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Contemporary Arts Practice

Shape your artistic future with the Master’s in Contemporary Arts Practice.

In the Master’s programme, you will specialise in Sound Arts, Fine Arts, Performance Art, or Literary Writing and Translation. The focus is on a practice-based education and the development of your own projects. You can tailor your study profile to suit you individual interests.

Students report: Studying Contemporary Arts Practice in Bern.

Begin your studies in Autumn 2026.

Factsheet

  • Title/Degree Master of Arts
  • Specialisations Fine Arts, Sound Arts, Creative Writing / Translation, and Performance Art.
  • Mode of study full-time (4 semesters)
  • Start date 14 September 2026
  • Application deadline 16 March 2026
  • ECTS credits 120 ECTS credits
  • Teaching language German / French / English
  • Location Bern
  • School Bern Academy of the Arts
  • Next info event 27 November 2025

Contact

Focus areas

This degree offers you a wide range of artistic insights across four specialisations: Fine Arts, Sound Arts, Creative Writing / Translation, and Performance Art.

What you will gain with your degree

In the Master’s programme, you will develop your artistic approach, learn about current art trends and independently lead projects. You will work in an interdisciplinary manner, meet artists from various fields and reflect on your practice.

During your studies, you will be supported by mentors. You will reflect on and deepen your work in exchange with other students. The unique combination of fine arts, sound arts, literary writing/translation and performance art is unparalleled in Switzerland. You will benefit greatly from the HKB’s strong national and international network.

Focus areas

The four specialisations Fine Arts, Sound Arts, Literary Writing/Translation and Performance Art offer you many opportunities to create your own personal study profile. You can choose which modules from these areas you would like to combine.

In the Fine Arts specialisation, you will work in various artistic media such as painting, sculpture and installation. You will engage with current art discourses and make use of the extensive workshops at the HKB. Your studies will also include collaboration with other specialisations in the areas of sound, word and body.

In the Sound Arts specialisation, you will work in sound art, experimental and electronic music. You will develop your own compositions and installatons and learn about contemporary artistic strategies. You will analyse historical and current works from the field of sound arts, attend practical courses in programming, audie technology and hardware hacking, and explore the interactions between different art forms.

In the Literary Writing/Translation specialisation, you will work on texts from all genres and explore the interdisciplinary fields between literature and other arts. You will benefit from personal mentoring exchanges with other students. In addition, literary translation will be considered and reflected upon as an art form.

In the Performance Art specialisation, you will explore the role of the body in space and time. You will develop your own forms of expression and skills and reflect on them in practical and theoretical terms. You will learn to understand performance as physical presence, action or concept in various artistic fields. You will benefit from an open approach that is closely linked to music, fine arts and literary writing.

Partners + Exchanges

HKB maintains close ties to a number of partner universities, both in Switzerland and abroad, and collaborates with international partners on numerous projects. HKB is also a member of several international networks.

HKB students have the opportunity to complete part of their studies or work experience abroad. In turn, interested persons from abroad can apply to study at HKB or spend part of their studies here.

Combining Theory and Practice in Research Projects

Teaching, practice and research are closely linked at our university. You will gain research experience while still studying. As a Master's student, you will work on current topics in the scope of 2 credits.

Informations on the Y-Institute

Career Prospects

With a Master of Arts in Contemporary Arts Practice, you will expand your theoretical and practical skills in the arts. You will be well prepared for careers in art production, including curating.

After graduation, you can work as a professional artist or in art-related fields where collaboration and exchange are important.

Ready for a challenge?

After completing your studies, you will be ready to take on roles of responsibility in a variety of areas: you can work in galleries, museums, at art and cultural festivals, in art colleges or cultural associations, taking on both creative and organisational roles.

Our graduates work in various fields as:

  • Artists

  • Writers

  • Performers

  • Sound artists

  • Artistic directors

  • Editors

  • Event managers for cultural events

  • Curators

  • Consultants for art and culture

A Doctorate – Your Career in Teaching and Research

With a Master of Arts in Contemporary Arts Practice, you will be eligible to pursue a doctorate. Your professional and research experience and the corresponding methodological and didactic qualifications will also enable you to take up a teaching position at a university or similar institution.

View the doctoral programme ‘Studies in the Arts SINTA’

Duration + Content

The full-time programme lasts two years (four semesters).

Full-time or part-time?

Full-time studies

The study course comprises 120 ECTS-Credits. You study full-time and complete your studies after four semesters with your Master’s thesis.

Programme Schedule

Your artistic practice lies at the centre of the programme. You choose modules that are tailored to your personal study profile. You determine this profile based on your bachelor’s degree, master’s project and interests. Individual instruction, technical and theoretical specialisations, and exchanges with experts support your artistic work.

Programme Modules

The programme offers core subjects and optional modules.

An overview of all study modules can be found in the module plan:

Module plan | MA Contemporary Arts Practice (PDF, 3 MB)

Artistic practice:

You will work regularly with mentors and have the opportunity to engage in discussions with lecturers from all areas of study.

Colloquiums:

In the colloquiums, you will present your work, collaborate with other students, and reflect on theories with other students. You will also reflect on theories and contexts for your Master’s thesis. The colloquiums include work presentations in the first semester, a collaboration week in the second semester, a theory colloquium in the third semester, and thesis preparation in the fourth semester.

Forums:

Forums promote discussions on collective topics. These include study trips in the first and second semesters and “CAPster invite guests” in the second semester, where you invite guests to discuss current artistic issues.

Contemporary Art Theories Talk:

You will participate in four sessions of the discussion series and examine current theories presented by guests.

Contemporary Art Theories / Reading and Discussion Seminars:

You will attend four of twelve seminars, including reading courses, the On Site BernForum (visits to art spaces) and the Satellite francophone (discussions in French on contemporary art theories).

Optional modules allow you to tailor your studies to your needs and interests. You can put together your own individual combination of modules, choosing from the following:

All areas of art

  • Work-related projects

  • Methods of dramaturgy

  • Introduction tot he workshop

Fine Arts

  • Seminar on contemporary art

  • Expanded Writing

  • Fine Arts ‘Wolke’ discussions

Sound Arts

  • Basic and advanced compositional strategies

  • Gestures, sensors and sounds

  • Sound Arts ‘Resonancias’ discussions

Literary Writing and Translation

  • Literature workshops

  • Grazing Horse (publication projects)

  • Discussions about literary writing

Performance Arts

  • Performance Workshop: Spaces

  • Performance Workshop: Body Practice

  • ACT Performance Festival

You complete your studies with a Master’s thesis. It consists of a practical, artistic piece of work and a written reflection.

Admission Requirements

The number of places is limited (numerus clausus). Suitability for the programme is determined by means of an examination. We require a high level of motivation, perseverance, resilience and independence, as well as a willingness to actively participate in university projects.

Your Academic Requirements

You can be admitted to the programme with a Bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent qualification) in:

  • Fine Arts

  • Sound Arts

  • Literary Writing/Translation

  • Performance Art

  • or a related field of study.

Supplementary Information on Admission

Find out which languages and prior knowledge are required before starting your studies, what the admission requirements are for international applicants, and how students are selected.

  • You can formulate a sophisticated artistic project that you want to realise as part of your Master’s degree. You see this project as part of your artistic development.

  • You are interested in artistic exploration in an interdisciplinary context.

  • You have the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to actively participate in the Master’s programme.

  • You have experience in independently developing, networking and presenting your own artistic work.

  • You want to engage with the topics and methods of artistic research.

Lectures are held in English, German and French.
All courses in the field of literary writing/translation are bilingual (German/French). Individual mentoring is available in German, French and English.

International applicants will require authentic and valid identification recognized by Switzerland; a visa may often be required. Successful international applicants must apply for a residence permit, and submit proof of sufficient funds. Prior to starting their studies, they will be required to obtain health insurance cover. Applicants should make sure they are fully informed about and compliant with their specific entry requirements for Switzerland.

After reviewing the application documents, we invite selected candidates to an aptitude interview, which focuses primarily on your motivations and goals for the Master’s programme. The presentation of a selected work from your portfolio, literary texts, musical works, live performances, etc. may be part of this interview.

Application

So, you have decided to study at the Bern University of the Arts?
Then do not hesitate and apply right now!

Application Deadlines

Application deadline: 16 March 2026
Start of programme: 14 September 2026

Start your studies in Autumn 2026.

Online registration explained in brief

You can only register for your studies online.
All important information will be explained in the following step-by-step instructions.

Online registration instructions (PDF, 66 KB)

Application Documents

Please submit the following documents in electronic format (passport photo: JPG, other documents: PDF).

  • ID or passport
  • Passport photo according to international passport requirements (JPG)
  • Bachelor’s degree certificate or equivalent qualification 
  • Transcript of Records (ToR)
  • Diplomas and university entrance certificates (e.g. vocational baccalaureate/specialised baccalaureate with grades, baccalaureate, Abitur or equivalent)
  • CV in tabular form
  • Copies of the required certificates and confirmations
  • Employer references (internship certificates)
  • Language certificates (if available)

For International Students, in Addition

  • Residence permit (if available)

If You Were Already Matriculated at Another University

  • Confirmation of your exmatriculation

  • Transcript of records of current and/or terminated studies

If you do not yet have one or more of the required documents, please state why in the Comments section.

Transgender identities

Would you prefer us to address you differently to the details recorded in your official documents?

Please register the first name you go by and your gender (if binary) at the application stage, to ensure that we address you correctly during the application process. The relevant form is available on the BFH website. Please upload the completed form together with your application.

Supplementary Application Documents

To complete your application, please submit a digital portfolio with a representative selection of your previous work. The contents should document your artistic, musical, performantive or literary work using specific examples.

Special provisions for Literary Writing/Translation: A portfolio is defined as a dossier containing one or more literary texts written by the applicant, totalling at least 20 pages and no more than 50 pages (2000 characters per page, including spaces). All genres are acceptable.

Please label the portfolio on the cover page with your surname, first name, admission procedure 20xx (academic year) and Master CAP degree programme.

The costs for the programme comprise application, tuition and examination fees plus the cost of course materials and excursions.

Application (per application) and aptitude assessment*  

CHF 250

Matriculation**  

CHF 100

Tuition fees (per semester) 

CHF 750

Tuition fees for international students*** (per semester)

CHF 950

Examination fee (per semester)  

CHF 80

Fee for social, cultural and sport offerings (per semester)  

CHF 24

Membership fee for the Bern University of Applied Sciences Student Association (VSBFH) (per semester)

CHF 15

Leave of absence fee (per semester) 

CHF 100

* The application fee can be paid by credit card or by deposit slip / paper invoice (+ CHF 10.– processing fee). There are no waivers or refunds for withdrawn or abandoned applications. The application is processed after payment has been received.
** If the application leads to matriculation, the matriculation fee is covered by the application fee.
*** International students are defined as persons of foreign citizenship who at the time of obtaining their university entrance qualification were domiciled under civil law neither in Switzerland nor the Principality of Liechtenstein.

There is also a fixed fee for materials whose amount depends on the degree programme as well as additional costs for teaching materials, specialist literature, supplies, etc.

Fees information sheet (PDF, 63 KB)
General information about scholarships


If you have any questions regarding scholarships and loans please contact the Secretariat HKB Design and Fine Arts.

Advice + Information

At the Bern University of the Arts (HKB), you can expect an open-minded spirit and a friendly atmosphere. Come and visit us.

Advice

Choosing a degree programme is an important decision. We will be happy to arrange a face-to-face chat to answer your questions and advise you on the requirements for your chosen programme.

Andrea Gohl

  • Studiengangsleiterin MA CAP
  • +41 31 848 38 29
  • Show e-mail

Lejla Bajrami

  • Junior-Assistentin
  • +41 31 848 68 16
  • Show e-mail

Sandra Lemp

  • Sachbearbeiterin
  • +41 31 848 49 07
  • Show e-mail

Andrea Gohl, Head of Degree Programme MA CAP, Lecturer
Andi Schoon, Head of Y Institute, Lecturer
Thomas Strässle, Head of Y Institute, Lecturer
Madeleine Amsler, Head of Fine Arts, Lecturer
Marianne Flotron, Head of Fine Arts, Lecturer
Teresa Carrasco, Head of Sound Arts, Lecturer
Stefan Humbel, Head of Creative Writing/Translation, Lecturer
Arno Renken, Head of Creative Writing/Translation, Lecturer
Steven Schoch, Head of Performance Art, Lecturer

Lukas Bärfuss, Lecturer, Y Institute / MA CAP, Literature
Lilian Beidler, Lecturer in Sound Arts
Renate Buser, Lecturer in Fine Arts
Raphaël Cuomo, Lecturer in Fine Arts​​​​​​​
Cathy van Eck, Lecturer in Sound Arts​​​​​​​
Ellen Fellmann, Lecturer in Sound Arts​​​​​​​
Maria Iorio, Lecturer in Fine Arts​​​​​​​
Tine Melzer, Lecturer in Fine Arts​​​​​​​
Markus Müller, Lecturer in Fine Arts​​​​​​​
Benoît Piccand, Lecturer in Sound Arts​​​​​​​
Cedric Spindler, Lecturer in Sound Arts​​​​​​​
Annaïk Lou Pitteloud, Lecturer in Fine Arts​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Sadie Plant, Lecturer in Theory / Fine Arts​​​​​​​
Robin Meier, Lecturer in Sound Arts​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Mélanie Gobet, Lecturer in Performance Art​​​​​​​
Valerian Maly, Lecturer in Performance Art​​​​​​​
Lara Stanic, Lecturer in Performance Art​​​​​​​
Michael Harenberg, Lecturer in Sound Arts​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Auswahl von Mentor*innen + Gästen der Literatur

Hartmut Abendschein, Nurith Aviv, Jean-Christophe Bailly, Vincent Barras, Alain Berset, Stephane Blok, Camille Bloomfield, Ulrich Blumenbach, Sam Bourcier, Kate Briggs, Vincent Broqua, Barbara Cassin, Eric Chauvier, Mona Chollet, Cléa Chopard, Claro, Odile Cornuz, Yla von Dach, Jacques Demierre, Patrick Deville, Franz Dodel, Martin Doll, Regina Dürig, Urs Engeler, Pierre Fankhauser, Heike Fiedler, Roland Fischer, Eleonore Frey, Zsuzsanna Gahse, Baptiste Gaillard, Nathalie Garbely, Ariane von Graffenried, Claudia Hamm, Célia Houdart, Annette Hug, Rohit Jain, Kim de l'Horizon, Birgit Kempker, Friederike Kretzen, Jean-René Lassalle, Michel Layaz, Lou Lepori, Camille Luscher, Marielle Macé, Serge Margel, André Markowicz, Jean-Michel Maulpoix, Beat Mazenauer, Jérôme Meizoz, Francesco Micieli, Claude Mouchard, Magali Nachtergael, Balts Nill, Wilfried N'Sondé, Marianne Oertel, Pamela Ohene-Nyako, André Ourednik, Daniele Pantano, Annette Pehnt, Emmanuelle Pireyre, Nathalie Quintane, Roland Reichen, Noëlle Revaz, Claire de Ribaupierre, Lily Robert-Foley, Stéphanie Rosianu, Thomas Sandoz, Isabelle Sbrissa, Tobias Scheffel, Thomas Schestag, Ruth Schweikert, Monique Schwitter, Ryōko Sekiguchi, Fritz Senn, Michael Stauffer, Tabea Steiner, Ulf Stolterfoht, Anne-Sophie Subilia, Myriam Suchet, Peter Szendy, José-Flore Tappy, Camille de Toledo, Marie-Jeanne Urech, Peter Utz, Benoît Virot, Mathilde Vischer, Martin Zingg, Patricia Zurcher 

The Bern University of Applied Sciences offers students a wide range of opportunities at its locations in Bern, Biel, Burgdorf and Basel to make life attractive and enjoyable during their studies.

Take a look at ‘Studies + Life’

What Students and Alumn*ae say

  • Story

HKB-Studentin Gemma Ragués Pujol befragt

22.08.2022 Die Komponistin aus Barcelona beginnt nun das zweite Jahr Contemporary Arts Practice und spricht im Interview über die HKB und über die Entstehung ihres Stücks für die Biennale Musica 2022.

Information Event

Visit one of our information events and find out all about the degree programme, the admission requirements and your career prospects. Our students will share their experiences of university life with you.

  • Information Event

Master Contemporary Arts Practice

Our Master in Contemporary Arts Practice (Master CAP) is an interdisciplinary programme covering the areas of Fine Arts, Sound Arts, Literary Writing and Literary Translation and Performance Art.

26.11.2025, 4.30pm–8pm – HKB, Schwabstrasse 10, 3018 Bern and online

Location

Bern Schwabstrasse 10

Facilities

At the HKB, you have the opportunity to study in an inspiring environment. Our studios, workshops, and laboratories provide plenty of space. Come and explore our facilities:

Main Campus - Schwabstrasse 10

  • Studio and seminar rooms

  • Exhibition spaces

  • Photo lab

Fellerstrasse 11

  • Print studio

  • MediaLab

  • Media Library

  • Workshop

Papiermühlestrasse 13

  • Sound studio

  • Music library

Swiss Literary Institute in Biel

– Library for Creative Writing / Translation