The Fine Arts program prepares students for careers as independent, practicing artists. Studio-based study takes place in artistic classes and is accompanied by theoretical lectures. Students from both degree programs attend both courses and classes jointly.

Foundation Course / Grundstudium (Semesters 1–4)
Semesters 1 and 2: Artistic work in the foundation class.
From semester 3, students undertake artistic work in studio classes led by academic teaching staff and in the central workshops of the Kunsthochschule, where they receive technical guidance and supervision from workshop supervisors. Students are required to attend art history lectures and may also participate in other courses with art-related content. The foundation course concludes with the Vordiplom (intermediate examination).

Advanced Study / Hauptstudium (Semesters 5–9)
The course of study is guided by each student’s level of personal artistic development and direction. Students develop artistic goals and approaches by acquiring specific working methods and engaging in productive self-expression. They also engage in critical dialogue with the artistic outlook and formal language of their instructors and fellow students, as well as with the work produced in other classes. More broadly, students engage in a sustained dialogue with contemporary art and its historical context. Due to the personalised nature of artistic teaching, no generalised curricular statements can be made beyond this. The advanced course concludes with either the Diploma after semester 9 or a certificate of study after semester 8.

Both degree programmes focus on fine arts and its didactics. While the Fine Arts programme prepares students for a career as independent, practising artists, the teacher education programme (Lehramt) aims to establish the comprehensive subject-specific, practical, and pedagogical foundations required for professional art education practice at grammar school level. Studio-based study takes place within artistic classes and is accompanied by lectures and seminars in art theory and art education, as well as excursions.

Bachelor’s Programme (Bachelorstudium)
The Bachelor’s programme in Fine Arts is divided into two phases:
Orientation phase (Orientierungsstudium): The artistic orientation study in semesters 1 and 2 takes place in the foundation class at the Kunsthochschule Mainz, providing an initial orientation in both artistic practice and the organisational aspects of study.
Studio class study: From semester 3, students pursue their artistic practice in individually chosen studio classes. The studio-based study follows broadly the same structure as that of the Fine Arts programme. Throughout the Bachelor’s programme, students also attend introductory courses in the workshops of the Kunsthochschule, including wood, metal, printmaking, the media lab, analogue and digital photography, and painting techniques. The Bachelor’s study in art education (Kunstdidaktik), art-related theory (Kunstbezogene Theorie), and art history runs without subdivision from semesters 1 to 6, aimed at acquiring foundational academic knowledge and including the completion of an art education project.

Master’s Programme (Masterstudium)
The Master’s programme in Fine Arts runs without subdivision from semesters 7 to 10. The advanced studio study offers students the opportunity to concentrate largely on their work within a single class and to develop a corresponding artistic focus. In addition, two advanced workshop courses are attended. The academic component of the Master’s programme serves to further develop knowledge and skills in the disciplines of art education (Kunstdidaktik) and art-related theory (Kunstbezogene Theorie). The Master’s programme concludes with a Master’s thesis (Masterarbeit).
In Rhineland-Palatinate, the relevant Master’s degree – upon subsequent recognition as the First State Examination (Erste Staatsprüfung) – qualifies graduates for the state teacher training programme (Referendariat). Graduates may apply to the State Examination Office for School Teaching (Landesprüfungsamt für die Lehrämter an Schulen) for a certificate confirming the recognition of their university examinations as the First State Examination (Staatsexamen).

Portfolio Details:

The digital portfolio should contain documentation of 10–20 artistic works, with a maximum file size of 12 MB.
Each piece must include the following information: title, year created, dimensions (height x width x depth), and materials used. For example: Portrait of Marie Mustermann, 2020, 100 x 60 cm, oil on canvas.
Sketchbooks: Up to ten pages from sketchbooks may be included as additional material.

If your portfolio contains time-based works:

Up to 10 minutes from a selection of no more than three time-based works, such as film, sound works, or performance documentation. The maximum total file size is 300 MB.

Please label the file containing time-based works as follows:
(Name, Year of Birth). Mustermann-Marie-20001_khs-mainz_2026.

A letter of motivation explaining their reasons for pursuing the programme

A digital copy of their higher education entrance qualification certificate (general or subject-specific) or their most recent school leaving certificate

A detailed curriculum vitae (CV)

The portfolio consultation is intended for applicants who wish to prepare thoughtfully for their portfolio and application. The focus is on your current, independent artistic work, which should clearly reflect your artistic position and development.
Bring samples of your work that offer insight into your artistic questions, themes, and formal interests, including finished pieces, sketchbooks, concept notes, research materials, and experimental approaches. Your working process, creative decisions, and engagement with content are what matter most.
You may present your portfolio digitally as a structured PDF file or in person as original works.
Consultations are conducted by rotating professors from the studio classes, who offer qualified feedback from a range of artistic perspectives.

Course Advice & Portfolio Review 2026

To arrange an appointment, please call us:
06131-3930008

Kontakt

Admission to the programme requires
a) passing the aptitude examination (Eignungsprüfung) at the Kunsthochschule; and
b) enrolment at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

Applications for the winter semester 2026 must be submitted by 30 April 2026.
Applications are submitted online via our application portal.
The aptitude examination consists of two parts:

a) Portfolio review (Mappenprüfung): 25 May 2026
You must pass this stage to be admitted to the aptitude interview. Five full-time academic staff members review and assess the artistic applications received.

b) Aptitude interview (Eignungsprüfungsgespräch): 11 and 12 June 2026
After passing the portfolio review, you will receive an email invitation to a personal interview of approximately 15 minutes. If you pass both stages of the aptitude examination, you may apply for admission to Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. This application must be submitted by 15 July 2026. Further information on the exact procedure will be provided with your aptitude examination notification.

The aptitude examination (Eignungsprüfung) is divided into two parts: the portfolio review (Mappenprüfung) and the aptitude interview (Prüfungsgespräch).

Interview
he examination takes place at the Kunsthochschule Mainz at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The second part of the examination is held approximately two weeks after the first, following a written invitation. In an interview of approximately 15 minutes with the examination panel, applicants are asked to discuss the works submitted in their application and to outline their interests in the field of fine arts.

Application Deadlines
Summer semester / 31 October Winter semester / 30 April
After passing the aptitude examination, you must apply for a place at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU Mainz):

Deadline for the summer semester: 15 January
for the winter semester: 15 July.

Information on applying to JGU Mainz.
Here you will find the aptitude examination regulations (Eignungsprüfungsordnung – legal basis).