Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler

Berlin, Germany

Founded in 1950 (as the Deutsche Hochschule für Musik), it was renamed in 1964 to honour composer Hanns Eisler. A publicly‑funded institution, it stands among Europe’s leading conservatories.
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Tuition Fees, Cost of Living & Accommodation at Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler

Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler Departments

  • Department A – Voice / Music Theatre, Direction & Liedgestaltung for Pianists
  • Department B – Strings, Harp & Guitar
  • Department C – Wind, Percussion, Conducting & Repetitor Training
  • Department D – Piano, Composition & Theoretical Studies

Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler

Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler is a selective institution with low acceptance rate and offers affordable tuition fee structure. The university is also home to large number of international students with two thirds of its student body comprising of students from abroad.

Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler also hosts over 300 public events annually allowing its students to showcase their talent. The university also partners with a number of renowned orchestras of Berlin in addition to three opera houses in the city.

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Distinguished Alumni of Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler

Olga Peretyatko

Russian operatic soprano known for lyric and coloratura roles in Rossini and Mozart operas .

Christian Thielemann

Renowned German conductor; currently Generalmusikdirektor of the Berlin State Opera and chief conductor of the Staatskap... View More

Vladimir Jurowski

Russian-British conductor; celebrated music director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra .

Anna Prohaska

Austrian-British lyric soprano treasured for her nuanced interpretations in early and contemporary repertoire .

Sol Gabetta

Argentine cellist with French-Russian heritage; internationally acclaimed soloist and educator .

Jochen Kowalski

German countertenor with a distinctive rich timbre; decorated recipient of the Order of Merit of Berlin.

Siegfried Matthus

German composer and opera director; founder of the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg and composer of notable contemporary op... View More

Georg Katzer

Composer and educator; pioneer of electronic music in the GDR and founder of its first electronic-music studio .

Infrastructure & Facilities at Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler

The university operates from two prominent historical buildings in Berlin’s Mitte district: the Charlottenstraße location across from Konzerthaus Berlin, and the Neuer Marstall at Schlossplatz added in 2005  . It boasts state-of-the-art facilities including recital halls, rehearsal rooms, sound and recording studios, electronic music labs, video and computer rooms, and health-focused institutes like the Kurt‑Singer‑Institut and Klangzeitort for contemporary music exploration.

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Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler Student Life

More than 400 annual public events—from ensemble concerts and masterclasses to opera workshops and exam recitals—form the core social and academic life. These are held in partnership with prestigious venues like Konzerthaus Berlin and Berlin Philharmonic, alongside student-led “Collage Concerts” and midday “Klassik um Eins” recitals  . Additionally, welcome weeks and e‑campus platforms foster community integration,

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Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler Career support

Through a Creative Career Center, students undergo “Future Skills” workshops (time management, project planning, self-marketing). They also have access to UdK’s Career & Transfer Service Center, along with alumni networks and partners like the Förderverein, which provide funding for masterclasses, competition travel, and startup projects  . For those seeking part-time work, guidance on student-employment rights (“working student privilege”) is available via studierendenWERK Berlin.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Admission Requirements at Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler

The below information is required while
completing the university application :

Educational Qualification

Must have completed secondary education equivalent to German Abitur or Matura (high school graduation).

Pre-selection via audition recordings

Submit video/audio samples via the muvac platform for pre-selection 

Recordings should be live, unedited, up-to-date (<1 year old), with clear visibility and memory performance .

Audition Exam

Two-round process for most majors: first round audition, then specialized second round .

Performance repertoire requirements vary by instrument (e.g., piano: baroque polyphony, sonata, virtuosic étude, sight-reading) .

German Language Proficiency

Foreign applicants need certification at CEFR B2.2 level, demonstrated through certificate and music-theory exam  .

If insufficient, required to attend an intensive pre-semester German course .

Enrollment Documents

Following acceptance, submit proof of health insurance, a German/SEPA bank account, and certified academic certificates/transcripts .

Application Deadlines

Winter semester: Feb 15 – Apr 8; Summer semester: Oct 1 – Nov 8  .

Application fee: €60 non-refundable

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Campus
Recruitment By top Companies

Unlike typical job placement, recruitment occurs through artistic engagements—auditions, competitions, masterclasses—and partnerships with orchestras, opera houses, festivals, and concert institutions. Alumni regularly secure positions at reputable venues and in academia.

    Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler Corporate Partnership

    • Konzerthaus Berlin : Hosts joint orchestral, choral, and staff concerts. This collaboration enhances performance exposure for students .
    • Berlin Philharmonic Foundation : Regular ensemble performances by students at Philharmonie venues, furthering practical-stage training .
    • Deutscher Musikrat (Dirigentenforum) : Cooperates on conductor training workshops and orchestral development programs, fostering student development.
    • Musethica e.V. : Partners to present live-performance projects in social venues (prisons, hospitals), starting with sessions in January 2024–25.
    • Deutsche Oper Berlin – “Neue Szenen” competition : Co-commissioned and premiered short operas in April 2013 for emerging composers, fostering practical music theatre training.
    • Boris-Pergamenschikow-Preis : Prize for chamber music established by the university’s Friends society; first awarded in 2005, fostering emerging ensembles.
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    Notable Achievements of Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler

    Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler is ranked 182nd nationally by the UniRank university rankings and has been accredited by several government and professional bodies including the Senate Chancellery for Science and Research of Berlin.

    Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler is also ranked amongst top 26% universities in the world by EduRank university rankings and 239th in the country by Webometrics University Rankings.

    Achievements

    01.
    International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition – First Prize

    Alumna Sueye Park (graduate of Hanns Eisler) captured the top prize and a €30,000 award at the prestigious Sibelius Competition in Helsinki, alongside a loan of a historic Guadagnini violin .

    Year
    2022
    02.
    Schneider‑Schott Music Prize

    Yet another honor bestowed upon Gruppe Neue Musik Hanns Eisler in recognition of their groundbreaking work in modern music, shortly before the ensemble’s disbandment .

    Year
    1991
    03.
    Kunstpreis der Stadt Leipzig

    The Gruppe Neue Musik Hanns Eisler received this prestigious Leipzig art prize for their outstanding contributions to contemporary chamber music, including premieres by European composers.

    Year
    1986

    Notable Innovation, Research & Development Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler

    Kurt‑Singer‑Institut (since 2002): Focuses on musician health and physiology  .

    Institut für Neue Musik / Klangzeitort (since 2003): Dedicated to contemporary music and sound research, with electronic music studios and regular festivals  .

    Composer’s Forum & Performance Prize: Annual award fostering contemporary composition since 1993 with prizes up to €2,500.

    Boris‑Pergamenschikow‑Prize (biennial, since 2005): €10,000 award for chamber ensembles

     

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    Notable Innovation

    01.
    Institut für Neue Musik / Klangzeitort

    Launched a specialized center for “new music” research, including advanced electronic and spatial sound design, avant-garde composition, and modern performer-instrument interactions .

    Year
    2003
    02.
    Kurt‑Singer‑Institut for Music Physiology & Musicians’ Health

    Introduced groundbreaking inter-disciplinary research into musicians’ physical, psychological, and ergonomic health—innovative in bridging music and medical sciences .

    Year
    2002
    03.
    Founding of the Electronic-Music Studio in the GDR

    Georg Katzer, a student of Hanns Eisler and later professor, established the first electronic‑music studio within the German Democratic Republic. This launched comprehensive new-music research and production at the institution.

    Year
    1960

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    Connect With Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler

    • Charlottenstraße 55, 10117, Berlin, Germany
    • +49 (0)30 688305-700

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