The BUA unites a wide variety of artistic disciplines under a single roof. The University offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the fields of design, fine arts, conservation and restoration, music, literature, opera and theatre.

The BUA came into existence on September 1st 2003 with the merger of the College of Music and Theatre and the College of Design, the Arts and Conservation. The BUA is a department of Berne University of Applied Sciences.

The BUA is committed to quality. Students are selected on the basis of aptitude tests, and lecturers are required to furnish demanding qualifications. The clear framework conditions ensure effective student support and a high-quality education.

While students at the BUA focus on their core discipline, they also see themselves as part of an innovative art, design and research landscape, operating on a transdisciplinary basis. The proximity to other disciplines serves to broaden their horizons. The acquisition of interface competencies guarantees a sustainable professional qualification at university level.

The Y Institute coordinates this “learning between the disciplines. Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, the philosopher, coined the aphorism: "Anyone who only understands chemistry doesn't even understand that very well." Hanns Eisler applied this quotation to music. And the BUA interprets it in an even wider sense, taking it as its guiding principle.

As a research institute and events centre, the BUA works together closely with national and international partners from both the cultural and social sectors, as well as from the world of business.

Major projects, such as the Biennale Bern are organised jointly with cultural professionals. The BUA stands out amongst other centers of learning through its large number of public appearances and its strong presence in the capital's cultural scene.