Master of Arts at Catalyst

Visa-required applicants

Applicants from countries requiring a visa before entering Germany:

• Priority deadline: 28 February 2026 (includes early enrolment bonus and visa support)
• General deadline: 30 April 2026 (subject to visa processing time)

EU/visa-exempt or post-arrival applicants:

Applicants from EU/EEA, Switzerland, or countries allowing visa-free entry (e.g. USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea):

• Priority deadline: 31 March 2026 (includes early enrolment bonus & guaranteed spot)
• General deadline: 5 June 2026
• Late applications: Until 28 August 2026 (subject to availability)

Priority deadlines & early enrolment bonus

Apply by the priority deadline to secure your place and receive a tuition discount (€1,000 per full academic year).

Early enrolment gives you early access to our visa support service and allows us to plan group sizes and resources in advance.

What does “visa” or “visa-exempt” mean?

All applications must be submitted digitally through our online application portal. Before you click the link though, read on for important information about entry requirements, the admissions process and what you'll need to include in your application.

Our postgraduate (MA) application form has 7 sections:
1. Course Level Selection
2. Course Choice
3. Personal Details
4. Previous Education
5. MA Project Proposal
6. Portfolio 
7. Terms & Conditions*

*By clicking “submit” at the end of the application form, you agree to our Terms & Conditions

Entry requirements: Age

We don't have an upper age limit, but we do have a minimum age: 18. To join us you must be 18 years old by the first day of your study programme.

Entry requirements: Language

All our courses are taught in English and applicants must demonstrate a level equal to IELTS 6. We do not ask for official exam results, but we will assess the standard of English in your application and support materials. We do not require German language skills.

Entry requirements: Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, with an Honours grade (e.g. 2:1 in the UK university system).

If you're in your final year of studies you can still apply. Instead of your final diploma, please send us a transcript of either your most recent or predicted grades. If the original language of this is not English or German, please also include a translation to English.

Master of Arts: Portfolio

• 1 sample of Research Experience / Academic Writing (PDF)
• Artistic Portfolio (2 links to view work online + text descriptions of both works)

Master of Arts: Project Proposal

How would you spend one year full-time or two years part-time dedicated to an artistic research topic of your choice? Your project proposal is an important line in the sand. While the trajectory and shape of the project will naturally evolve over the course of your research, it’s important to make a clear statement of intention at the outset and present a well-thought out plan to guide your endeavours.

Your initial proposal will not only define the starting point of your Master’s research but also sets the stage for ongoing discussions between you and your supervisor. Your idea should be something you are genuinely excited about, relevant to your personal creative practice as well as of interest to the wider artistic and academic community.

In the application form, you will be asked to elaborate your proposal across the following 5 headings:

Postgraduate (MA) applications are assessed on a rolling basis. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be invited for an online interview. You'll normally find out if you've made it to the second round within 2 weeks and will receive a final decision on your application within 2-4 weeks.

Achtung! Attention!

Some things to keep in mind:

• We will communicate updates about your application to you by email, using the same address you provide in your application form.

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