The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW) is one of the world's largest and oldest arts universities, founded in 1817 in Vienna, Austria. It enrolls over 3,000 students from approximately 70 countries across 25 departments. MDW is best suited for musicians and performing artists seeking comprehensive training at a historic institution with deep connections to Vienna's classical music tradition.
Here is a video from the mdw's official YouTube channel about the Future Art Lab, a building that opened in autumn 2020 and houses the Film Academy, Piano Department, Composition Department, Tonmeister education, and the Artistic Research Center:
About the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
MDW offers 115 artistic, research-oriented, and education-related programs across nine locations in Vienna. The university covers instrumental studies, voice and voice performance, composition and music theory, conducting, church music, music therapy, early music, jazz, sound engineering (Tonmeister education), music education, and cultural management. The institution also includes the Max Reinhardt Seminar for drama and the Vienna Film Academy. MDW organizes the International Beethoven Piano Competition and serves as a feeder institution to major Austrian orchestras, particularly the Vienna Philharmonic. The university traces its origins to the Society of the Friends of Music, founded in 1812, with the conservatory established in 1817.
Notable Alumni
MDW has produced an extraordinary range of conductors, singers, instrumentalists, and composers over its two-century history. Below are some of the most prominent graduates, with performance clips where available.
- Khatia Buniatishvili - Georgian pianist who studied at MDW with Oleg Maisenberg. She records for Sony Classical and has released multiple albums including Schubert, Liszt, and Tchaikovsky. She gave her orchestral debut at age six and has been concertizing worldwide since age ten. Here she performs Schubert's Impromptu No. 3 in G-Flat Major from her official VEVO channel, with over 6.8 million views:
- Kirill Petrenko - Russian-born conductor who studied in Austria and has been Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Berliner Philharmoniker since the 2019/20 season. He was General Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera from 2013 to 2020. Here he conducts Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 at his inaugural concert as chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker in August 2019, from the orchestra's official YouTube channel:
- Günther Groissböck - Austrian bass who studied at MDW with Robert Holl and José van Dam. He performs regularly at the Vienna State Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Bayreuth Festival, and La Scala. The New York Times described his portrayal of Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier at the Metropolitan Opera as "a revelation." A 2018 Met recording of that production was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.
- Angelika Kirchschlager - Austrian mezzo-soprano who studied at MDW. She is recognized internationally for her interpretations of Richard Strauss and performs regularly at the Vienna State Opera, Metropolitan Opera, and in lieder recitals at Wigmore Hall.
- Gustav Mahler - Composer and conductor who studied at the Vienna Conservatory (now MDW) from 1875 to 1878. He went on to become one of the most performed symphonic composers in the world.
- Zubin Mehta - Indian-born conductor who studied at MDW in the 1950s. He has held music director positions with the New York Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and Bavarian State Opera.
Auditions and Admission
Admission to MDW is highly competitive. The entrance exam process for most artistic programs consists of a video pre-round and an in-person exam. For the 2025 to 2026 application cycle, the registration period runs from December 1, 2025 to January 8, 2026, with video uploads due January 10 to 15, 2026. In-person exams take place in early March 2026.
Instrumental applicants are recommended to submit three pieces with a total length of approximately 10 minutes, chosen from different musical areas or composers. Voice applicants for the Bachelor program must prepare 4 art songs and 2 arias of different styles (one piece must be in German). All pieces except oratorios must be performed from memory.
Many programs require German language proficiency. Applicants whose first language is not German need either a German-language Matura certificate or a Goethe/OSD certificate at B1, B2, or C1 level.
Tuition Fees
As a public Austrian university, MDW charges low fees compared to US and UK institutions. For EU and EEA nationals, the tuition fee is EUR 363.36 per semester. For third-country nationals (non-EU), the fee is EUR 726.72 per semester. The students' union fee (including insurance) is EUR 26.20 per semester, bringing the total to EUR 389.56 per semester for EU students and EUR 752.92 per semester for non-EU students.
EU and EEA students are exempt from the tuition fee for the duration of their standard study period plus two additional semesters. After that period, the fee of EUR 363.36 per semester applies.
Real-World Example
A student in the Tonmeister (sound engineering) program at MDW receives training that combines music theory with technical production skills. The program is one of the few in Europe that integrates classical music knowledge with recording engineering. MDW hosts over 1,000 public events annually, giving students extensive performance experience. A pianist studying at MDW has access to the same tradition that produced many of history's most celebrated classical composers. The university's connection to the Vienna Philharmonic provides audition opportunities for graduating orchestral performers.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
MDW's size and breadth mean students can study almost any aspect of music or performing arts within one institution. Austria's public university system means tuition is low compared to US and UK institutions, approximately 800 EUR per semester for EU and EEA students. The Tonmeister program is one of Europe's most respected sound engineering degrees. Vienna's musical heritage provides an unmatched cultural environment for classical musicians. The university's 25 departments create opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. MDW's international reputation helps graduates secure positions in European orchestras and academic institutions.
Drawbacks / Things to Consider
Admission to MDW is highly competitive, particularly for performance programs. Many programs require German language proficiency. The university's large size means students must be proactive about seeking individual attention. Vienna is an expensive city for housing, though cheaper than London or New York. Non-EU students face additional visa requirements and slightly higher fees. The institution's focus on classical and traditional music may not suit artists interested in contemporary or popular genres. Bureaucracy at large Austrian public universities can be slow.
Related Resources
- Music Schools Directory
- Visit MDW for more info
Related Music Schools
- Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin - Another major German-language public music university with low fees
- University of Music and Theatre Munich - A leading Bavarian music university
- Franz Liszt Academy - A historic conservatoire in Weimar, Germany
- Conservatoire de Paris (CNSMDP) - One of Europe's most historic conservatoires
