BA Communication Design

Because design is your language: the Bachelor's degree for creative designers

Communication is everything: ads, book covers, magazines, logos, apps, interfaces, Webdesign, or packaging design. Every day we encounter hundreds of visual messages. They all influence our thoughts and actions, and not just on account of their aesthetic value. They also convey multilayered content and emotions. As a communication designer or graphic designer, you'll find the best visual and creative expression for all messages, thereby resolving the issues that arise in design.

Our university focuses on your development. That's why we teach in small learning groups and in a friendly and personal atmosphere. You will be taught by renowned lecturers from the creative industry and study at a campus that is centrally located, equipped with the latest technology (photo studio, print & scan lab, VR equipment, MacPools, etc.), and that is known for its international and English-speaking character.

At the University of Applied Sciences Europe, you even get the possibility to actively shape your studies and your career path. Depending on your personal career goals, you will select your own specializations and choose from a range of interdisciplinary subjects. The programs taught at our university also include practical projects with top partners from the creative industry and optional field trips which will prepare you perfectly for your dream job.

We regard our students as creative individuals. The practice-oriented specialist knowledge and the confidence in the conceptual design you will gain will make you ready for the creative industries. The balanced mix of theory and practice will give you a capacity for reflection that will serve you well in your professional life. You will already design your very own covers, posters, logos, apps, and more during your studies. The intercultural and interdisciplinary competence gained at our international university will also help prepare you for working life.

Course Requirements

Application requirements:

Please note: All documents in a different language require an official translation to English or German.

Application form High school/bachelor diploma and transcripts (Or equivalent occupational diploma officially translated to English or German.) Language Proficiency (or request to waive*) CV Copy of Passport Letter of motivation Non-EU applicants only: €3,000 deposit (This reservation fee will be deducted from the total amount of study fees) Portfolio

Portfolio Requirements: About 8 - 12 work samples which show your strength in visual communication. E.g. drawings, sketchbooks, collages, photographs, moving images, interactive projects, websites, and other creative projects. Alsosketchbooks are welcome. All work should be accompanied by a short text reflecting on the project or work.

*Language Proficiency:

Please note: German-taught programs need both English / German language certificates.

• IELTS 5.5 overall
• TOEFL iBT72
• TOEFL ITP (paper based) 543
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 59
• Pearson Test of English (General) Level 1
• Cambridge English Advanced and Proficiency 160 overall
• Cambridge Exam First (FCE)
• TOEIC Listening/Reading 785, Speaking 160, Writing 150
• PASSWORD 5.5 (no less than 5.0 in each component)
• EF SET (50-minute Test) 51 (only for students applying with an MOI (Medium of Instruction) letter)
• Duolingo 90

Language Waiver:

To request a language test waiver, you must have studied in a country where the official first language is English:

• At least nine months in duration;
• Full-time;
• Undertaken at a recognized institution where teaching and assessment throughout the course are entirely in English;
• Has been completed within 2 years of the start date of the course to which you are applying;
• Medium of Instruction (MOI) should indicate English + EF SET or any accepted English proficiency certificate requested.

Facts:

• Degree: Bachelor of Arts
• Campus:  Berlin & Hamburg
• Language of instruction:
  • English (Berlin)
  • German (Hamburg)
• Starting semester:
  • Winter semester: September
  • Summer semester: March
• Internship semester / semester abroad:  5th semester
• Credits:  210 ECTS
• Highlights:
  • Focus on individual development in small learning groups and a personal atmosphere. Creative freedom, professional equipment, and practical projects. Teaching by renowned lecturers from the creative industry.

What makes it outstanding to study at the University of Applied Sciences Europe?

The University of Applied Sciences Europe is state-accredited, has received multiple awards, and is a worldwide leader among universities with an international approach. To apply to our university, you only need a high school diploma from your home country.

At the University of Applied Sciences Europe, you'll study in small groups. That is how we guarantee you individual support and personal contact with the lecturers. All of our professors are leading experts in their fields with outstanding success in their industries.

The theory you learn will find practical application in several project weeks. A wide variety of interdisciplinary courses allow you to determine the content of your studies. Our university offers modern equipment like photo studios, print and scan labs, Mac pools, and more.

An internship or a semester abroad is mandatory, and several excursions give you the opportunity to study in New York, Iceland, Vietnam, Paris, and other destinations. Create your story, and inspire the world.

Studying at the University of Applied Sciences Europe in Germany

We put emphasis on internationality. That is why we were ranked among the top 25 performers in student mobility and international orientation worldwide (U-Multirank 2016). Our numerous international students come from all over the world to pursue a highly valued (state and ZEvA recognized) German degree that is entirely taught in English.

Germany, known as the country of innovators, is the perfect place to get your degree. Germany is a particularly safe and livable country with relatively low tuition fees and affordable living costs. Furthermore, Berlin is known as Europe's creative capital, a magnet for artists, and "place to be" for designers.

That's why we encourage international students to come here and study with us. You can apply with your national school degree now. We will then take a look at your application and guide you through the process.

The program - courses, internships, semester abroad

This program is divided into various modules. In the foundational modules, we’ll first teach you the basics of artistic crafts, such as typography, drawing, painting, and graphic design. Then you’ll be able to develop your own specializations in elective modules for editorial design, digital design, advertising design, ads and sequencing, and corporate identity. The theoretical element will cover important historical and contemporary developments in art, film, photography, and design.

In the 5th semester, you’ll have the opportunity to test out your newly-gained design skills in practice through an internship or a semester abroad.

Your career options with a degree in Communication Design

Communication designers are integrated into all stages of concept phases and strategic planning. They play a leading role in ensuring artistically based ideas, strategic, economic, technical, social, and ecological parameters all flow into the design. This makes the career of a communication designer very complex, varied, and exciting.

The market for communication designers spans a broad range of jobs. Our alumni work in the creative industry as creative or art directors at advertising or communication agencies, publishing houses, or government institutions. Many are entrepreneurs or freelancers or work in design offices. Communication designers provide answers to the questions of our time. They reflect, transfer, visualize, formulate, invent, envision, plan, think, disagree, inspire, and present.

Students talk about their studies - #uestories

"UE pushed me. I mean that positively because it’s good and important to be removed from your comfort zone and to learn new things. So I tread on an unfamiliar path. That is invaluable!" Tommaso studies Communication Design at the University of Applied Sciences Europe Berlin

Tuition fees and funding

As a private university, we are not funded by the state, but by tuition fees. For this reason, studying at our university costs more than at a public university. But it’s worth it: Our graduates meet the essential requirements of careers in design, and this sets them apart from the graduates of many public universities. Your employment and earnings prospects are greatly improved.

All costs are included in the monthly tuition fee.

No additional costs will be incurred, such as a matriculation fee, exam fees, bachelor thesis fee, or similar, as long as the course is completed within the standard study period. The costs for the semester abroad are not included in these fees as there are substantial differences depending on the country and university.

We are happy to provide you with information on funding your studies and on any available scholarships. If you have any further questions, our Student Admissions Office can provide you with detailed information.

What’s special about us

The University of Applied Sciences Europe (UE) educates tomorrow's designers and decision-makers in the areas of business, sports, media & events, and art & design. Our teaching approach: practical, international, interdisciplinary and focused on success. The UE also offers a family-like environment in which you can study. We want to create an environment in which you can develop a strong character. Five basic factors form the backbone of our university: You study in an informal atmosphere to enable you to grow as a person. Trust is placed in you. You experience success. You learn based on a hands-on approach. And think along international lines. To put this policy into practice, the UE creates an atmosphere of well-being and fosters a climate in which you can perform your best.

Our campuses

Berlin, Hamburg, and Iserlohn – the characters of these three cities could not be more different. You can choose a unique atmosphere in the capital, a northern German port city, or an American-style campus-based university, whichever you prefer. After all, deciding on a course and a university is also governed by place: The question “What do I want to be?” is closely linked with the question “Where do I want to be?” for many people. The three campuses cater to a wide range of wishes: For example, the campus in Berlin is situated in the heart of the city, just off Potsdamer Platz. The campus in Iserlohn is surrounded by green spaces and offers lots of leisure-time activities at Seilersee. The campus in Hamburg is located in the Altona district, right next to the port and the Elbe River.

Germany:

• Germany is the strongest economy in Europe and unemployment rates are low.
• Low crime rates.
• Relatively low cost of living.

Berlin:

• Low cost of living
• Buzzing international city with a great lifestyle.
• No German required (everyone speaks English).
• The campus in a great location (city center, well-connected).
• Headquarters of many international companies and start-ups.
• Great for entrepreneurs and freelancers.

Our programs

At UE we offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, both full-time and part-time while in employment. Two guiding principles apply to all programs: practical learning and thinking along international lines. Practical learning In addition to well-known scientists, many famous personalities from a variety of industries teaches at the “University of Applied Sciences Europe”. The university has close ties with business, and a lively exchange of information takes place. One priority is to incorporate as many of the requirements of the job into your studies as soon as possible. Our active exchange also gives you the opportunity to observe how successful people do business. Thinking along international lines National boundaries have long blurred in the world of business. Consequently, it is our policy to look beyond lines on a map. Thus, a semester of study abroad is a fixture of the bachelor’s degree program and the International Summer School of the master’s degree program. This stay abroad is organized in close collaboration with our partner universities in the Global University Systems (GUS) . In addition, meeting students from all over the world is part of everyday life at our university.

Focus on Employability:

• 93% of business graduates are employed within 1 year;
• Practical experience in real-life projects;
• Partnerships with renowned companies;
• International students are eligible for an 18-month post-study visa;
• Semester abroad/ work experience semester integrated into programs;
• Career center and international office to support students.

Our aims

Our most important aim is your success. We are there to see to it that you are ideally prepared to launch your professional career and to make your own way. With this in mind, we educate our students to become young professionals with an enterprising spirit and approach. How knowledge and skills are taught Today, you need a combination of abilities to forge a successful career. Substantive knowledge and social skills, management know-how, and confidence at an international level are the basis for a managerial career in the free economy. These days, enterprising young managers with a good theoretical education and who have acquired relevant practical experience both at home and abroad during their studies are sought-after in all fields of business. We equip you to meet these requirements. The results speak for themselves: Graduates of the “University of Applied Sciences Europe” enter employment very quickly.

Programs and student experience

• UE in Top 10 private universities for teaching quality in business studies;
• Students are taught in small groups;
• Highly qualified lecturers with real-life experience in their area of expertise;
• Unique choice of programs;
• Wide range of programs;
• Most programs are offered 100% in English;
• State-of-the-art equipment;
• Interdisciplinary learning;
• International excursions;
• Students from 100+ nationalities on campus.