The Berlin University of the Arts (UdK Berlin, Berlin University of the Arts until 2001) is Europe's largest art school. It dates back to 1696, when Friedrich III. donated the Electoral Academy of Mahler, Sculptor, and Architectur Art, making it one of the world's most traditional schools of this type. It was formed over the course of 150 years by the gradual merger of various educational institutions for music, architecture, fine arts, and design.
The UdK is divided into four faculties: fine arts, design, music, and performing arts. Furthermore, the Berlin Career College serves as a resource for additional training opportunities. The UdK runs the Jazz Institute Berlin in collaboration with the Hanns Eisler University of Music, as well as the Inter-University Center for Dance in collaboration with the Ernst Busch University of Dramatic Arts.
Berlin University of the Arts is one of the world's largest and most diverse arts universities. Teaching in the four colleges of Fine Arts, Architecture, Media and Design, Music and Performing Arts, as well as at the Central Institute for Continued Education/ Berlin Career College and the inter-University centres for Dance (HZT) and Jazz (JIB) covers the full spectrum of the arts and related academic studies in more than 70 courses.
Berlin University of the Arts is also one of the few art colleges in Germany with full university status, with the ability to confer doctorates and post-doctoral qualifications. Art and music teachers are also educated at Berlin University of the Arts, Berlin's only university where these subjects can be studied.