZVO via the online application.

Teaching Credentials: Additional application at the University of Münster

For the cooperative Bachelor’s degree programs, you must also apply to the the University of Münster for the corresponding degree program as a professionally qualified person. You can only be enrolled if you are also admitted to the study of educational sciences, and if applicable, the additional subject or learning areas at the University of Münster. Please note the information of the University of Münster and the application deadlines.

The following teaching training courses for different types of schools are offered at Kunstakademie Münster:

• Single-subject Bachelor of Education and Master of Education for high schools and comprehensive schools (You study the subject art at Kunstakademie Münster and in parallel the subject educational science at the University of Münster.)
• Two-subject Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education for high schools and comprehensive schools (You study the subject art at Kunstakademie Münster and the second subject plus educational sciences at the University of Münster.)
• Haupt-, Real-, secondary- and comprehensive schools Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education (You study the subject art at Kunstakademie Münster and a second teaching subject plus educational sciences at the University of Münster.)
• Elementary School Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education (You study the subject art at Kunstakademie Münster and basic language and mathematics education plus educational sciences at the University of Münster.)

The following applies to all teacher training programs:

You first study a bachelor’s degree program, which is followed by the consecutive master’s degree program „Master of Education“.

Further information on the teaching training programs:

 https://www.kunstakademie-muenster.de/studium-und-lehre/studiengaenge-aufbau-inhalte-ziele

The teaching training programs are offered in cooperation with the the University of Münster. At the the University of Münster, the educational sciences and, if applicable, the additional teaching subjects or learning areas are studied.

Not all teaching subjects can be combined with each other.

Homepage Zentrum für Lehrkräftebildung

Possible subject combinations in the two-subject Bachelor's degree, in the HRSGe teaching degree or in the elementary school teaching degree, Homepage Student Advice and Counselling Centre (ZSB) at the University of Münster

Application to the University of Münster (Bachelor and Master)

Please submit your application letter from Kunstakademie Münster with your application to the University of Münster. Please inform yourself about the exact dates on the homepage of the University of Münster

Bonus

Passing the qualifying examination for the subject art at Kunstakademie Münster means that you will be granted a bonus of 0.8 points on your average Abitur grade or on your Bachelor’s subject grade in the application procedure for the further subject at the the University of Münster. This means, for example, that your Abitur grade improves from 2.5. to 1.7. for the admission procedure at the University of Münster.

The following requirements apply to university transfer students for the Master of Education program:

1. Proof of artistic aptitude for the Master Ed. at Kunstakademie Münster

Applicants from relevant Bachelor’s programs at other universities must take part in the artistic aptitude test at Kunstakademie Münster and apply for this with an artistic portfolio. It is expected that the level of the artistic work corresponds to the artistic development after six semesters of study at an art academy.

1. Class admission

As a further enrollment requirement, the consent of a full-time professor of an artistic subject, who is also the class instructor, is necessary to admit the applicant to the class. For this purpose, you will introduce yourself and your artistic work to the art professors on your own initivative. Contact to the artistic classes is possible via studierendenservice[at]kunstakademie-muenster.de.

The acceptance of an artist professor is not a guarantee for passing the aptitude test and is not sufficient to be enrolled! The commitment does not have to be received before the artistic aptitude test, but it is a prerequisite for enrollment (see below).

1. Relevant bachelor

A relevant bachelor's degree means the completion of a bachelor's degree with a teaching profession-specific focus in accordance with the requirements of the LABG 2009 (Teacher Training Act) and the LZV 2009 (Teacher Training Access Ordinance) for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia or an equivalent degree that corresponds to the studies according to the corresponding bachelor's degree examination regulations at the Academy of Art and the University of Münster in the chosen subjects with regard to study content and compatibility with teaching profession-specific requirements.

For the subject art, the examination board of the Kunstakademie Münster decides on this on the basis of the documents submitted regarding your previous studies.

Which documents have to be uploaded via the online application?

Applicants Master of Education:

•     Bachelor's degree certificate and
•     Bachelor certificate and
•     Transcript of Records

If the Bachelor's certificate is not yet available: Performance overview of the current study status and module overview.

Application at the University of Münster

You must apply to the University of Münster for the possible second subject or learning areas to be studied in the Master Ed. program.

Only if you are admitted to the Master of Educaiton in a permissible subject combination at both universities and have the approval of a class instructor(s), can you enroll in the Master of Education with art as a subject.

The Master of Education at Kunstakademie Münster and at the University of Münster can be started in the winter or summer semester following the qualifying examination.

Non-German or English language certificates and attestations must be uploaded as an officially certified German or English translation. An upload of the original certificate is not required.

Please upload the following certificate via the online portal

• Last school report
• Certificate of university entrance examination (if provided for in your home country)
• University studies without a university degree: Certificate of the university about the completed semesters and transcript of records
• University studies with degree: University degree certificate and Transcript of Records

Applicants from the PRC, Mongolia and Vietnam please also upload a certificate from the Academic Review Panels (APS) via the online application. Applicants without APS will be tested for „outstanding artistic talent“.

German embassies in Mongolia, China und Vietnam

Customs declaration/shipment from NON-EU countries

• Please send your portfolio early and allow for delays due to customs handling.
• Please declare your application folder as application documents (without value). Alternatively, you can enter the abbreviation NCV (no commerical value) as the value.
• When sending via parcel service/delivery companies, please make sure you have a correct customs declaration of contents and pro forma invoice attached to the outside, as a sample folder/documents/application shipment.
• If the Kunstakadmie Münster is asked to pay import sales tax or customs duties, the folder will not be accepted.

Kunstakademie Münster does not assume any customs/transport/shipping costs or other important duties!

1. When applying for Fine Arts Studies "Freie Kunst" (B2)

If available, please upload proof of your current level of German language skills (recommended level for application: B1) via the online application.

If you are not able to submit a language certificate level B2 (see below) for enrollment by the end of September, the admission/study place will remain open for enrollment for a maximum of 2 years.

The start of the study program is always possible in the winter semester only and only with sufficient German language skills (B2). Proof of language proficiency for enrollment can be provided by the following certificates:

• DSH-1, Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang
• TestDaF TDN 3, Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Niveaustufe 3
• telc Deutsch B2 Hochschule
• Goethe-Zertifikat B2
•  

No German language courses are offered at Kunstakademie Münster

2. When applying for Teaching Degree Programmes (C1)

If available, please upload proof of your current level of German language skills (recommended level for application: B1) via the online application.

If you are not able to submit a language certificate level C1 (see below) for enrollment by the end of September, the admission/study place will remain open for enrollment for a maximum of 2 years.

The start of the study program is always possible in the winter semester only and only with sufficient German language skills (C1). Proof of language proficiency for enrollment can be provided by the following certificates:

• DSH-2, Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang
• TestDaF TDN 4, Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Niveaustufe 4
• telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
• Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom

Overview of language certificates valid at Kunstakademie Münster  (pdf / German)

Overview of language certificates valid at Kunstakademie Münster (pdf / English)

No German language courses are offered at Kunstakademie Münster

The assessment exam or portfolio test is used to decide on the artistic aptitude of the applicants.

The determination of artistic aptitude is made exclusively on the basis of the submitted artistic works by a commission of artistic professors. The commission is newly elected each year by the Senate of Kunstakademie Münster.

There is no further practical entrance examination. No grade point averages are taken into account.

In case of doubt, the commission may invite to an interview after the portfolio review.

The determination of artistic aptitude for the chosen course of study is based on the following criteria:

• Artistic design ability
• Realization ability in the chosen artistic media and
• Artistic conception and intensity

The evaluation of the portfolio is based on an internal university evaluation system. Here, 1 corresponds to the highest, 3 to the lowest evaluation level:

Level 1: outstnding artistic talent

Level 2: artistic aptitude

Level 3: insufficient artistic aptitude

The result of the assessment test is expected to be communicated to you by written notification (E-Mail) in mid-May.

The result cannot be communicated by telephone.

Commencement of studies in the Bachelor’s degree programs and in the 1st semester of the Fine Arts program is always possible only in the winter semester (semester beging October 1st).

Addmited applicants will receive information on enrollment, studies, etc. together with their admission.

You can defer your study place by up to two years. Example: if you are accepted for the winter semester 2025-26, you can also start your studies in the winter semester 2026-27 or the winter semester 2027-28.

You are welcome to apply again next year! There is no maximum number of application attempts at Kunstakademie Münster. In the meantime, feel free to visit us at the Univesity Day or take advantage of one of the other offers to learn more about Kunstakdemie Münster.

Before sending or dropping off your application portfolio at Kunstakademie Münster, please make a note of the package dimensions and weight. You will need these details later if you wish to have your portfolio returned to you by post after the application process has been completed, as the Kunstakademie Münster does not cover postage costs.

You will receive detailed information on the procedure of return and collection after the application process is completed with the notification of your result.

Personal collection of your portfolio:

Wednesday, 14.05.2025, 10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 14:00
Thursday, 15.05.2025, 10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 14:00
Friday, 16.05.2025, 10:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 15:00

Location: Exhibition room A2, Foyer, Leoanrdo Campus 2, 48149 Münster

Please note: when collecting in person, you must bring the following documents with you

1.     identity card
2.     if you collect your folder yourself > printed and signed waiver of objection (pdf form in German)
3.     if you are authorising someone else > power of attorney and waiver of objection (pdf form in German) printed out and signed + ID card of the authorised person

For further questions, please contact the Student Service at Kunstakademie Münster: Tel.: 0251 83 61204 and/or 0251 83 61207
studierendenservice[at]kunstakademie-muenster.de

Mon- Thurs, 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-15:00

The Kunstakademie Münster does not have a strong storage facility for application folders after the application process has been completed. We will inform you in good time how to collect / reclaim your application file.

Folders that are not reclaimed will be destroyed after 31 October

Do you have any further questions or would like to make an appointment for personal study counseing? The Student Service will be happy to take care of your request:

Tel.: 0251 83 61204 and/or 0251 83 61207

studierendenservice[at]kunstakademie-muenster.de