Academy of Performing Arts in Prague

Key Highlights

• Public specialist arts university established in 1945
• Three constituent faculties: DAMU, FAMU and HAMU
• Central Prague facilities distributed across several historic buildings
• 2026/2027 academic year begins on 1 October 2026

Student Life & Environment

Student life is shaped by the separate creative communities of DAMU, FAMU and HAMU and by frequent production work. AMU students participate in theatre and dance performances, concerts, screenings, exhibitions and other artistic projects that also contribute to Prague’s public cultural program. Cross-faculty proximity can support collaboration, but daily routines and facilities depend heavily on the student’s faculty and discipline. AMU operates the Hradební residence hall in Prague 1. Its official accommodation page describes 71 furnished rooms or flats with 129 beds, private bathroom and toilet facilities, internet access, soundproofing, basement music rehearsal rooms and a computer or meeting room. Because capacity is limited relative to the institution, admission to AMU should not be assumed to guarantee housing; students are directed to their study department for allocation details and current prices. A university identification card provides access to AMU libraries and certain premises and can be used for printing, copying and scanning. Students may alternatively obtain a paid version carrying an ISIC licence. International offices at all three faculties support mobility activities, including Erasmus+ study and traineeships. The university’s dispersed city-centre setting means student experience is integrated into Prague rather than organized around a closed campus with comprehensive residential amenities.

Location & Surroundings

AMU is located in Prague, with its principal teaching sites concentrated in the historic centre. DAMU is on Karlova Street in Prague 1, close to the Old Town. FAMU occupies Lažanský Palace on Smetanovo nábřeží beside the Vltava and near the National Theatre. HAMU is based in Liechtenstein and Hartig palaces at Malostranské náměstí in Malá Strana. The rectorate is also in Malá Strana. This arrangement gives students direct access to a dense cultural environment of theatres, concert halls, cinemas, galleries and festivals. It also means travel between faculties takes place through the city rather than across a unified campus. Applicants whose work requires instruments, production equipment or irregular rehearsal hours should consider the location of their department and accommodation when planning daily travel. The Hradební residence hall is likewise in Prague 1, although its limited capacity makes private accommodation an important possibility. International students should budget separately for housing and local living expenses and verify commuting arrangements with their faculty. The location is particularly relevant for students who want their education embedded in an active European arts capital, while those seeking a conventional campus experience may find the dispersed model less suitable.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Costs vary markedly by faculty, program and language of instruction. English-taught degrees charge program-specific tuition, so there is no reliable single AMU tuition figure. For 2026/2027, DAMU lists annual fees from CZK 215,000 for Theatre Scenography to CZK 230,000 for Authorial Acting and Directing for Devised and Object Theatre; Production Design is CZK 228,000. FAMU’s English Photography bachelor’s lists CZK 220,000 for 2026/2027, while another FAMU English master’s program publishes a substantially higher amount. These examples should not be generalized to HAMU or Czech-taught study. Binding fees are stated in Czech crowns and may be revised for later academic years. Housing is not included in DAMU’s tuition. AMU’s residence page links to a 2026 price decree but directs students to the accommodation system or study department for the applicable rate, so applicants should not budget on an unverified flat room-and-board amount. Additional costs can include application or foreign-education assessment fees, equipment, instruments, production materials, travel and private housing. Career preparation is embedded mainly in specialist artistic training, productions and contact with working practitioners. Official DAMU program pages describe lecturers active in professional theatre and connections with Czech and international artists and institutions; collaborative work can also cross faculty boundaries. AMU publishes alumni career interviews spanning performance, film, photography, production and other paths, but it does not provide a current institution-wide salary or placement statistic suitable for comparison. Prospective students should assess the professional network, portfolio outcomes and graduate profile of the exact department rather than infer uniform employment results for all AMU graduates.