OpenFieldDeutschlandstipendium (National Scholarship)
Competitive merit-based scholarship providing €300 per month (€3,600/year) across both faculties supporting enrolled undergraduate, postgraduate, and Meisterschüler students.
Academy of Fine Arts Dresden (HfBK Dresden)
Founded in 1764, Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden is one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious visual arts institutions. Beyond classical fine arts, HfBK Dresden is renowned internationally for its pioneering degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, postgraduate Art Therapy, doctoral research in art history/theory and archaeometry, and specialized heritage science laboratories. Review verified programs, merit scholarships, internships, and faculty profiles.
Verified degree programs and opportunities
HfBK Dresden offers tuition-free integrated diplomas, postgraduate master's, doctoral degrees (Dr. phil.), and Meisterschüler studies:
DAAD STIBET & Graduation Scholarships
German Academic Exchange Service grant funding (€400–€900/month) administered by the International Office for degree-completing international students.
Postgraduate Master's in Art Therapy (Aufbaustudium)
Two-year specialized master's program bridging fine art practice with psychodynamic and clinical healthcare interventions for therapeutic practice in psychiatric and medical clinics.
Conservation & Restoration of Cultural Heritage
Five-year integrated diploma and master's degree training conservators in specialized workshops for easel painting, polychrome sculpture, architectural murals, and archaeometry.
Doctorate (Dr. phil.) & Meisterschüler Studies
Doctoral research degrees in art history, philosophy/aesthetics, art technology, and conservation, alongside elite 2-year post-diploma Meisterschüler studio apprenticeships.
Archaeometry & Conservation Science Research Projects
Interdisciplinary laboratory research positions applying FTIR, XRF, Raman spectroscopy, and chromatography to investigate historical pigments and cultural heritage degradation.
Museum Conservation & Restoration Practical Semester
Embedded practical training placements partnering with Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD), Green Vault, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, and State Heritage Offices.
Student & Graduate Assistantship (SHK/WHK) Studio Pathway
Salaried student workshop positions (€13.50–€18.00/hr) assisting studio directors with printmaking labs, metal casting, digital fabrication, and archive curation.
Admissions and eligibility requirements
- Art Therapy master's entry
- Completed university degree in Fine Arts, Design, Psychology, Medicine, or Social Work; portfolio of artistic work; proof of at least 3 months clinical/social internship; artistic entrance exam.
- Conservation & Restoration entry
- Abitur or certified international equivalent secondary school certificate; mandatory one-year pre-study conservation internship (Vorpraktikum) in a museum or workshop; multi-day practical entrance exam in chemistry, drawing, and dexterity.
- Doctoral (Dr. phil.) eligibility
- Recognized master's degree or university diploma in Art History, Philosophy, Chemistry, or Conservation; formal written acceptance by an HfBK Dresden doctoral supervisor.
- Language proficiency
- German language proficiency (TestDaF or DSH-2; level C1 for Art Therapy; B2/C1 for Conservation and Fine Arts).
- Application fee
- €0. Application to HfBK Dresden degree programs is free of charge.
- Standardized testing (GRE/GMAT)
- Not required by German art academies and universities.
Tuition fees and verified scholarship systems
Higher education at public institutions in the Free State of Saxony is tuition-free (€0 tuition) for both European and non-European international students. Students only pay an administrative semester contribution of approximately €354 per semester, which includes a comprehensive regional public transit semester pass.
Enrolled students can apply for the national Deutschlandstipendium (€300/month), international student DAAD STIBET graduation grants, and academic assistantship employment across studios and laboratories.
Verified faculty profiles and research leaders
Distinguished professors and laboratory heads at HfBK Dresden:
Prof. Dr. Christoph Herm
Professor for Archaeometry and Science in Conservation; chemist leading spectroscopic analysis of historic pigments, binding media, and material degradation.
Prof. Dipl.-Rest. Ivo Mohrmann
Professor for Art Technology, Radiation Examination and Photography; specialist in panel painting conservation, historical murals, and custodial collections.
Prof. Dr. Angela Matyssek
Professor of Art History; specialist in modern and contemporary art, art theory, photography, and historical image studies.
Prof. Dr. Samo Tomšič
Professor of Philosophy and Aesthetics; researcher in critical theory, political philosophy, materialism, and contemporary artistic practice.
Prof. Dr. Alexandra Hopf
Professor of Art Therapy; leading clinical teaching, research in artistic therapy interventions, and doctoral supervision in healthcare fields.
Important verification note
Facts reflect official HfBK Dresden German documentation reviewed 14 October 2026. Degree admissions, aptitude exam schedules, and supervisory availability are governed by university regulations. OpenField does not charge application fees.
Reviewed 14 October 2026 · Editorial standards · Report an issue