In order to ensure that qualifications obtained abroad meet the ifs admission requirements, applicants can consult the following database: http://anabin.kmk.org. If your diploma does not meet the ifs admission requirements, but you have a recognisable talent and sufficient previous experience, you may be invited to participate in the admission procedure to demonstrate your individual artistic aptitude and to request to enroll in the programme as advanced training participant.
In order to obtain a residence permit, international students must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves. The amount required is equivalent to the maximum BaföG rate of 992 Euros per month.
Citizens of member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) - i.e. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - and Switzerland have the same access to the labour market as German students and can work as long as they like without having to obtain prior permission from the German authorities.The only formal advice is to limit work to a maximum of 20 hours per week to avoid social security charges. However, as the workload of the programme is very demanding, the IFS does not recommend that students take up part-time work during the lecture period.
International students from countries that are NOT members of the EU, EEA or Switzerland are normally allowed to work 120 full days or 240 half days per year if they have a valid residence permit for Germany. Students who wish to work more days per year must obtain permission from the Ausländerbehörde and the Bundesagentur für Arbeit. However, as the workload of the programme is very demanding, the IFS does not recommend that students take up part-time work during the lecture period.