»The responsibility of the artist is not to give answers. It is to ask questions.«
Robert Wilson, visiting professor at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (2011-2012)
New Public Spheres and Interpersonal Relationships: the Bachelor’s Degree Course in Media Art and Design
It’s all about information, media information. How can you disseminate and edit it? How can you imagine new futures and new fictions, and how can you turn them into reality? How can you create and reflect on media events? Or develop new public spheres and communicative spaces? Or design new interfaces for interpersonal relationships? This course gives you the opportunity to contribute towards designing the objects of the future, or even to revolutionise media art, and, while you are at it, television and radio, too. Science, technology and art are not mutually exclusive. They belong together. That is the Weimar tradition.
In concrete terms: if you take the Bachelor’s Degree Course in Medienkunst/Mediengestaltung (Media Art and Design), you can expect small groups and individual projects, practical courses and unconventional approaches – artistic, technological and organisational. Close to our everyday media existence.
The auditory and the visual, the eventful, the conceptual and the interactive: these areas all overlap, and the permutations are legion. That is our unique profile. That is Media Art and Design at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.
From Elementary to Advanced: Course Structure
The initial two-semester basic study stage focuses on simple technical and practical questions: how do I operate a camera?; what exactly is a radio play?; what is there in my artistic ›tool kit‹?; what should the mobile phone of the future be able to do?; should it have even more functions?; should it even smell nice? Ask yourself these questions. Try them out. Play about with your ideas.
The subsequent four-semester specialist study phase has a more thematic focus. You will have opportunity to specialise in a particular artistic field, thus expanding your knowledge and becoming familiar with experimental forms of expression. You will be able to analyse and transform academic findings through the prism of your art. Optional courses from the chairs of Media Studies and Computer Science & Media as well as from the scientific disciplines of the Faculty of Art and Design will also give you a broader perspective. The same goes for external work placements and study periods spent at universities abroad. These are supported and recognized by the programme.
The standard study period for the Bachelor’s degree course in Media Art and Design is eight semesters. Upon completion and defence of the Bachelor’s thesis, students are awarded the academic degree of »Bachelor of Fine Arts« by the Faculty of Art and Design.
From directors, sound designers and media artists: the professional fields.
To design and to decide, to design yourself or have someone to design for you, freelance or employed on a permanent basis: With the degree programme in Media Art and Design, many options are open to you. You will work wherever a creative and critical approach to media possibilities is required: in editorial offices, editing rooms and artistic laboratories; at the desk, in the studio or way out there.
A small, incomplete list of the career opportunities the degree programme offers you:
- film production, directing, cinematography, lighting, editing, SFX in the fields of feature film, animated film and documentary film
- freelance designer
- curator for art and media festivals
- artist on the independent art market
- radio journalism, editing, radio drama and feature, writer, director, sound production, sound art
- Editor and responsible person in the entertainment and information industry (television, games, internet, radio, leisure design, interface design)
- Work in an academic environment
- Sound design and computer-aided composition
- TV directing, TV editing, TV journalism
- Web design/interface design, graphic design
How can I apply?
The application for all degree programmes of the Faculty of Art and Design at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is exclusively conducted digitally via the online applicant portal. Registrations for the aptitude tests are possible from 1 December of the year up to and including 31 March of the following year (closing date). Please complete your registration by uploading all necessary documents by 31 March.
The Bachelor's programme in Media Art and Design begins each winter semester.
The prerequisite for admission is the Allgemeine Hochschulreife (German higher education entrance qualification) or equivalent qualification. Applicants must also pass an artistic aptitude test, the specifics of which are determined by the Qualifying Examination Regulations in Media Art and Design. In the case of outstanding artistic talent, applicants may be admitted without the German higher education entrance qualification.
There are three steps to passing the aptitude test:
- Registration/application for participation in the aptitude test. After the registration deadline, we will send you a homework assignment with dates and details of the examination procedure.
- Upload of the homework solution, a signed declaration that the submitted work has been produced by you (Download Declaration of Originality), your curriculum vitae with details of your education, previous knowledge if applicable and the most recently obtained school certificate as proof of the general higher education entrance qualification.
- Personal interview and presentation of original artistic/design work samples (portfolio).
The aptitude test committee of the degree programme makes a preselection after reviewing the solution of the homework. Those who make it to the shortlist will be invited to the further aptitude test and take part in a personal interview, to which please bring artistic/design work samples (portfolio). Further details on the aptitude test are regulated by the aptitude test regulations (Accessible document) (only available in German language).
Please register online via the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar online applicant portal by 31 March of the respective year. An assignment to complete at home will be sent to you at the beginning of April.
Prerequisites for International Students:
Please note that passing the aptitude test does not mean automatic admission to the degree programme. Please submit a current proof of language proficiency with your application documents, which shows that you will reach the required language level by the time of your matriculation at the latest.
German language skills of level C 1 (DSH-2 or TestDAF TDN 4). If you have any questions relating to certification, please contact Frau Johanna Merian at the Office of Student and Academic Affairs: studium[at]uni-weimar.de
Applicants who pass the aptitude test can then enrol online.
Registration deadline: 31st March of each year
Enrolment deadline: 30th September of each year