Studies (B.A.)
Art requires trust. We work between and across disciplines. We think and work internationally. We band together. We engage with the question: How do we want to work together now and in the future?
On the one hand, acting training is structured into courses modeled on the production cycles of theater and film. In addition to these concentrated artistic work processes, we conceive of the four years of training, on the other hand, as a continual process of development towards artistic mastery. This process is accompanied by the mentors for each year and by the lecturers in theater and film through continuous instruction in speech, singing, and body work. In the process, accessibility and inclusiveness, the intersections between theater and digitality, and sustainability form important touchstones of the curriculum.
The work of acting students regularly intersects with the directing, dramaturgy, and scenic⁄costume design programs. At the beginning of their training, directing, acting, and dramaturgy students take the same foundational courses. From the second year of studies onward, they collaborate in the artistic teams of the joint projects and productions. Training in screen acting is an integral part of the acting curriculum. Screen acting studies range from basic camera experience and film studies to involvement in professional TV and cinema formats. The encounters with Film Academy students intentionally foster and spark working partnerships that last beyond the course of study.
After passing the three-step admission test, eight to twelve acting students will form a class and remain together for eight semesters.
Completion confers the degree Bachelor of Arts.
Program contents
- Body work
• Aikido • Dance • Contact improvisation • Speech and music training • Body voice training • Speech • Singing lessons⁄Choir • Voice & singing
- Stage acting
• Fundamentals I — Introduction to acting work • Fundamentals II — Scene improvisation • Fundamentals III — Terminology of stage craft • Fundamentals IV — Play: Form and freedom • Scene workshop • Language scene study I • Scene study movement • Scene singing • Training in scene acting • Fundamentals V — Contemporary performance • Language scene study II • Selected role • Scene study dialogue⁄ biomechanics • Performing body • Ensemble and personality • Compact scene study • Scenes and monologues • Nomadic research • Scenic projects (subject modules A and B) • Singing week • Graduate performance: Solo • Audio drama workshop • Reflection (DasArts method) • Dance
- Screen acting
• Film I: Introductory course • Film II: Meisner technique I, film coaching I, preparation and shooting • Film III: An actor’s experience, film coaching II and Chubbuck technique, scene work, Meisner technique II, screenplay and editing • Film IV: Meisner technique III, film coaching III, shooting, casting • Film research project with Film Academy
- Theater history & theory
• Arts administration • Theater history survey • Theater history readings • Readings in contemporary drama • Performance analysis incl. theater attendance • History of costuming • History of film • Film seminar I • Film seminar II: History of actor and director personalities • Theory scenic projects (subject modules A and B) • Rhetoric • Methods of digital theater
- Arts administration
• Curating: Introduction | Production management, budget, sponsoring | Season planning for production houses⁄ festivals | Sustainability | Independent scene • Writing and presenting concepts • Applied cultural communication: PR—theory and practice, marketing, social media • Networking • Rights and obligations: contract law, insurance, stage regulations, tax law | Publishing and copyright, union and contract law • Future coaching
- Bachelor project
• Bachelor production • Written BA thesis
Contact
Academic Office for Acting
Meral Demirdögen
Phone: +49 7141 / 30 99 6 – 41
meral.demirdoegen@adk-bw.de
Dr. Claudia Wolf (on parental leave)
Application
- 1. Course Catalogues
For further informations, please contact the Academic Office Acting (meral.demirdoegen@adk-bw.de)
The Course Catalogues for Acting Studies (1st-4th year) 2024|25
see PDF-Documents for download. - 2. Start of studies
The study programme beginns in the winter semester.
Start of studies of winter semester 2025|26: Monday, September 22nd, 2025
- 3. Admission
- The admission is based on auditions in two levels (we offer up to 12 places to study)
- No age limit.
- Applicants without certificate qualifying for university admission can be admitted to the studies with additional examination according to § 9 «Additional examination for applicants without Allgemeine Hochschulreife (university-entrance diploma)«.
- 4. Admission exams
Admission exams for study year 2025|26:
1st level admission exams
For more details, please follow this link to our german website.2nd level admission exams / final level admission exams:
For more details, please follow this link to our german website. - 4.1. Informations on the 1st level of admission exams
If the applicant is invited to the 1st level auditions, the audit commission expects you to perform two independently developed role extracts and a musical or acrobatic performance (without playback, CD-player or similar).
It is followed by an individual interview with short feedback to the performed roles and questions in the field of the performing arts.
The role extracts should consist of a scene from the classical drama and one from contemporary drama.
The duration of the extracts should be max. 5 minutes.
The audit commission decides right after the auditions if the applicant will be invited for the 2nd level audition.
The results will also be communicated to the applicants after the auditions. - 4.2. Informations on the 2nd level and final admission exams
The 2nd level auditions are divided in two stages:
In stage one the board will examine the classical and contemporary roles on one of the first two days. Possibly it will be worked on either of them. The duration of each role/ scene should be max 3 minutes. The board reserves the right to come back to the musical performance of the 1st level audition.
The decision on continuing auditions in stage two will be told in the end of level one.
Stage two consists of single and group improvisations as well as individual work.
In the end of the day of stage two the board will decide on the admission of the acting studies at ADK and tell the applicants in person.One Table and two chairs are allowed, any other props are not permitted.
Accommodation and travelling expenses are not refunded.
- 5. Repetition of admission exam
If the admission exam is not passed once it can be repeated at earliest one year later.
Further repetitions are not permitted.
- 6. Head of course/ tutors
Head of course: Prof. Benedikt Haubrich, Deputy: Hon.-Prof. Wulf Twiehaus
Tutor 1st year of study: Hon.-Prof. Antje Siebers
Tutor 2nd year of study: Hon.-Prof. Wulf Twiehaus
Tutor 3rd year of study: Anne Greta Weber | Hon.-Prof. Caspar Weimann
Tutor 4th year of study: Prof. Benedikt Haubrich - 7. Duration of studies
The duration of study is eight semesters.
- 8. Tuition fees
The state of Baden-Württemberg has not been charging tuition fees since the summer semester 2012.
As of the winter semester 2017|18, international students who come from outside the EU for the purpose of studying will make a contribution of € 1.500 per semester. For the second degree, € 650 are charged per semester
Informations for educational support BAFöG: here (in German)
Each semester a contribution of € 96,50 for the Studierendenwerk and an administration and AStA fee of € 35.- is mandatory, in total € 131,50.
Information on the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart – see here: www.studierendenwerk-stuttgart.de/en
The application and related documents must be submitted in German, since entrance examinations and studies at the Academy of Performing Arts are held in German.
The application phase for Bachelor Studies in Acting has already finished.