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Meta title: University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna: Admission
Meta description: mdw Vienna for international students: entrance exams without quotas, registration windows, German A2–C1 by programme, $850 per semester in 2026/27, residence.
Last modified: 2026-09-30

# University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw)

The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw, Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien) is a public university that traces its origins to a singing school opened in 1817 under Antonio Salieri. It now has about 3,000 students from 70 countries, 115 programmes and 25 departments, including the Filmakademie Wien film school and the Max Reinhardt Seminar drama school. Admission is by entrance examination only (Zulassungsprüfung): there are no nationality quotas, and performance decides. German is needed for almost every programme, but the level and the deadline vary: a violinist needs B1 before enrolment, a pianist only before the third semester. In 2026/27, non-EU students pay $850 (€752.92) per semester including the student union fee.

A building of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw). Photo: Gugerell / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wien_03_Universit%C3%A4t_f%C3%BCr_Musik_und_darstellende_Kunst_a.jpg), [CC0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en).

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Status | public university of music, theatre and film in Vienna |
| History | since 1817 |
| Size | about 3,000 students from 70 countries, 115 programmes, 41 university courses, 25 departments |
| Teaching ratio | 4.7 students per teacher in individual and group lessons |
| Selection | an entrance examination for each programme, without quotas by origin |
| Exam registration | through an applicant account in mdwOnline; windows differ by programme (often February to April) |
| German | from A2 to C1 depending on the programme, due before enrolment or by the second or third semester |
| Fees in 2026/27 | $850 (€752.92) per semester for non-EU students, ÖH fee included |

## What you can study {#section-1}

| Area | Examples | Format |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instrumental performance (Konzertfach) | violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, organ, harpsichord, harp, guitar, wind, percussion | 8-semester bachelor's, then master's |
| Voice and music theatre | voice (bachelor's), Lied – Oratorio – Concert, music-dramatic performance, Vocal Performance (master's), music theatre directing (diploma) | bachelor's, master's, diploma |
| Conducting and composition | choral and orchestral conducting, opera coaching, composition and music theory | bachelor's, master's, diploma |
| Film (Filmakademie Wien) | screenwriting and dramaturgy, cinematography, editing, production, directing, Digital Art – Compositing | bachelor's and master's |
| Theatre (Max Reinhardt Seminar) | acting, stage directing | diploma programmes |
| Sound | Tonmeister (sound engineering) | bachelor's and master's |
| Teaching and therapy | instrumental and vocal pedagogy, music and movement (rhythmics), music therapy, music teacher training | bachelor's and master's |
| Ensembles, early and popular music | Early Music, New Music – Ensemble, chamber music, European Chamber Music Master, Popular Music Performance | master's (piano chamber music also at bachelor's level) |
| Research | musicology, ethnomusicology, Music in Society, PhD and artistic doctorate | master's, doctoral |

There is also a pre-university tier: courses for gifted children aged 6–14, programmes for teenagers aged 14–16, and preparatory courses (Vorbereitungslehrgänge) for ages 15–19. Preparation for composition and sound engineering has no age limit, and voice preparation starts at 17.

## Entrance examination: how it works and when to register {#section-2}

The most common mistake is to confuse two separate deadlines. You register for the exam in spring; only those who pass enrol between August and early October.

1. Create an mdwOnline account. Choose "Anmeldung zur Zulassungsprüfung" and create an application. If your programme is not listed, its window is either not yet open or already closed.
2. Register within your programme's window. Windows differ. For the violin bachelor's, registration for the 2026 exam ran from 2 February to 15 April 2026. For the piano bachelor's, the 2027 window has already been published: 15 February to 7 April 2027.
3. Upload what the programme asks for. Some materials, such as your exam repertoire, are uploaded with the registration. Composition and sound engineering applicants also upload files and videos to the mdwBox cloud; mp4 and mov work best.
4. Wait for your date. After checking the application, mdw emails your exam date; the department publishes its schedule.
5. Take the exam. Bring photo ID. Results arrive by email.

What to play is set out in the "Information on Entrance Examinations" document for each programme. Take the violin bachelor's as an example. The exam has two parts: a written test in general music theory with ear training (sometimes supplemented by an oral part), and an audition before the committee. The audition programme is:

- an étude or caprice by Rode, Dont, Wieniawski, Gaviniès or Paganini;
- two movements from Bach's solo works, one slow and one fast;
- the first movement of a major concerto from Beethoven onwards, or the first and second movements of concertos such as Shostakovich No. 1 or Glazunov;
- a work of your choice.

The parts can be taken in any order. If you pass the audition but fail the written part, you may retake the written part once in the same semester; otherwise the whole exam must be repeated at the next regular date.

## German requirements by programme {#section-3}

Levels and deadlines are set by the Rectorate's language competence directive; below are extracts from the version for admissions from winter semester 2026/27.

| Programme | Level | Deadline |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Acting (diploma) | A2 | before enrolment |
| Violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, harp, wind, percussion (bachelor's) | B1 with at least 70/100 in every module | before enrolment |
| Piano, organ, harpsichord, recorder, Lied accompaniment (bachelor's) | B1 | before registering for semester 3 |
| Voice (bachelor's), all Filmakademie bachelor's programmes | B1 | before enrolment |
| Composition and music theory (diploma) | B1, 70/100 per module | before enrolment |
| Choral and orchestral conducting (bachelor's) | B1, then B2 | B1 before enrolment, B2 before semester 3 |
| Tonmeister, rhythmics, instrumental and vocal pedagogy, music therapy (bachelor's) | B2 | before enrolment |
| Music theatre directing (diploma) | B2 | before enrolment |
| Music teacher training (BEd and MEd) | C1 | before enrolment |
| Piano master's | B1 | before registering for semester 2 |
| Vocal Performance master's | B2 in German or English | before enrolment |
| Ethnomusicology, Music in Society, musicology (master's) | C1 (German or English for the first two) | before enrolment |

What counts as proof. Goethe B1 or ÖSD B1 certificates with at least 70/100 in every module and no older than five years; ÖSD exams with the "Austria" suffix are not accepted for this purpose. mdw's own German test, its "Sprachkompetenz Deutsch B1" university course, and a school-leaving certificate from a German-language school also count.

The mdw German test. mdw holds its own B1 and B2 test every semester. In September 2026, the B1 written exam was set for 18 September and the B2 written exam for 22 September, with registration by 2 September at deutschtest@mdw.ac.at. You can take it only after passing the entrance exam, and only for the semester in which your proof is due. It is valid only at mdw and gives no international certificate, so take Goethe or ÖSD at home if you can. Music education programmes run a separate German test before the entrance exam.

## Enrolment after the exam {#section-4}

Successful candidates enrol in person at the StudienCenter, Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1. For winter semester 2026/27 the admission period runs from 3 August to 2 October 2026. Bring:

- your passport;
- the completed semester registration and mdwOnline commitment forms;
- your original school certificate or degree, if the programme lists it as a requirement;
- proof of German, if it is due before enrolment;
- certificates of any degrees you already hold.

The violin bachelor's lists only the entrance exam and German among its requirements; where a programme does require a certificate or degree, bring the original. Exams passed at another university can be recognised after enrolment through the Info-Point and the Office of the Director of Studies.

## Costs, residence permit and housing {#section-5}

| Item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Non-EU tuition fee, 2026/27 | $830 (€726.72) per semester |
| ÖH student union fee, 2026/27 | $30 (€26.20) per semester |
| Total for 2026/27 | $850 (€752.92) per semester, $1,710 (€1,505.84) for two semesters |
| Cost of living in Austria (OeAD estimate, September 2026) | about $1,480 (€1,300) per month |

Fees must be paid in full within the admission period or you will not be enrolled, and any charges for international transfers are yours to cover. For payment routes from Russia, see [paying for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

Musicians face a timing squeeze on the residence permit: little time remains between the exam result and October, while the authority has up to 90 days from a complete application to decide. Apply at the Austrian Embassy in Moscow as soon as your result arrives. Amounts and documents are covered in our guide to [student visas and residence in Austria](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-visa-and-residence-austria). Look for housing at the same time, because the permit requires a rental contract or dormitory booking for at least three months. Also check the practical side: not every dormitory or flat allows instrument practice, so ask before you sign.

## Who mdw suits {#section-6}

- Performers with a ready exam repertoire and the German level their programme requires: competition is purely professional.
- Students seeking a European degree in film, sound engineering or theatre, since the Filmakademie and the Max Reinhardt Seminar are part of mdw.
- Future music teachers and music therapists prepared to reach B2–C1 German.
- Not a fit if you need a fully English-taught bachelor's: German is required almost everywhere. For visual arts, look at the [Academy of Fine Arts Vienna](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-akbild-wien); for other options, see [universities in Vienna](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-vienna).

## Common mistakes {#section-7}

- Waiting until autumn to "apply": exam registration closes in spring, and autumn is only for enrolment.
- Taking an ÖSD exam with the "Austria" suffix, or a Goethe exam with a module below 70.
- Planning to take the mdw German test before the entrance exam; it is only open to those who have passed.
- Preparing repertoire from outdated requirements rather than the current programme document.
- Renting a room where you cannot practise.
- Delaying the residence permit after a spring exam.

## FAQ {#section-8}

### How do I apply to the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna?

Create an mdwOnline account, register for the entrance exam in your programme's window (often February to April), pass the exam, provide German proof where required, and enrol in person at the StudienCenter between August and early October.

### What level of German does mdw require?

It depends on the programme. Most orchestral instruments need B1 (70/100 in every module) before enrolment; piano and organ need B1 before the third semester; acting needs A2; sound engineering and pedagogy need B2; music teacher training needs C1.

### Does mdw have quotas for international students?

No. The university states that students are chosen solely on talent and qualifications, regardless of origin or quota rules. Everyone takes the same entrance exam as Austrian applicants.

### How much does mdw cost for non-EU students?

In 2026/27, $850 (€752.92) per semester: $830 (€726.72) in tuition and $30 (€26.20) for the ÖH student union. Partial payment is not possible, and students pay any international transfer charges.

### Can I study at mdw in English?

Some programmes allow English: the Vocal Performance master's requires B2 in German or English, Digital Art – Compositing requires English B1 and German A2, and the European Chamber Music Master requires English B1. At bachelor's level, German is needed almost everywhere.

### Do I need a school-leaving certificate for mdw?

The entrance exam is the main requirement. A school certificate or degree is presented at enrolment where the programme lists it; the violin bachelor's, for example, lists only the exam and German.

### Can StudyU help with an application to mdw?

Programme selection, an exam registration timeline, a German plan, and documents for enrolment and the residence permit are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The audition result is decided by mdw's examination committee, and the residence permit by Vienna's immigration office.

## Sources {#section-9}

- [mdw: students and programmes](https://www.mdw.ac.at/1227) and [history](https://www.mdw.ac.at/geschichte)
- [Programme list](https://www.mdw.ac.at/1989)
- [Violin bachelor's](https://www.mdw.ac.at/1245) and its [entrance examination information (PDF)](https://mdw.ac.at/studienplaene/?stNR=34170&stArt=infozpe); [piano bachelor's](https://www.mdw.ac.at/1263)
- [Language competence directive](https://www.mdw.ac.at/sre/studienrecht/sprachkompetenzverordnung/) and [required levels from winter 2026/27 (PDF)](https://www.mdw.ac.at/upload/MDWeb/sre/downloads/AnlageWS2026_27.pdf)
- [mdw German language test](https://www.mdw.ac.at/StudienCenter/deutschtest-mdw/?l=en)
- [First enrolment](https://www.mdw.ac.at/StudienCenter/erstzulassung/?l=en) and [tuition fees](https://www.mdw.ac.at/StudienCenter/studienbeitrag/)
- [Digital entrance examinations](https://www.mdw.ac.at/StudienCenter/?PageId=3950)
- [Austrian Embassy Moscow: residence permits](https://www.bmeia.gv.at/oeb-moskau/reisen-nach-oesterreich/einreise-und-aufenthalt/aufenthalt)
- [Study in Austria: living costs](https://studyinaustria.at/en/live-and-work/living-costs)

Dollar amounts are based on the ECB rate of €1 = $1.1355 published on 29 September 2026; all official pages were checked on 30 September 2026. More on the higher education system and other institutions: [studying in Austria](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-austria).

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien)](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-akbild-wien)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Universities in Vienna for International Students: Public Universities, Universities of Applied Sciences and Private Options](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-vienna)
- [Austrian Student Visa and Residence Permit: Where to Apply, Proof of Funds, Timing and Renewal](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-visa-and-residence-austria)
- [Studying in Austria for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-austria)
- [University of Klagenfurt (Universität Klagenfurt, AAU)](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-klagenfurt)

Updated: September 2026