360 students are currently enrolled at the University of Fine Arts Münster. They are more or less equally represented in the Fine Arts degree course and the teaching degree programmes. The University offers its students practice-oriented degree programmes, a broad, dynamic range of courses, excellent working conditions and intensive individual support. With its location in Münster, the University of Fine Arts is situated in a student-oriented city with a broad cultural offer and a city which has long been closely linked to international contemporary art – especially, but not only, through Skulptur Projekte Münster.
- Graduation: Akademiebrief (academy certificate, equivalent to a German Diplom, master’s qualification level)
- Standard duration of study: 10 semesters
A Master of Fine Arts or other postgraduate programme is not offered for the Fine Arts degree course.
The freedom of art is a high good and enshrined in the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany. Studying fine arts at an art academy is one of the most free and self-determined courses of study that can be chosen today. It is precisely this high degree of freedom that makes the study programme particularly demanding and a consistent challenge that must be met by every student.
The study programme is completed with the Akademiebrief (academy certificate) which is equivalent to the degree of a Diplom (master’s qualification level). The standard duration of study is 10 semesters. The degree does not automatically pave the way for a specific career or occupation. Self-initiative and self-responsibility, a high level of motivation and the willingness to work intensively right from the start are therefore decisive conditions for a successful completion of studies.
The Fine Arts degree course at the University of Fine Arts Münster serves to promote the students’
- Artistic talent
- Knowledge of art sciences
- Artistic-technical skills
Its aim is to form an artistic personality. This phrase expresses the fact that the development of an independent artistic work, position and attitude is regarded as a process that requires the whole person and must be understood as a complex dynamic educational context of artistic perception, thinking and acting.
Students are to be put in a position to develop their artistic talents in such a way that they will be able, in their personal artistic activity or in the pursuit of an artistic profession, to make an independent contribution to the visual arts and to a contemporary approach and understanding of art in society and in the world of life.
The Fine Arts degree course is divided into:
- Orientation studies (2 semesters)
- Studio studies in an artistic class (8 semesters)
Studio studies do not require a commitment to an artistic medium (for example painting, sculpture). The choice of medium remains free during the entire the study programme.
The studio studies are complemented by the study of:
- Artistic techniques and processes in the workshops of the University
The University of Fine Arts Münster regards innovative teacher training at the cutting edge as part of its overall social and cultural responsibility as well as one of its genuine tasks.
The study programme aims to guide students toward personal artistic creation, to provide them with an adequate understanding of art and its history, and to enable them to think and act independently in art education so that they can teach the subject of art independently and meet the associated artistic requirements.
In the context of the introduction of the bachelor-master model for all teaching degree programmes in North Rhine-Westphalia, the University of Fine Arts Münster successfully campaigned for the preservation of artistic study components for its students enrolled in teaching degree programmes as well. The studio studies take place together with the Fine Arts students in the artistic classes. The (partial) degree programmes designed to this end were successfully accredited in 2012 and recognised as “exemplary” by both experts and the responsible ministry.
The University of Fine Arts Münster regards innovative teacher training at the cutting edge as part of its overall social and cultural responsibility as well as one of its genuine tasks.
The study programme aims to guide students toward personal artistic creation, to provide them with an adequate understanding of art and its history, and to enable them to think and act independently in art education so that they can teach the subject of art independently and meet the associated artistic requirements.
In the context of the introduction of the bachelor-master model for all teaching degree programmes in North Rhine-Westphalia, the University of Fine Arts Münster successfully campaigned for the preservation of artistic study components for its students enrolled in teaching degree programmes as well. The studio studies take place together with the Fine Arts students in the artistic classes. The (partial) degree programmes designed to this end were successfully accredited in 2012 and recognised as “exemplary” by both experts and the responsible ministry.
The University of Fine Arts Münster offers (partial) teaching degree programmes in art for the three types of general schooling. The overall study programmes are carried out in cooperation with the University of Münster, where the compulsory educational sciences are studied plus, if necessary, a further teaching subject or learning areas related to the type of school.
The study programmes are divided into
- An initial 6-semester Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Education (BEd), depending on the school form orientation
- Followed by a 4-semester Master of Education (MEd) programme
Specifically, the degree programmes prepare students for the school teaching profession
- In grammar schools and comprehensive schools as a single-subject study programme in art (BEd/MEd)
- In grammar schools and comprehensive schools as a two-subject course (BA/MEd)
- In secondary and comprehensive schools (BA/MEd)
- In primary schools (BA/MEd)
They are divided into the following content areas:
- Studio studies
- The study of art history
- The study of media and art theory and the didactics of art
Studio studies, scientific and didactic study components as well as school and extracurricular practical phases in their entirety guarantee the opportunity of artistically and scientifically founded pedagogical-didactic action as well as aesthetic-artistic educational responsibility in the future professional field.
Employment opportunities as a teacher with art as a subject
The chances of being hired with art as a subject for the various types of schools in North Rhine-Westphalia are assessed as good to excellent, as shown here in the relevant education portal Art | Becoming a Teacher NRW (in German) shown here.
The University of Fine Arts Münster has the right to award doctorates. A doctorate (Dr. phil.) can be awarded in the full-time academic subjects of art didactics, art history and art science.
Please direct enquiries regarding a doctorate to the full-time lecturers of the arts-related sciences.
For further information please refer to the Doctoral Regulations of the University of Fine Arts Münster.
Their orientation towards the individual artistic working process is the special nature of art academies. The practice of art determines both the institutional organisation of the University and the atmosphere of shared academy life.
Studies for all students begin with the two-semester orientation year, during which they work together under the advice and guidance of three lecturers.
After successful completion of the orientation year, studies continue in one of the 13 artistic classes with a focus on
- Painting
- Sculpture/installation
- Sculpture/art in public space
- Performance
- Expanded photography
- Film and video
- Cooperative strategies
The classes are studio communities of about 15 to 35 students from all degree programmes and semesters, led by internationally renowned artists. This principle goes back to the training at the classical art academies and is fundamentally different from course systems. It ensures a permanent dynamic and a high level of artistic teaching. The artistic experience that takes place in the classes constitutes an indispensable basis and potential for later
artistic or art-related work, especially also for the profession of art teacher at school.
The aim of artistic studies is the development of an independent artistic work process, the preparation for artistic or art-related professions and the development of an artistic personality. The concept of artistic personality reflects the fact that the development of an independent artistic work, position and attitude is understood as a process that involves the entire person and proves to be a complex dynamic educational context of artistic perception, thinking and acting.
In accordance with the degree programme and the individual development goals of the students, the studio studies are supplemented by studies in the following areas:
- Artistic techniques and processes in the University’s workshops
- Arts-related sciences in the fields of
- Art history/Art sciences
- Art and the public
- Theories of art and media
- Art didactics, art/cultural and aesthetic education
- School-based or out-of-school teaching practice phases
In teacher training, the University of Fine Arts has been working together with the University of Münster for decades. The subject of art is studied at the University of Fine Arts. All other elements of the study, such as the other teaching subject and the educational sciences, are completed at the University of Münster. The practical semester, organised by the University Centre for Teacher Education at the University of Münster, is realised with cooperating schools of the University of Fine Arts.
All degree programmes at the University of Fine Arts Münster are characterised by a high degree of practical relevance and dedicated teaching, which is intended to create the optimum prerequisites for entry into later fields of work:
- The artistic classes are led by international artists. They accompany the students in developing an independent artistic personality and position, conveying their experiences from artistic practice.
- Early on, students learn to present their work professionally and to engage in public discourse by means of an extensive exhibition programme as well as artistic and curatorial projects. Moreover, the University of Fine Arts Münster has been and continues to be involved in internationally significant cultural events, such as Skulptur Projekte Münster 07, Skulptur Projekte Münster 2017, RUHR.2010, Emscherkunst 2013 and Emscher Kunst 2016.
- The workshops are another pillar of the practical training. Under the guidance of experienced artistic-technical teachers, students learn traditional crafts, modern artistic-technical processes and the latest technologies and acquire extensive knowledge of materials in courses and through the independent realisation of their individual artistic projects.
- The arts-related sciences are interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary. They consistently link theory and practice through curatorial and art education projects, collaborations with museums and other institutions, excursions, colloquia, workshops and academic conferences. The “Münster Lectures” lecture series provides the opportunity to get into contact and exchange ideas with internationally renowned actors in the art scene world.
- In the master’s programmes for teachers, the subject of art offers an intensive and individually accompanied practical semester. A professionalisation process is initiated and supported here that is based on a close link between artistic experience, theoretical reflection and school teaching practice.
- To support its students, the University of Fine Arts Münster awards various scholarships every year, nominates for external scholarships and regularly participates successfully in competitions with its students. The academic research and teaching also promotes the relevant talents and interests of the students, for example through a scholarship for an art science project.
The regular teaching programme is enhanced by changing guest professorships and various teaching assignments, thematically following both current developments in art as well as the needs of the students. Special lectures, workshops and courses on topics such as art and law, English for artists or self-employment as an artist also impart important knowledge and skills for later professional practice.
International professors and students make the University of Fine Arts Münster a place of intercultural exchange, which is an absolute part of the idea of free artistic development and quality teaching and research.
Appointments to artistic and academic professorships are guided primarily by the aspiration to position ourself successfully in international comparison as a university and by the central idea that students, with regard to their personal, artistic and professional development, benefit in particular from recognised and experienced international artistic personalities.
The University of Fine Arts Münster traditionally cultivates intensive professional exchange with leading international art academies, for example through joint exhibition projects and various mobility programmes. Participation in the European ERASMUS programme and an artistic travel grant, for example, support study visits abroad. Beyond that, the international cooperation network is constantly being expanded, so that there are currently partnerships with almost 30 universities across the globe.
In addition, the Münster Lectures lecture series provides students with the opportunity to get into contact and exchange ideas with internationally renowned actors in the art scene world.
List of European and international university partnerships
The artistic studies take place in 13 classes led by internationally renowned artists with these focus areas:
- Sculpture/installation
- Sculpture/art in public space
- Expanded photography
- Film and video
- Cooperative strategies
- Painting
- Performance
Artistic-technical teaching is imparted by highly qualified teaching staff in excellently equipped workshops for:
- Sculptural techniques – wood
- Sculptural techniques – synthetic materials/mould making
- Sculptural techniques – metal
- Digital art
- Printmaking/etching
- Film/video
- Photography (analogue and digital)
- Ceramics
- Painting technique
- Screen and digital printing
Academic teaching is the responsibility of four academic professorships in the areas of
- Aesthetics and art science
- Art and the public
- Art didactics and aesthetic education
- Art history/ art sciences
The teaching offer is enhanced by research associates, honorary professorships, changing guest professorships and various teaching assignments, thematically following both current developments in art as well as the needs of the students.
The library is run jointly with the Münster Schools of Architecture and of Design at the Münster University of Applied Sciences. The main library focus of the University of Fine Arts is contemporary art and a collection in the field of art education/art didactics/aesthetic education that has been greatly expanded in recent years. A special feature is the online material library. Over 600 different materials are listed here with information on their origin, appearance, specific properties and areas of application.
