University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna

The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) is among the world’s largest and most renowned universities specialised in the performing arts of music, theatre and film.

As an international leader for studies in music and other performing arts along with related academic disciplines since 1817, the university currently provides training to over 3,000 students from over 70 countries in 105 degree programmes and 68 supplementary programmes run by 24 departments.It also is the workplace of ca. 1,100 individuals and presents over 1,300 artistic, scholarly and scientific events each year, making it Austria’s largest organiser of cultural events.

Every year the mdw welcomes a large number of international students and scholars from around the world. Within Europe, these mobilities are largely covered through the Erasmus+ programme. The global exchange outside of Europe is also being forced by the mdw.

Every year, the mdw organises a variety of international master classes and projects that will be realized through the strong collaboration with over 150 university partnerships. German skills sufficient to take the admission examination will be needed and are also required.

The Viennese public starting calling for a conservatory of music as long ago as 1808. At the time, Vienna had no professional orchestras, other than the court musicians, whose services were used solely for church services and court concerts; very few of the great musical events were open to the public. Three years later, an "outline for a music education institution for the capital city of the Austrian empire" was published, calling for a "public institution, to be formally established and managed by the state." A conservatory was not yet established, but these considerations led to the formation a year later of a Society for the Friends of Music in the Austrian imperial city. The purpose of this group was to promote music in Vienna with its own initiatives and to play a key role in formalizing music education in Vienna.

The niversity of Music and Performing Arts Vienna selects the most talented and dedicated students. This means that we have no quotas for international students, meaning that it is an entirely open competition for the places. Currently training is provided to over 3,000 students from over 70 countries in 105 degree programmes and 68 supplementary programmes run by 24 departments.

The degree programmes include:

• Musical and Instrumental Studies
• Drama Programme
• Film & Television
• Music Education
• Doctoral Programme