Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig (HGB)
Leipzig, Germany
Quick facts
- World rank
- Unranked
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Students
- —
- International students
- —
- Institution type
- Public
- Founded
- 1764
Overview
The Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig (HGB) is one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges of art in Europe. For more than 250 years it has provided art and design education at the highest level. It offers four Diploma programmes in Book Design/Graphic Design, Photography, Painting/Printmaking, and Media Art, as well as postgraduate Meisterschüler*innen studies and a Master's programme in Cultures of the Curatorial.
Fields of study
- Fine Arts
- Graphic Design
- Book Design
- Photography
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Media Art
- Curatorial Studies
Accreditation: State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen); Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2021-27 (European Commission)
Admissions requirements
- IELTS (minimum)
- —
- TOEFL iBT (minimum)
- —
- GPA (minimum)
- —
- Intakes
- Winter semester (October), Summer semester (April)
- Application deadlines
- February 1 annually for the following winter semester
- Rolling admissions
- No
- Admissions contact
- studium@hgb-leipzig.de
Requirements differ between programs. Check the program page and the university's admissions office for the latest criteria.
Tuition & costs
International students
Varies by program
From about Free / year
Domestic students
Free – €550 / semester
The first Diploma degree and the Meisterschüler*innen programme are tuition-free. All students pay a semester fee of €325.80 (WS 2026/27) covering Studentenwerk services and student council. The MA Cultures of the Curatorial charges €550 tuition per semester. Students who already hold a higher education degree pay €100/semester for the Diploma if their total study duration exceeds the standard period by 6 semesters. Long-term students enrolled from the 14th semester pay €500/semester.
Tuition varies by program. Confirm with the university before applying.
Programs
| Program | Level | Duration | Tuition | Deadline | Intakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchkunst/Grafik-Design (Diplom-Grafik-Designer*in) (opens in a new tab)German · On Campus | Bachelor's | 5 years | Varies | Feb 1, 2026 | Winter semester |
| Fotografie (Diplom Bildende Kunst) (opens in a new tab)German · On Campus | Bachelor's | 5 years | Varies | Feb 1, 2026 | Winter semester |
| Malerei/Grafik (Diplom Bildende Kunst) (opens in a new tab)German · On Campus | Bachelor's | 5 years | Varies | Feb 1, 2026 | Winter semester |
| Medienkunst (Diplom Bildende Kunst) (opens in a new tab)German · On Campus | Bachelor's | 5 years | Varies | Feb 1, 2026 | Winter semester |
| Meisterschüler*innenstudium (opens in a new tab)German, English · On Campus | Master's | 2 years | Varies | Jun 15, 2026 | Winter semester |
Information last verified Oct 4, 2026. Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Fees, deadlines and requirements change — always confirm with the university.