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Welcome 

Ernst Busch University of Theatre Arts

Our institution has a long history of artistic training and production in Germany. With its exclusive focus on the theater arts and its own studio theater, the university provides outstanding training in the fields of acting, directing, and contemporary puppetry. The master's programs in dramaturgy, choreography, and Spiel &Objekt expand this offering and aim to develop new narrative forms and realize aesthetic experiments within the framework of interdisciplinary artistic research. Click here for more information:

·  Acting

·  Directing

·  Dramaturgy

·  Contemporary Puppetry

·  Spiel & Objekt

·  Choreography

Please note that, regardless of artistic talent, a prerequisite for application is having a good level of German. Some departments even demand a German C1 certificate. You will find specific information on the individual study programs, application deadlines and required documents in the links listed above.

The Ernst Busch is an international, inclusive educational institution where people from different countries and diverse cultural backgrounds study, teach and work together. It is our responsibility as a university community to provide a safe environment and ideal dialog spaces for all. We work continuously to develop networks with other Berlin universities, foundations and government representatives in order to offer support and integration opportunities to students, professors and artists at risk.

Once you have started your studies at our university, you will receive a lot of support from your fellow students and teachers. If you are not yet officially enrolled but would like us to advise you, we have special staff available to assist international students and refugees. Please don´t hesitate to contact us!

 

Visa

Visa

Who does not need a visa?

International students from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland do not need a visa to enter Germany. To study in Germany, a valid identity card and a certificate of registration are sufficient. International students from certain countries also do not need a visa to enter Germany. The countries in question are listed on the Federal Foreign Office website:

Who needs a visa?

A visa is required to enter Germany from many countries around the world. Students from these countries must apply for a visa in order to study in Germany. The application is submitted to the German embassy in their home country.

How do I apply for a visa?

You apply for a visa to enter Germany at the German Embassy in your home country.

To do this, you will usually need to submit the following documents:

  1. Your letter of admission from the German higher education institution
  2. Proof of your health insurance
  3. Possibly proof of academic achievements you have already completed
  4. Proof of your German language skills or planned German language courses
  5. Evidence showing how you will finance your studies in Germany

Please note: It can take several months to apply for and receive a visa. It is therefore advisable to start the visa application process as early as possible. You can find a list of German embassies on the Federal Foreign Office website.

Student visa

The type of visa you need to apply for depends, amongst other things, on whether or not you have already been admitted to a degree programme in Germany. As soon as you have received admission to a degree programme in Germany from your university, you must apply to the Foreigners’ Registration Office for a student visa.

Please note: Under no circumstances should you enter Germany as a tourist. A tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa retrospectively.

The Berlin State Office for Immigration generally only issues a student visa for three months (90 days). Within these three months, you must apply for a residence permit.

Proof of financial means

Before you start your studies in Germany, you must prove that you have enough money to cover one academic year. To do this, you need what is known as ‘proof of financial means’, which you will usually have to submit when you apply for your visa at the German embassy in your home country. You will need it at the latest when you apply for a residence permit in Germany.

How much money do I need to have?

Since September 2024, you have been required to have 11,904 euros available for one year.

There are various ways to prove that you can finance your studies in Germany:

  1. Your parents provide proof of income and assets.
  2. A person resident in Germany undertakes, vis-à-vis the Berlin State Office for Immigration, to cover your costs.
  3. The above-mentioned security deposit is paid into a blocked account.
  4. You provide a bank guarantee.
  5. You receive a scholarship from a recognised scholarship provider.

Be sure to check with the German Embassy in your country to find out what form of proof you need to provide.

Residence Permit

Residence permit

If you are studying in Berlin for longer than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit from the State Office for Immigration within the first three months.

How do I apply for a residence permit?

Once your documents have been checked, the Berlin State Office for Immigration will convert your visa into a residence permit for study purposes. This residence permit is initially valid for two years.

To apply for a residence permit for study purposes, you will normally need:

  1. The completed application form
  2. Your passport and a biometric photograph
  3. Your registration certificate
  4. Proof of health insurance
  5. Proof of financial means
  6. Your certificate of enrolment from your university

If you have any questions, please contact the Berlin State Office for Immigration.

My residence permit is about to expire. What now?

Please ensure you submit your application for renewal to the Berlin State Office for Immigration three to four weeks before your current residence permit expires.

Registration

In Germany, there is a legal obligation to register. This means you must officially register your new residential address. This is important to ensure you are legally resident in Germany.

Where do I register?

You can register up to 14 days after moving in at one of the approximately 40 Berlin Citizens’ Offices. This also applies to moves within Berlin. When you register, you will automatically receive a confirmation of registration, which you will need for many purposes, for example, if you want to open a bank account or take out a mobile phone contract in Germany.

What do I need to register?

To register, you’ll definitely need the completed registration form, your passport or identity card, a confirmation of move-in from your landlord and, where applicable, any further documents.

You can find more information here:

Scholarships

Scholarships

Have you thought about how you plan to finance your studies at the Ernst Busch Academy? Under certain conditions, international students can apply for various funding schemes and scholarships. The main provider of scholarships for international students is the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD):

You can find out more about other funding opportunities and scholarships on these websites:

The Studierendenwerk Berlin also offers detailed advice on funding your studies:

Working whilst studying

Allow enough time for your studies

Many students in Germany work to fund their studies. They often have so-called ‘mini-jobs’, for example as shop assistants, waiters or student assistants. You should also bear in mind that you will need around 40 hours a week for your studies.

If you do not come from a country in the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you are allowed to work in Germany alongside your studies for

  • up to 120 days per year, 8 hours per day, or
  • up to 240 days, 4 hours per day

without a work permit. During the semester breaks, you can also work more than 20 hours a week. However, the 120-day rule still applies. If you wish to work more than this, you will need the approval of the Employment Agency and the Foreigners’ Registration Office.

Students from European Union countries, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland are permitted to take on part-time student jobs as employees, just like German students. Self-employed work on the basis of fee-based or contract-for-services agreements is also permitted. However, you must not work more than 80 hours per month.

When am I allowed to work, and when not?

  1. Work placements: Compulsory work placements that are a requirement of your degree programme are permitted. You may only undertake other work placements within the 120 permitted working days or with the permission of the State Office for Immigration.
  2. Student part-time jobs: You may undertake a student part-time job without any time restrictions. It does not count towards the maximum of 120 permitted working days per year. Examples of student part-time jobs include working as a student assistant at a university, for the General Students’ Committee or in academic institutions.
  3. Self-employment: With your residence permit, you, as an international student from a non-EU country, are not permitted to work as a self-employed person or freelancer in Germany.
  4. Preparatory courses: If you are taking language courses or other courses to prepare for your degree programme, you are not permitted to work for pay at the same time.

You can find more information here:

Study fees

Semester fee

Each semester, you’ll need to pay a semester fee of around 300 euros, which covers administrative charges and the semester ticket. You must pay the semester fee by the deadline before the start of the semester. You’ll be informed of the exact amount of the fee when you receive your admission to the course or when you re-enrol. There are no tuition fees at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts.

How much money do I need to live on?

That depends on your lifestyle. According to statistics, German students spend an average of around 870 euros per month.

Costs you should roughly expect to pay each month:

  • Rent: 300 to 600 euros
  • Groceries: 200–300 euros
  • Telephone: 10 to 40 euros
  • Statutory health insurance: approx. 105 euros / 240–280 euros if you are over 30 years old
  • Third-party liability insurance: 5 euros
  • Study materials: 0 to 50 euros
  • Transport: A ticket for local public transport is included in the semester fee
  • Clothes, going out, hobbies: 100 euros
  • Lunch in the canteen: 3 to 7 euros

You can find more information here:

Accomodation

Start looking for accommodation in good time

At the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts, there is no on-campus student accommodation, as you might be used to at universities in your home country. There is an Ernst Busch student flat-share very close to the Academy in the Mitte district. However, there are only a limited number of places available in this flat-share. To ensure your search for a place to live in Berlin is as stress-free as possible, we recommend that you start looking early for a place in a hall of residence, a shared flat or a flat. If you are interested in a place in the Ernst Busch student flat-share, please contact: studierendenberatung@hfs-berlin.de

The Studierendenwerk Berlin also provides information on accommodation.

Halls of residence run by the Studierendenwerk Berlin

Halls of residence for students are spread across the whole city. Journey times of up to 60 minutes to the university are therefore normal in Berlin. To apply for a place in a hall of residence, contact the Studierendenwerk Berlin. As places are limited, we recommend that all students also look for accommodation themselves.

Rooms in shared flats

Shared flats, or ‘WGs’ for short, are a popular alternative to rooms in halls of residence for students. In a shared flat, several students share a private flat. You can find current listings on these websites, for example:

Rooms and flats on the open market

Flats and rooms on the open market in Berlin are usually more expensive than halls of residence rooms for students. As a rule, you should expect to incur additional costs for furniture, as most rented flats are unfurnished.

  • Landlords usually require a security deposit equivalent to three months’ basic rent.
  • You’ll get your deposit back when you move out, provided you hand over the flat in good condition.

You can also find listings for flats and rooms on the university’s noticeboards and on property websites:

Special offers for students

Further listings

Information for Refugees

As a rule, refugees are allowed to study at German universities. Normally, if you meet the requirements for admission to the study program you are interested in and your legal status is fully recognized (entitled to asylum, granted refugee protection etc.), you won’t encounter any problems in accessing the higher education system.

If you are not sure whether your previous studies can be recognized in Germany, the official websites of the DAAD and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research provide information on this and other general matters:

The StudierendenWERK Berlin has a special counseling service for those interested in studying at one of Berlin's universities. You can contact them by e-mail or telephone and make an appointment to explain your personal case and clarify very specific questions:

For information on registration, residence permits, study and scholarships opportunities in the city of Berlin please visit:

 

Information on the current status of residence permits under § 24 Absatz 1 AufentG for refugees from Ukraine (February 2024)

Residence permits for temporary protection that are still valid from February 1, 2024 will be automatically extended until March 4, 2025. These were granted to foreigners who entered Germany due to the war in Ukraine in accordance with Section §24 (1) of the Residence Act.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI) has published a nationwide information sheet for the affected title holders in Ukrainian, English and Russian, which contains the most important information on the continued validity of residence permits: