Founded in 1696 as the Brandenburg-Prussian Academy of the Arts, Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK Berlin) traces its lineage back over 300 years and is now one of Europe's largest and most diverse art universities, with approximately 4,500 students (about one-third international). The university's distinctive profile is built on the intersection of artistic teaching and practice with academic discourse; its core mission is to foster ongoing exchange and scholarly reflection alongside hands-on artistic creation. UdK structures its curriculum across several specialized colleges: Fine Arts, Architecture/Media/Design, Music, and Performing Arts, along with notable initiatives such as the Jazz Institute Berlin, the Inter-University Centre for Dance Berlin, and the interdisciplinary Art in Context Master's program. Hosting over 700 events annually, it serves as a major cultural driving force in Berlin.