Hochschule der bildenden Künste Essen
Essen, Germany
Quick facts
- World rank
- Unranked
- Acceptance rate
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- Students
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- International students
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- Institution type
- Private
- Founded
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Overview
The Hochschule der bildenden Künste Essen (HBK Essen) is a state-recognized private art and design university located in Essen, Germany, with a second campus in Wuppertal. It offers B.F.A. programs in Painting/Graphics, Photography/Media Art and Sculpture/Installation, B.A. programs in Digital Media Design, Game Art and Design and Digital Fabrication Design, and M.F.A. programs in Art and Cooperation. Instruction is in German. The institution is BAföG-eligible and awards degrees equivalent to those from public universities.
Fields of study
- Fine Arts
- Photography
- Media Art
- Digital Media Design
- Game Art and Design
- Painting
- Graphic Arts
- Sculpture
- Digital Fabrication Design
- Art and Cooperation
Admissions requirements
- IELTS (minimum)
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- TOEFL iBT (minimum)
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- GPA (minimum)
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- Intakes
- Wintersemester – 1 October, Sommersemester – 1 April
- Application deadlines
- Rolling admissions
- Rolling admissions
- Yes
- Admissions contact
- studienberatung@hbk-essen.de
Requirements differ between programs. Check the program page and the university's admissions office for the latest criteria.
Tuition & costs
International students
€4,200 – €5,200 / semester
From about $9,072 / year
Domestic students
€495 – €695 / semester
EU citizens – Fine Arts (B.F.A.): 495 EUR/month semesters 1–7, 400 EUR/month from semester 8. Design (B.A.): 695 EUR/month semesters 1–7, 400 EUR/month from semester 8. Non-EU – Fine Arts: 4200 EUR/semester semesters 1–7, 2000 EUR/semester from semester 8. Design: 5200 EUR/semester semesters 1–7, 2500 EUR/semester from semester 8. One-time enrollment fee 200 EUR; graduation exam fee 300 EUR. Discounts: 5% for annual payment, 10% for full program upfront.
Tuition varies by program. Confirm with the university before applying.
Official fee source (opens in a new tab)Programs
| Program | Level | Duration | Tuition | Deadline | Intakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vorstudium Kunst und Design (opens in a new tab)German · Full Time | — | 6 months | €4,200 / semester | Varies | Wintersemester, Sommersemester |
Information last verified Oct 4, 2026. Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Fees, deadlines and requirements change — always confirm with the university.