+++ Study Information Days 2026 for many of our studies: all dates can be found in the event calendar! +++
Visual arts education in Innsbruck has set itself the task of imparting knowledge, skills and techniques so that we can orient ourselves in this visual and digital world, understand it and help shape it artistically. Having acquired these skills during their studies, students can use them in the classroom to prepare their pupils competently for a world characterised by social and media diversity.
It is precisely the practice of the arts that is able to bring to our attention and critically address social transformation processes, such as those in the age of digitality; the arts often pick up on changes faster than other areas of society, processing them aesthetically and thus making them accessible.
In order to sharpen this differentiated, sensory-reflective perception and put it into practice, the degree programme in Art Education goes far beyond the learning of techniques, material skills and digital applications. The focus on the artistic process leads to a deeper understanding of the visual arts based on individual practice. This is accompanied by critical analysis and questioning of one's own work, and positioning it in dialogue with the reference systems of historical and current discourses as well as socially relevant topics. Producing art and displaying it in exhibitions represents a meeting point of artistic and pedagogical activities, which are expanded through strategies of interaction, participation and teaching.
In Art Education - in the sense of pedagogical engagement with the visual arts and visual culture - we are dealing with diverse forms of knowledge. Considering such forms in their diversity from an artistic and pedagogical perspective always requires an open mind and a constant questioning of traditional positions, but in this age of digitality and cultural diversity, completely new pedagogical and artistic challenges arise. For us, this raises the question of what Art Education might look like in future.
To find an answer, we must explore the current social, cultural, political, technical and geographical changes both artistically and theoretically, and attempt to fundamentally rethink education.
The teacher training programme for secondary education (general education) consists of a Bachelor's degree (6 semesters) and a subsequent Master's degree (4 semesters). With the Bachelor of Education, graduates receive the professional qualification to teach at the secondary level (e.g., academic secondary school, middle school, vocational secondary school).
For permanent teaching positions, the Master's degree is mandatory. It deepens subject-specific didactics and provides targeted preparation for professional practice. The Master's programme can be pursued directly after completing the Bachelor's degree at the Mozarteum University.
Students choose two teaching subjects or one teaching subject and a specialization.
Students choose two teaching subjects or one teaching subject and a specialization.
The following subjects are offered:
*Subject offered at the Mozarteum University; artistic entrance examination required
**Sports aptitude test require
Information about subjects not offered at the Mozarteum University, location Innsbruck, can be found on the teacher training website of the University of Innsbruck (UIBK).
If you wish to choose a third teaching subject at the beginning of your studies or later, this is possible as part of an extension course.
intertwined by a shared interest in the artistic and research-oriented approach to the production, reception, and communication of art, images, and media: Didactics, Subject-Specific Studies, and Artistic Practice.
Didactics encompasses lectures, tutorials, introductory seminars, and seminars. These address the understanding of the subject of art and design, its historical development, and its institutional framework and guidelines. They provide impetus for reflection on the work of art and design teachers and offer suggestions for developing diverse approaches and methods for teaching the subject matter.
Subject-Specific Studies, with its lectures, tutorials, introductory seminars, and seminars, provides in-depth insights into the core content of art and design: art and architectural history, art and image theory, media and everyday history, environmental design, and cultural studies.
Artistic Practise focuses on practical artistic engagement. In four classes—Painting, Drawing and Printmaking, Sculpture, and Photography/New Media—students can explore a broad spectrum of expressive possibilities and approaches to artistic production. The flexibility of these classes allows students not only to perfect individual techniques but also to benefit from a multimodal approach to artistic exploration.
The teacher training programme is organised within a development network (Verbund LehrerInnenbildung West). This allows students to freely choose from the full range of courses offered. This also makes it possible to combine teaching subjects offered at different institutions.
During the programme, in addition to the content of the two chosen teaching subjects, the curriculum includes foundational courses in educational science, practical pedagogical studies, and elective courses. The foundational courses in educational science are not offered at the Mozarteum, but at our partner institutions. Furthermore, students can, at their own request, attend courses at these other institutions as a non-degree student and have them credited as electives toward their degree. This allows for a wide range of options.
The following partner institutions offer teacher training programmes in cooperation:
The art education department at the Mozarteum Innsbruck has made it its mission to impart knowledge, skills and techniques so that we can orient ourselves in this visual and digital world, understand it and participate artistically in shaping it. Pedagogy is not a secondary focus at our institute, but rather the primary focus of our research and teaching.
The aim of the Bachelor's degree programme is to prepare students for a career in secondary school teaching. Students are initially prepared for a career as a teacher in their chosen subjects. Upon completion of the Bachelor's degree, graduates are eligible to pursue a Master's degree. Furthermore, the Bachelor's degree opens up other career paths, such as extracurricular youth education, adult education, artistic practice, or cultural and media work.
Teaching certification can only be granted after completion of the corresponding Master's degree programme in the same teaching subjects.
Graduates are able to engage thoughtfully with the topic of people and materials, to guide children and young people, and to initiate and constructively direct subject-specific, individualized support.
The complete teacher training programme (BA+MA) qualifies students to teach at:
If you are already enrolled in a Bachelor's degree programme for teacher education in two teaching subjects, or have even already completed your studies, but would like to take a third teaching subject or pursue a (further) specialization, you can do so within the framework of an extension programme.
If an artistic entrance examination or sports aptitude test is required for the chosen third teaching subject, regular registration for this examination is necessary.
The exact content of the extension programmes is listed in the curriculum for the teacher education programme for secondary education (general education). A total of 73 ECTS credits must be earned in the third teaching subject. These are comprised of several subject-specific modules (61 ECTS credits), a teaching practicum (8 ECTS credits), and a Bachelor's thesis (4 ECTS credits).
For admission to the Bachelor's programme, various certificates and examinations are required:
The choice of artistic specialisation (KPF) must be declared when registering for the entrance examination. A later change of the KPF is not possible.
The general admission procedure and the entrance examination for music must be completed independently. Registration takes place via separate platforms. All required documents must be submitted together when enroling for the programme (July to September).
The teaching subject of Art and Visual Practise must be combined with a second teaching subject.
The General Admissions Procedure for all teaching degress (regardless of subject) consists of several steps:
Please check the Central Region Partnership website for exact dates and procedures. The organisation and content are not within the responsibility of the individual universities.
Important: Enrolment in the programme is only possible after successful completion of the general admissions procedure!
Important:
Documents required for online registration
Form of the documents
Good to know:
The school-leaving certificate (Matura, Abitur) and proof of B2 German language proficiency (if another language is your first language) are not checked during the online application process. Both documents must be submitted in person after you have been offered a place at the university.
If you are unsure whether your documents meet the requirements and will be accepted, please contact lehramt@uibk.ac.at.
The artistic entrance examination consists of a practical examination and an oral examination.
Practical examination on 29.06.2026 from 8:30 a.m., to last all day:
Examination interview:
Candidates will be informed of the results of the entrance examination by email around 2-3 weeks later. Applicants who have registered for the entrance examination and are subsequently unable to attend must deregister in good time.
The works included in the portfolio should showcase the applicant's interests, abilities and potential. When choosing which works to include, candidates should bear in mind that the examination panel wishes to see their skills across a range of themes and techniques.
Please note:
The application portfolio must be submitted by the application deadline (28.05.2026)!
Link to data protection information (in German)
We also offer (non-mandatory) portfolio consultations. Contact us to arrange an online appointment if you wish - we are happy to help you!
Please note that the Mozarteum University Salzburg offers various support options at the time of your audition and during your studies if you have a disability or a chronic illness.
If this applies to you and you would like to take advantage of counselling, please contact Claudia Haitzmann: claudia.haitzmann@moz.ac.at or +43 676 88122 337.
You can find more information about starting your studies here:
