FAQ

The day-to-day work of a freelance painter usually takes place in the studio and primarily involves creating their own works of art. As a freelancer, however, activities such as self-marketing, networking with galleries, the press, artists, etc. and exhibition planning are also important, while permanent employees, depending on their job, take on art lessons and their preparation, for example or work creatively in an advertising agency.

State approval is important because it gives painters the opportunity to teach, for example, as art teachers at state secondary schools (Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, Gesamtschule). For the training itself, it enables international students to apply for a visa. In addition, students can apply for BaföG and receive financial support if they are classified as eligible by the authorities.

The minimum age is 17. You are also expected to have a secondary school leaving certificate or a lower secondary school leaving certificate with completed vocational training. International institutions expect a basic knowledge of English.

Yes, a secondary school leaving certificate or lower secondary school leaving certificate with completed vocational training is sufficient.

A state-approved painter learns realistic and figurative drawing, oil painting techniques, landscape painting, portrait art, anatomy, urban sketching, art history, composition and perspective theory as well as self-marketing, including artists’ rights and contracts.

The income of a state-approved art painter varies greatly depending on the form of employment, industry and order situation, with freelancers often earning project-based wages or depending on the sales of their work and permanent employees receiving a fixed salary.

As an art painter, there are career opportunities in advertising, media design and storyboarding, in arts and crafts, art teaching and the design industry, in character and creature design for film and gaming, as an assistant in artist studios or galleries, as a workshop leader for private and public institutions, as a museum guide, brand ambassador for art products and as an illustrator for books, magazines and newspapers.

Full-time, the monthly tuition fee is €730.

For part-time courses, it depends on the choice of hours.

The following options are available:

• 12h/week: 415 €/month
• 15h/week: 485 €/month
• 18h/week: 540 €/month
• 21h/week: 580 €/month

If you work part-time, the length of the entire course is extended accordingly.

The standard full-time training period is 3 years (9 trimesters).

In part-time training, it varies between 4 and 7 years, depending on the hourly model. It is possible to change the hourly model for each new trimester.

A painter works and trains specifically in painting and may only use this title after successfully completing state-approved training. The term “artist”, on the other hand, is not a protected term. Anyone who works artistically, whether musically, poetically, lyrically, graphically, etc. may call themselves an artist even without a qualified degree.

A state-approved painter is someone who has completed comprehensive artistic training at a state-approved art academy and works professionally as a painter. A painter often works freelance in a studio and creates works of art which they then sell independently or together with a gallery.

A state-approved sculptor creates sculptural works from materials such as clay, stone, wood or metal. They have completed a thorough training course and work professionally in the field of sculpture.

You become a state-approved sculptor by successfully completing a corresponding state-approved training course in the field of sculpture.

The standard full-time training period is 3 years (9 trimesters). Part-time training lasts 6 years (18 trimesters).

Additive sculpture builds a form by adding material (like clay or wax), while reductive sculpture reveals a form by removing material (like carving stone or wood).

A sculptor works primarily with water-based clay for flexible shaping, uses building materials to create scaffolding and processes materials such as plaster, burlap, release agents and silicone for molds and casting; in addition, they experiment with various other materials as part of their training.

A state-approved sculptor in Germany earns an average of around €36,000 to €90,000 per year, depending on experience and position.

Sculptors work freelance, on art or design projects (garden decoration, household decoration, vehicle design, etc.), for theater and film (e.g. stage design, props), in the field of monument preservation, in museums or in the creative industry – for example in model making, set design or at exhibitions and events. It is also possible to work in teaching or art education.

The full-time monthly tuition fee is €730. For part-time students, the monthly tuition fee is €540. Part-time training lasts six years.

State approval is important because it gives painters the opportunity to teach, for example, as art teachers at state secondary schools (Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, Gesamtschule). For the training itself, it enables international students to apply for a visa. In addition, students can apply for BaföG and receive financial support if they are classified as eligible by the authorities.

The minimum age is 17 years.

In addition, a secondary school leaving certificate or a secondary general school certificate with completed vocational training is expected. International institutions expect a basic knowledge of English.

Yes, a secondary school leaving certificate or a lower secondary school leaving certificate with completed vocational training is sufficient.

The day-to-day work of a sculptor as a freelancer includes designing and producing sculptures, customer acquisition, exhibition planning and self-marketing, while permanent employees often supervise workshops, carry out restorations or teach art.

Like a traditional artist, a digital artist needs a keen creative eye, a sound knowledge of perspective, anatomy, light and shadow, technical understanding and experience with digital art programs such as Photoshop, Procreate, Zbrush etc.. At the Academy of Fine Art Germany, a qualification as a state-approved painter or state-approved sculptor is also required.

In an additional qualification as a digital artist, you will deepen your artistic skills such as drawing, painting and modeling in the digital field and combine your previous knowledge with the confident use of industry-standard tools such as Maya, ZBrush, Procreate and Blender.

A digital artist should know the current industry standards and be proficient in programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, Blender, Zbrush and Maya.

The standard full-time training period is 1 year, which corresponds to 3 trimesters.

The monthly tuition fee is €730.

A digital artist has a wide range of career opportunities. These lie in the games, film, advertising and media industries, for example as a concept artist, 3D artist, illustrator, UI/UX artist, storyboarder, character/creature designer, environment artist or VFX artist. By specializing and building a portfolio, digital artists can take on creative and technical roles ranging from creating visual effects to designing user interfaces.

The income of a digital artist usually varies between around € 30,000 and € 85,000 per year, depending on experience, specialization and type of work.

It is aimed specifically at state-certified painters/sculptors and graduates of classical realist art academies who wish to transfer their traditional skills to the digital realm.

In Digital Art, specialized programs are used to illustrate, model, and design. This includes character design for games and films, creating props and landscapes, as well as developing realistic surfaces such as fur or fabric.

A digital artist primarily creates artistically creative, often 3D or illustration-based works, while a graphic designer focuses primarily on visual communication and design for advertising, print and digital media.

Yes, many digital artists work in the games industry – e.g. as a concept artist, character designer or environment artist.

A digital artist creates works of art using digital tools such as graphics tablets, software (e.g. Photoshop, Procreate) and/or 3D programs. The spectrum ranges from concept art to illustrations and  animations – for games, films, advertising or freelance projects.

To become self-employed as a digital artist, you build up a convincing portfolio, clearly describe your services and market them in a targeted manner in order to offer them to potential customers and companies.

Simply register for the desired study program on the website. Have a photo of your passport or identity card ready. Once we have received your registration, we will arrange a short interview with you. This can take place in person on site, by telephone or as a Zoom meeting. The purpose of the interview is to get to know us better, answer important questions and give you more information about the Academy and our study program content.

No, no portfolios are required for the application.

The only requirements are a secondary school leaving certificate or secondary general school certificate with completed vocational training, a minimum age of 17 years and basic English language skills.

Full-time tuition fees are €730 per month.

There are also various part-time models. It all depends on how much time you have for the lessons. However, the total length of the course is also longer if you study part-time.

• Student BAföG (non-repayable)
• Education loan
• Tax deduction (up to €6,000/year)
• Scholarships from the sponsoring association
• Organization of student exhibitions with sale of paintings

All teaching staff have in-depth knowledge in their specialist areas and have a qualified degree in them. In addition to teaching, they are professional artists themselves and have regular exhibitions. Our team consists of our Director Dana Güttler, the Academic Director Michael Weiss, the Sculpture Director Gabrielle Trom, the Drawing Director Darryl Smith, the Painting Director Nurzada Nussipzhanova, the Sculpture Teacher Silvía Turmo and our Drawing and Painting Teacher Sofie Junker.

The Academy of Fine Art Germany is the only state-approved supplementary school that offers a state-approved training as a painter and sculptor. The teaching program differs greatly from the content at public art universities, as it specifically teaches the craft of art with a focus on realistic, figurative work. In addition to the very practical teaching, there are important theory courses such as art history, anatomy for artists and art business to prepare graduates as well as possible for professional life.

At the Academy of Fine Art Germany, you can acquire a state-approved degree as a painter or sculptor. The hybrid program combines both contents in 4.5 years. So that you have both approved degrees at the end. If you are interested in working digitally or would like to work in the gaming and film industry, you have the opportunity to complete a one-year additional qualification as a digital artist after completing your training.

The Academy of Fine Art Germany offers art students various facilities and studios, including the Cast Room, Bargue Room, Live Drawing and Live Painting Room (for nude models) as well as a Theory Room for theoretical lessons and a canteen for breaks.

Not only our students, but also our teaching staff come from all over the world. We now have a community that comes from over 20 countries.

The Academy of Fine Art Germany cooperates with art galleries, museums, art associations, the Artists’ Social Security Fund, manufacturers of art products, art foundations and art collectors.

The Academy of Fine Art Germany already supports networking with important companies in the art and creative industries during the training. A 4-week internship in the 2nd year of study provides initial orientation and insights into the professional world. Students learn a lot about their options through regular excursions and specialist lectures. As part of Art Business, the graduating classes plan their own group exhibition. This gives them important insights and experience to help them plan their own exhibitions professionally later on.

The Academy of Fine Art Germany offers its art students regular exhibition opportunities such as the Christmas exhibition, the open day, the exhibition of the graduating classes and other events in cooperation with galleries, trade fairs etc.

2014

Around 40 places are available each year.

Yes, after successful completion, students receive an official certificate and diploma which are also signed by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art.

• Student BAföG (non-repayable)
• Education loan
• Tax deduction (up to 6,000 €/year)
• Scholarships from the support association
• Student exhibitions with art work sales

Im Atzelnest 3, 61352 Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany

It takes 15 minutes by bus to the center of Bad Homburg. Approx. 25 minutes by subway to Frankfurt city center.

Bad Homburg offers a wide range of leisure activities as it is very centrally located in relation to the Taunus and Frankfurt am Main.

You don’t have to go far to chill out in the park, go shopping, to the movies or to the swimming pool. Bad Homburg offers you everything you need.

But if you enjoy hiking or biking, the Taunus with its numerous hiking trails is very close For more hustle and bustle and city life, a short trip – about 20 minutes by train – is always worth a trip.

The infrastructure around the Academy is very well developed and is characterized by excellent connections for cars as well as bus and train lines. You can quickly reach the city center of Bad Homburg by public transport, but also the surrounding cities such as Frankfurt. Bad Homburg itself offers numerous leisure activities. The many parks are particularly attractive. The center has numerous shopping facilities as well as cafés, bars and restaurants.

The Academy itself does not have its own student residences. However, you can find suitable accommodation in and around Bad Homburg. We will of course support you in this.

It is best to start looking for accommodation about 2 months before the start of your studies. If you start too early, you will often only find offers that are available at short notice.

Most of our students live in shared flats (WGs).

Depending on the location, the monthly rent is around 500-700 € for an apartment or 350-600 € for a shared room.

Of course we will support you in your search for accommodation. We not only provide you with various links where you can look independently, we also arrange direct contacts to landlords and shared flats.  We are also happy to put you in direct contact with other students. This way, you can connect directly with your new fellow students and look for your own shared flat together.

No, if you are studying at the Academy of Fine Art Germany, you do not need proof of German language skills. As an international institution, our language of instruction is English.

Yes, it is possible to stay in Germany after your studies, provided you have a residence permit.

There are no special visa requirements for art students in Germany.

To enter Germany, your passport, visa, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable) and, if necessary, certificate of good conduct as well as certificates or employment contracts must generally be translated.

The Foreigners’ Registration Office is the authority responsible for the residence of foreigners in Germany. You should go there after entering Germany to apply for a residence permit (max. 8 weeks before your visa expires).

Registration is compulsory in Germany. As soon as you have an apartment, you must register with the residents’ registration office or citizens’ registration office in the city where the apartment is located. This also applies to students who move within Germany.  As an international student, you must also make an appointment at the Foreigners’ Registration Office in your city/region.

Yes, with a student visa you are allowed to work in Germany for 120 full days or 240 half days per year.

A visa is permission to enter the country, while a residence permit is permission to stay in Germany for a longer period of time.

To study in Germany, you can insure yourself with statutory health insurance providers such as TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) or DAK. There are also some private providers for expats, such as Care Concept, which offer adequate insurance cover. If you have health insurance in your home country, you can also check with your health insurance provider whether they offer sufficient cover for Germany.

The immigration authorities or embassies accept a blocked account as proof of funding.

For a German study visa you usually need :

• a valid passport
• a completed visa application form
• a current biometric passport photo
• letter of admission
• Proof of funding (e.g. blocked account)
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of rent or accommodation

and other documents according to the requirements of the relevant embassy or consulate. Please always check the requirements on the website of the relevant embassy.

You should apply for your visa at least 3 months before the start of your studies, as the processing time can vary. Please always check the information provided by the German embassy in your home country. You can find this on the website of the German embassy.

You need a study visa to study art in Germany. More information: https://digital.diplo.de/navigator/de/visa/overview/ergebnis-studium