Studying and living in Bremen
Quality of life: high | Tuition fees: zero
More than 30,000 young people study in Bremen. The city is home to four other university level institutions and a large number of research institutions as well as the University of the Arts.
Most of the students in Bremen are attracted by the high quality of its educational facilities and outstanding quality of life. Bremen has lots to offer: vibrant suburbs and cultural communities, a highly creative cultural scene, spacious parks, a first-class public transport system, one of the best cycleway networks in Germany and lots of cafés, clubs and bars – and all of that at prices well below those of other major German cities. On top of this, Bremen’s parliament and state government have ruled that students in Bremen are not required to pay any tuition fees during their first 14 semesters at institutions of higher learning in Bremen.
Students at University of the Arts Bremen are required to pay an administrative fee of €196,92 per semester. This administrative fees also includes the cost of a public transport pass (“Semester Ticket”) issued to students each semester in Bremen. Other costs included in this fee are a €30 levy for the Faculty of Music admission process.
Countless concert performances, exhibitions, workshops and symposia staged each year by the University of the Arts make it one of the city’s major cultural institutions, but newcomers will be thrilled to know that the city has plenty more to offer.
Bremer Science Internet Portal
A vibrant cultural landscape
Our centre in Bremen’s Dechanatstrasse is just a few steps away from the city’s main art gallery (Kunsthalle Bremen) and its extensive collection of master works from six centuries ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary art. The Kunsthalle’s internationally acclaimed exhibitions have included reviews of the works by »The Blue Rider«, Nam June Paik, van Gogh, Monet, and Paula Moderson-Becker. Directly adjacent to the Kunsthalle, Wilhelm Wagenfeld Haus and Gerhard Marcks Haus celebrate the works of these renowned sons of the city – one a designer, the other a sculptor – who both taught and worked at the Bauhaus school in Weimar.

Close by, Bremen’s major theatrical institution – Theater am Goetheplatz – is a hive of activity, with stages for dramatic, operatic and dance productions as well as theatre projects for children and young people. Bremen is also home to two top-notch orchestras: the world famous Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and Bremen Philharmonic Orchestra. A cooperative agreement established between the University and Bremen Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009 enables students to perform alongside the Philharmonic in joint orchestral concerts during their Master of Music programme. The University of the Arts Bremen has also worked successfully with the widely respected Bremer Shakespeare Company, whose lively and often hilarious interpretations of the Bard’s classics are not to be missed. Another two of Bremen’s cultural gems lie nearby on the banks of the Weser River: the Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst (GAK) and Weserburg Museum of Modern Art. Germany’s first collector’s museum, the Weserburg’s focus on modern and contemporary art makes it an important collaborative partner for the University of the Arts.
Just a stone’s throw away from the Faculty of Music, Bremen’s famous Glocke (The Bell) concert hall is renowned among international musicians for its remarkable acoustic qualities as well as its open-minded and well-informed audiences. A popular venue year round, the Glocke really turns on the charm once a year for the dazzling Bremer Musikfest. The Ensemble Weser-Renaissance has also garnered a reputation on the international scene for their performances of Early Music, and is directed by the current Vice Chancellor of the University of the Arts, Professor Manfred Cordes. It’s no wonder that our Early Music programme enjoys a reputation for musical excellence and outstanding tuition! Northern Germany was once an important centre for European organ music, and Bremen’s cathedral and churches, which regularly open their doors to young musicians from the University of the Arts, are located in the heart of this unique cultural landscape. The University’s Jazz Club has an ardent following in Bremen’s jazz scene and its Tuesday-night sessions are an absolute must.
Bremen’s Haus der Wissenschaft science centre also hosts an extensive range of events, offering insights into research carried out at universities, colleges, and research institutes across the state. Discussion panels held at the centre provide regular opportunities to debate issues and exchange views with researchers, teaching staff and trade representatives.
University of the Arts Bremen is proud to support this facility. www.hausderwissenschaft.de
Enrolling at the University of the Arts Bremen is the best guarantee for an education in a creative and artistic environment which ranges from the Renaissance to jazz and contemporary music, and from Rembrandt and Dürer to Baselitz and Immendorff.