UNIVERSITÄT FÜR ANGEWANDTE KUNST WIEN | University of Applied Arts Vienna

The University of Applied Arts Vienna is home to nearly 2.000 students, many of whom come from other countries, both within Europe and abroad. The broad spectrum of artistic disciplines, complemented by a large number of scientific subjects, certainly enriches the special atmosphere that prevails at the “Angewandte“.

The concept of the university as a place for critical reflection upon one´s personal thought and action, a place where questions are more important than patent solutions – this idea flourishes at the Angewandte. Studies are not limited to the mere conveyance of artistic techniques and skills. Rather, the development of individual artistic creativity and critical reflection upon one`s work on the basis of theories and concepts are the foremost priorities. Students learn and experience art not just as an end in itself, but fundamentally as a departure point and medium for communication, where the analysis of the significance and effects art has in society play an important role. Encouraging the development of creative visions and facilitating artistic experiments, in tandem with a commitment to technical excellence and conceptual brilliance, are the basic elements of the quality standard the Angewandte sets for both teachers and students alike.

Today the Angewandte is regarded as a dynamic, nationally and internationally recognized competence center for architecture, fine arts and media art, design, conservation and restoration, art education and sciences, and the language arts, with a special focus on interlinking artistic and scientific disciplines.

The teachers, students, and graduates make a significant contribution to the development of the artistic and scientific disciplines represented at the Angewandte. These disciplines must also serve as a societal communication tool in order to be effective as a newly defined and contemporary understanding of applied arts. Through the exploration of novel practices in teaching, research, and the development of art, the Angewandte faces the challenges society presents.

The University sees itself as a place for free artistic and academic expression, as a forum for open debate, and as a laboratory for artistic visions, which unfold their potentials in the society of the future. Their goal to remain one of the best art schools in the world is inextricably linked to the consistent effort invested into continually increasing their quality standards, the ongoing renewal of creative potential, and their uncompromising advocacy of artistic and academic freedom.