The University of Music and Theatre Munich (Hochschule fur Musik und Theater Munchen) is one of Germany's largest and oldest conservatoires, founded in 1846 in Munich. It enrolls approximately 1,200 students in around 100 programs taught by 560 professors and teachers. The university is best suited for musicians, dancers, and actors seeking broad artistic training at a major German cultural institution.
Notable Alumni
The University of Music and Theatre Munich has produced several internationally recognized performers and conductors:
- Jonas Kaufmann - One of the world's most sought-after tenors. Kaufmann began his vocal training at the university in 1989 and graduated in 1994 with distinctions in both opera and concert performance. He has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Vienna State Opera, and the Bavarian State Opera. The Daily Telegraph has called him "the world's greatest tenor." Here he performs "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot at the BBC Last Night of the Proms 2015, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop (over 6.5 million views on the official BBC channel):
Here Kaufmann sings the Flower Song from Bizet's Carmen at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, from the official Royal Ballet and Opera YouTube channel:
- Markus Poschner - Conductor and pianist. Poschner studied at the university with Hermann Michael and won the Deutscher Dirigentenpreis (German Conductors' Prize). He served as Generalmusikdirektor of the city of Bremen from 2007 to 2017 and has been chief conductor of the Bruckner Orchestra Linz. He is an honorary professor at the University of Bremen.
- Rita Kapfhammer - Opera and concert singer. Kapfhammer studied voice at the university from 1988 to 1995 with Reri Grist and Jan-Hendrik Rootering, and studied Lied with Helmut Deutsch. She has performed in major German opera houses.
- Ludwig Mittelhammer - Baritone. Mittelhammer studied singing at the university from 2009 to 2015 and was a member of the Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding from 2011 to 2014. He has taken master classes with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Brigitte Fassbaender.
- Nelida Bejar - Composer. Bejar studied music at the university and composition at the Richard Strauss Conservatory. She received a PhD in Composition from Trinity College Dublin in 2012 and now teaches Music and Media at the university.
About the University of Music and Theatre Munich
The university offers programs spanning orchestral and keyboard instruments, voice, jazz, composition, church music, early music, conducting, music education, cultural management, music journalism, and folk music. The Ballet Academy provides professional dance training. The Theaterakademie August Everding offers programs in operatic performance, acting, directing, musicals, and theatrical makeup. The university occupies five locations in Munich, including the main building at Arcisstrasse 12 (the former Fuhrerbau), plus sites at Luisenstrasse, Gasteig, Prinzregententheater, and Wilhelmstrasse. Since 2008, the Richard Strauss Conservatory has been integrated into the university. The institution presents approximately 750 concerts and events each year. President Bernd Redmann leads the university.
Real-World Example
A jazz performance student at the Munich university trains with faculty who perform at Munich's Unterfahrt jazz club and other European venues. The university's 750 annual events provide extensive performance opportunities across multiple Munich venues. A student in the cultural management program gains skills for working in arts administration, a growing field in Germany's publicly funded cultural sector. The Theaterakademie August Everding produces opera and musical theater productions at the Prinzregententheater, a historic venue. The university's integration of the Richard Strauss Conservatory since 2008 expanded its program offerings and student body.
Admissions and Tuition
Audition Requirements
Entrance examinations (Eignungsprufungen) are required for all degree programs at the university. The application process works as follows:
- Online application through the university's application portal (zulassung.hmtm.de). Written applications are not accepted.
- Video pre-selection for some programs. Applicants upload a video as part of the online application. If the video pre-selection is passed, the applicant is invited to an on-site entrance examination.
- On-site entrance examination at the university. This is the final qualifying step for most programs.
The main application period for most bachelor's and master's degree programs runs from 15 January 2026 to 5 March 2026 (11:59 PM). Some programs have different deadlines:
- Music theatre/opera singing (Master, Theaterakademie August Everding): 15 January to 15 March 2026
- Cultural management, cultural journalism, music mediation, and sound art (Master): 15 January 2025 to 31 May 2026
- Musical (Bachelor, Theaterakademie August Everding): 23 April to 6 October 2025
- Directing (Bachelor/Master, Theaterakademie August Everding): September to November 2025
German language proficiency is required for most programs. Non-EU students must also navigate German visa requirements.
Tuition and Fees (Winter Semester 2026/27)
Bavaria does not charge tuition fees for EU or non-EU students at public universities. Students pay a semester contribution (Semesterbetrag) that covers administrative costs and student services:
- Bachelor, Master, Teacher Training, Doctorate: EUR 97 per semester
- Young Studies (Jungstudium): EUR 300 per semester
- Talent Program: EUR 100 per semester
- Post-Master Certificate (Zertifikat Meisterklasse): EUR 2,097 per semester
This makes the university one of the most affordable options among major European conservatoires, even for international students. The primary cost for most students is living expenses in Munich, which has some of the highest rents in Germany.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The university's 100 programs across music, dance, and theatre create opportunities for cross-disciplinary work. Munich is one of Germany's most important cultural centers, home to the Bavarian State Opera, Munich Philharmonic, and numerous jazz venues. German public universities charge minimal tuition, with no fees for EU students and modest fees for non-EU students. The cultural management and music journalism programs provide career alternatives to performance. The Ballet Academy is one of Germany's few professional dance training programs. The university's 750 annual events give students frequent stage time. Munich's music industry includes major labels, publishers, and media companies.
Drawbacks / Things to Consider
Munich is one of Germany's most expensive cities for housing, with rents among the highest in the country. The university's five locations require travel between sites. The large student body means competition for performance opportunities and professor attention. German language proficiency is required for most programs. The main building's history as the former Fuhrerbau carries complex historical associations. Non-EU students must navigate German visa requirements. The admissions process is highly competitive for performance programs. The university's broad scope means it may lack the depth of specialization found at smaller conservatories.
Related Resources
- Music Schools Directory
- Visit University of Music and Theatre Munich for more info
- University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna - Another major German-language conservatoire with similar program breadth
- Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin - A comparable German music university in Berlin
- Karlsruhe University of Music - A smaller German music university with music informatics and journalism programs
- Franz Liszt Academy - A historic European conservatoire with similar classical and composition programs
