Your application to the Max Reinhardt Seminar

To be admitted to study at the Max Reinhardt Seminar, participation in an entrance examination is required. The entrance examination takes place in several selection rounds with various tasks. A committee of teaching staff uses this to assess your suitability for the degree programme. After each round, you will find out whether you have passed and are therefore invited to the next round. Once you pass the final round, you will be offered a study place at the Max Reinhardt Seminar.

Taking part in an entrance examination can be exciting and sometimes requires a bit of effort. The information on this page can help you prepare your application in the best possible way. And even if it doesn't work out straight away: failing the entrance exam is not a judgement on your talent. Taking part can still be an important experience on your journey.

We look forward to meeting you.

The prerequisite for studying is a successfully passed entrance examination.

the general university entrance qualification (Matura/Abitur) is for the acting degree programme not required.

The language of instruction is German. Proficiency in the German language is a prerequisite for the degree programme. Further information can be found in the mdw Language Proficiency Regulations

Registration period:
22 January (13:00) – 6 May 2026
(depending on your exam date, see below)

Round 1:

You decide in which exam block your 1st round is to take place. We will contact you by email around three weeks before the exam date to let you know your group allocation and provide further information. Your first round will take place on a It takes place on a particular day within a specific time slot.

Your choice:

BLOCK 1: 24 or 25 April 2026
Application deadline: 1 April 2026, closed

or

BLOCK 2: 8 or 9 May 2026
Registration deadline: 15 April 2026, closed

or

BLOCK 3: 22nd or 23rd May 2026
Registration deadline: 29 April 2026, closed

or

BLOCK 4: 4th, 5th or 6th June 2026
Registration deadline: 6 May 2026, closed

Please note: After the deadline, registration for the 2026 entrance examination will no longer be possible.

2nd and 3rd round: between 29th June and 4th July 2026

completed

You will receive the invitation to the 2nd round, including the exact date, upon successfully completing the 1st round. 

Start date: 1 October 2026

For the acting entrance exam, you prepare three scene excerpts (monologues/performances). The key is not a linguistically skilled delivery, but the effort to create a recognisable portrayal of the respective role.
Choose dramatic texts from different historical eras and make sure that your characters are in different life situations. In this way, you can demonstrate a spectrum of your playful imagination and your capabilities.

Step 1: Registration

The Max Reinhardt Seminar is an institute of mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. During the registration period, the mdw online form unlocked. There you create a basic account, enter your desired degree programme and select one of the offered time slots for the 1st round.  

[The system will send you an automated confirmation of your registration within the next day. The examination date stated in the confirmation is, by default, 24 April 2026 at 00:00.]. The date of the examination block you selected still applies.]

Step 2: Confirmation of participation

A few days after the registration deadline, you will receive an email from the Max Reinhardt Seminar with the date of your entrance exam and the time of your check-in.

Step 3: Check-in for the exam at the Max Reinhardt Seminar

At last, the time has come: your entrance exam is just around the corner. You arrive at the Max Reinhardt Seminar at the agreed time and check in with our study services secretary. 

First round:
You present two of your three prepared scene excerpts/monologues. You can decide for yourself which role you begin with. Should you need a table or chairs to play: both are available. The second role will be chosen by the commission. You will find out the result of the first round by email in the subsequent days. 

A note: The commission may interrupt you a few minutes into the game. Rest assured, this is a normal procedure and does not reflect on the success of the examination!

Second round:
The second round takes place in front of a larger committee. Now you first present your third role. Afterwards, the committee asks you to perform one role from the first round again. You will find out the result of the second round by email and via a notice on-site.

Third round:
The third round consists of various physical and staged tasks. During this, you will improvise and come into play alone and with others. You cannot prepare for this – the important thing is that you try to engage in something new with joy and imagination. You will find out the result of the third and final round – and therefore whether we can offer you a study place – by email via the Study Centre.

How many times am I allowed to sit the entrance exam at the Max Reinhardt Seminar?

You can only take part in one exam block of the 1st round per entrance examination. However, you can apply again every year. For this, there are none Restrictions.

How long can or should a monologue be?
We recommend a length of approximately 5 minutes.

May I perform several monologues from the same work? – or multiple texts written by the same person?
We strongly advise against that. It is recommended to choose texts, authors, characters and situations that are as varied as possible in order to demonstrate the range of your own playful imagination and capabilities.

Do I have to use real props, or can I imagine them?
Props can (but do not have to) be used. Should you choose to do so, we recommend bringing real props (wherever possible). A table and chairs are available in the examination room.

What about costumes?
Costumes can (but do not have to) be used. On the day of your audition at the Max Reinhardt Seminar, you will have the opportunity to change. There are also screens set up in the audition rooms behind which you can change out of sight between your roles. We recommend choosing costumes that allow quick changes between your audition roles. This will help your audition run smoothly.

Can you also prepare an excerpt from a novel or film script for the monologues?
Basically, that is possible. If you decide to do so, you should find a way to adapt it for the stage.

Can I perform self-written scenes? We advise against that. Experience shows that theatrical texts by playwrights are better suited for the Max Reinhardt Seminar acting entrance exam in order to demonstrate a range of one's own dramatic imagination and potential.

If you have any questions about our entrance examinations: We are here to help!

Log in to mdw online form

For questions regarding registration on mdw-Online, as well as study law matters:
Study Centre of the mdw
University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1, 1030 Vienna
+43 1 711 55-6900
studiencenter@mdw.ac.at
Link to the Study Centre

All information regarding on-site check-in and the examination procedure:
Max Reinhardt Seminar Administration Office
Penzinger Straße 9, 1140 Vienna
ANITA NAGL
+43 1 711 55-2802
bewerben-mrs@mdw.ac.at