Information in English

Wigs, Make-up, and Special Make-up Effects for Stage and Screen - Bachelor of Arts / Master of Arts

The Programme of Studies

The programme of studies focuses on promoting the creative personality of the make-up artist, who works on equal terms with the other members of the production team to develop their own concept for wigs, make-up and special make-up effects in dialogue with the director and the set and props designer.

The diversity and scope of creative work in the field of the design of wigs, make-up and special make-up effects is imparted to students in theoretical and practical courses.

Appointments for Course and Portfolio Guidance

The next dates for course and portfolio guidance are on 14 and 21 October and 2 December 2016. Please make an appointment by telephone by calling +49 (0)89/2185-2934

Professional Profile

The Programme of Studies in Wigs, Make-up and Special Make-up Effects for Stage and Screen prepares students for a wide-ranging field of professional activity in the theatre, film and television sector. The programme’s graduates are able to design wigs, make-up and special make-up effects in dialogue with directors, stage and costume designers, dramaturges and lighting designers, which, as well as meeting the demands and challenges of the overall context, also have their own distinctive artistic quality. They are also able to react flexibly to changes and to develop independently potential solutions that go beyond the existing repertoire of wigs, make-up and special make-up effects.

To date, the job placement rate for each year group has been outstanding: e.g. to the Bayerische StaatsoperExterner Link, the Bayerisches StaatsschauspielExterner Link, Theater am GärtnerplatzExterner Link, Kammerspiele MunichExterner Link, Theater BonnExterner Link, Staatsoper HannoverExterner Link and Frankfurt OperaExterner Link. The quality of the Programme of Studies in Wigs, Make-up and Special Make-up Effects for Stage and Screen is highly rated by international head make-up designers, who have taken on our graduates at London’s Covent GardenExterner Link, at the Opéra BastilleExterner Link and at the Royal Opera in StockholmExterner Link.

Course Concept

The course concept focuses on enabling students to acquire practical-artistic and theoretical-analytical skills. Through interaction between practice and theory, the aim is to enable students to artistically develop and independently create their own make-up design.


Course contents

  • Visual forms of design in theatre and film (historical and contemporary)
  • Special make-up effects for stage and screen
  • Anatomy/ modelling/ mask-making
  • Cultural studies (aesthetics/drama, opera and film analysis/art history)
  • Development of a stage/screen character (stylistics and costumes /draft designs)
  • Professionalisation (social competences/contract law for theatre and film)
  • Projects in cooperation with the Bayreuth Festival, the University of Television and Film Munich, the Bavarian State Theatres, the Munich Kammerspiele and the Glyptothek Munich
  • Cooperation with students from other disciplines

Lecturers

NameProfessionSubject
Stephanie BruhnCostume designer for the stage and screenConceptual design work
Michael BrandLawyerContract law for the theatre
Anja CallamFreelance stage and costume designerConceptual design work
Stefanie DäbritzMake-up artist for film and television, artistic collaboratorPrinciples of historical and contemporary design
Verena EffenbergHead of StudiesMentoring Master's programme
Dr. Astrid FendtConservator, art historian, Gyptothek Munich (sculpture museum)projects
Brigitte FrankHead make-up designer, Kammerspiele MunichProcess orientation for make-up designers (screen)
Alexander GehsHead make-up artist of the Bayreuth FestivalConceptual wig design
Monika GoraHead of set and props at the Bayreuth FestivalConceptual design work
Daphne van der GrintenCostume designCompulsory elective subject (design workshop)
Shaunna Harrison SmithSpecial make-up effects, LondonSpecial amke-up effects on stage and screen
Falko HeroldFreelance stage designerContext and reflection of Master's degree projects, mentoring
Iris HöcherlMake-up designer, Theatre Academy August Everding, Residenztheater MunichConceptual wig design
Angelika Höcknerdesigner, curator, ViennaAesthetics of design concepts, mentoring
Professor Daniel HornuffProfessor of Philosophy, Karlsruhe University of Art and DesignAesthetics, make-up design within the overall artistic concept
Rainer KarlitschekDramaturge at the Bayerische StaatsoperStaging Analysis
Ralph de LangeFreelance Artist, Mixed Academy, AmsterdamCompulsory elective subject (design workshop)
Birger LaubeDeputy Head of Studies, freelance make-up artist for film and televisionSpecial make-up effects on the stage and screen
Jochen PahsFreelance make-up artistHistorical and contemporary design principles
Stefanie PolsterMake-up artist, artistic collaboratorConceptual wig design
Esteban MendozaSpecial make-up effects, LondonSpecial make-up effects for the stage and screen
Gerald MoserFreelance curator, designer, ViennaMentoring, visualisation of design concepts
Andreas MouthHead make-up artist at the Residenztheater MunichDeveloping a theatre/film character
Peter PfitznerSculptor, Head of the workshops at the Bayerische StaatsoperThe art of mask-making
Susann ReinholdHead make-up designer at the Gärtnerplatztheater MunichHistorical and contemporary design principles
Professor Josef RödlDirector, head of the Filmic Space study programme at the University of Television and Film MunichFilm analysis
Marion SaboForensic artistCompulsive elective subject (anatomy)
Andrea SchönhoferFreelance dramaturgeStaging analysis, the theatre production progress
Professor Kathinka SchreiberPhilosopherAesthetics
Dr. Petra SimonArt historianArt history
Sebastian SorgDirector, documentary film festivalFilm analysis
Thomas TrostZentrale Auslands- und Fachvermittlung (ZAV) Munich: (International Placement Services of the Federal Employment Agency)Film contract law
Alois VogtMaster hairdresser and specialist subject teacher at vocational schollsBasic hair techniques
Mathias WeberManagement expertCompulsory elective subject (developing a website)

Application Requirements

The following Requirements must be fulfilled for Admission to a Bachelor's Degree Programme

  • It is essential to be interested in and attend theatre performances
  • Entrance qualification for a university or university of applied sciences, or alternatively Mittlere Reife (i.e. German equivalent to GCSEs in the UK or a high school diploma in the US) in combination with a training qualification of relevance to the vocation (hairdresser, restorer, sculptor, theatre sculptor, artist or theatre painter)
  • Internship at a theatre desirable

The following Requirements must be fulfilled for Admission to a Master's Degree Programme

  • It is essential to have a great interest in art and culture.
  • A portfolio containing at least 20 of your own designs or pieces of work is required (e.g. drawings or photographs of design work you have already completed etc.)
  • The application deadline is 14 March 2016
  • Student guidance/portfolio guidance is available on 12 February, 4 and 11 March, 22 and 29 April, 13 May, 10 and 24 June and 8 July 2016. Please make an appointment by calling +49 (0) 89/2185-2934

Aptitude Test Procedure

Bachelor of Arts

Candidates who fulfil the admission requirements will be invited to take an aptitude test. It is envisaged that this test will take place in March/April 2017. Applicants will be informed of the exact date in writing.

The aptitude test comprises the following:

  1. Practical examination 

    The practical examination consists of a number of tasks to be completed under examination conditions in drawing, modelling, make-up and hairdressing.
  2. Oral examination 
    Applicants who are successful in the practical examination may proceed to take part in the oral examination. This examination tests their specialist knowledge and general knowledge of culture.

The decision on admission is made by the examination board on the basis of the performance in the aptitude test following a final consultation. Applicants will be informed of the decision in writing.

Applicants who were assessed as having insufficient knowledge in the fields of hair design and hair processing may be conditionally 
accepted to the programme of studies. In such cases, it is strongly advised that candidates acquire handcraft skills in these areas before taking up their studies and/or in the break between the first and second semesters.

If a candidate does not pass the aptitude test, it may only be repeated once in principle, at the earliest a year after the first attempt.

Master of Arts

Information on the Master of Arts Programme of Studies will be available here soon.

List of Documents to be submitted

Bachelor of Arts

The following documents are to be submitted for the preselection process that decides on which candidates will be invited to the aptitude test:

1. Application form including a passport photograph glued to the form and the following documents:

  • Curriculum vitae PDF-Dokument
  • (Uncertified) copy of your birth certificate
  • (Uncertified) copy of your certificate indicating general fulfilment of the higher education entrance requirements or specialist fulfilment of subject-related entrance requirements for a university or a university of applied sciences (qualifications obtained outside the territory to which the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies shall only be recognised as evidence of general fulfilment of the higher education entrance requirements in the Free State of Bavaria if they have been recognised by the Bavarian Certificate Recognition Office:

    Zeugniserkennungsstelle für den Freistaat Bayern,
    Pündterplatz 5, D-80803 München [Munich]) 
    and/or
  • (Uncertified) copy of your certificate indicating that you have completed vocational training as a hairdresser, wood-carver, theatre painter, theatre sculptor or for another artistic or craft occupation that requires training
  • Short statement explaining your reasons for your choice of study programme and vocation (maximum one page of A4 typewritten text)
  • If relevant, evidence of practical work in theatre, film and television

2. A portfolio containing your own designs and work enabling an evaluation of your relevant artistic talent to be made (e.g. drawings, photographs, documentation of design work already completed). The applicant shall submit with the portfolio a statement that it is his/her own independent work.

3. For applicants who are not native speakers of German, a command of the German language is an entrance requirement. The Examination Office of the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich requires successful applicants to submit evidence of having attended a recognised language institute at the beginning of their programme of studies.

Master of Arts

Information on the Master’s degree programme will be available here soon. 

Application Deadlines

Bachelor of Arts

The deadline for the submission of applications (date of postmark or submission of documents) is 14 March 2016.

Master of Arts

Information on the Master’s degree programme will be available here soon.

Application Fees

A fee of €30 will be charged for taking part in the aptitude test. 

Please transfer the amount to the account below before the application deadline and enclose evidence of the transfer with your application (copy of a statement of account or a cash payment receipt):

Bayerische Landesbank
BIC: BYLADEMM
IBAN: DE75 700500000001190315
Under "Verwendungszweck" (purpose), please quote the following reference number: 7032 011 05-8 156501-9

Semester Fees

No tuition fees have been charged since the winter semester of 2013/2014.

However, a basic fee of €114.50 is charged each semester. This amount comprises the student union contribution (€52) and the solidarity contribution for the public transport semester ticket (€62.50).

Further information on the Munich public transport semester ticket is available here.Externer Link

Postal Adress

Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding
Studiengang Maskenbild
Prinzregentenplatz 12
81675 München (Munich)

Application documents that are incomplete or received late cannot be considered!

Any application documents etc. you send will only be returned upon your explicit request and only if you enclose a stamped addressed envelope with sufficient postage!