BA (Hons) Illustration

Why enroll in this program

This three-year or four-year international route Bachelor of Art in Illustration will introduce you to the fundamentals of the creative industry and will allow you to refine a career path. This program has been selected by BSBI from among the many prestigious international degrees offered by the University for the Creative Arts. Students can save up to 33% on tuition fees! Terms and conditions apply.

This degree program fosters an engaging and practical approach to illustration. Students are encouraged to develop their unique approach to the subject, gaining the skills they need to thrive in their future careers. Our broad approach to teaching methods within this course includes a special focus on narrative and drawing practice as well as critical analysis, workshops, and collaborative live projects. The course will enable you to develop your analytical and technical skills. You’ll explore innovative approaches to the subject with access to a studio environment, combining all your newly acquired skills within a dynamic and inventive visual storytelling final project.

Why study in Hamburg

Hamburg shows it is at the heart of the creative industries within Europe. Designers and illustrators can benefit from digitization and the positive economic situation in Germany, did you know the industry has had an average growth of 4.1% until 2014-2019 in the communication design industry? Source: Ibisworld.com Exposure to established creative agencies: Study in Hamburg and be close to creative agencies like Jung von Matt, Blynk, Serious, Paperlux Studio, and Sum.Cumo. Better yet, be near start-ups featuring client portfolios reaching from BMW, Google, and Airbus to Mercedes Benz and McDonald's. Opportunities Abound: Of 1.2 Million employed in the creative industries, over 30%, around 472k are based in the software/gaming industry. Source: Statista

In Hamburg, the software and games industry accounts for 28% percent of the workforce. Source: Monitoring report Culture and Creative Industries 2019 on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). ZEW - Leibniz Center for European Economic Research GmbH Mannheim. Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI. December 2019

Portfolio Scholarship Competition

Watch out for the 2024 BSBI portfolio scholarship competition and showcase your creativity! Applicable to the Faculty of Creative Industries programs awarded by the University for the Creative Arts that are offered on the BSBI Hamburg campus.

• Best Portfolio (Study for Free!)
  • 1 Student | 100% Scholarship on Tuition
• Second Best Portfolio
  • 10 Students | 50% Scholarship on Tuition
• Third Best Portfolio
  • 20 Students | 40% Scholarship on Tuition

Terms and Conditions

To secure the offer, a minimum deposit of €2,000 must be paid before the deadline. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or scholarships. Terms and conditions of the Study Agreement are still applicable. This offer is effective This offer is effective until 31 December 2024.

Entry Requirements

Foundation International Route Option

Minimum Age: 18 (titles awarded upon completion of at least 11 years of schooling), (if the applicant is 17 and turns 18 within 3 months of enrolment still eligible for enrolment)

How to create an exceptional portfolio will be available in this integrated international route foundation in art design and media course to guarantee you a direct progression into your BA degree course.

Academic Qualifications: ECCTIS UK equivalent to GCSE

English Language Requirements:

• Official English Tests -
  • IELTS – minimum overall score of 5.0 (with min 4.5 in each component);
  • Password test – minimum overall score of 5.0 (with min 4.5 in each component);
  • PTE (Academic) – minimum overall score of 46 (with min 41 in each component);
  • LanguageCert International ESOL SELT overall score of B1 Achiever High Pass;
  • Duolingo test with an overall score of 95+.
• West African Certificates (WAEC AND NECO only) as a stand-alone with a minimum of C6 in English and issued within the last 5 years. Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is also accepted with an overall grade of C or above. For Tanzania and Cameroon, we request an IELTS (or equivalent certificate).
• WAEC/NECO must be enhanced by a successful (50%+) Internal English Assessment if issued more than 5 years ago.
• Nationals of a majority English-speaking country who have taken their academic qualifications in that country, do not need to sit an English test ( Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and USA.
• The English Language test can be waived and a Medium of Instruction Letter submitted if:
• Applicants have achieved a recognized High School Certificate, where the medium of instruction was entirely in English (teaching and assessment).
• You are a Canadian national who has completed studies at an English-speaking School/College/University.

BA (Hons)

Minimum Age: 18 (titles awarded upon completion of at least 12 years of schooling)

For direct Year 1 BA entry you’ll be required to submit an online portfolio via our BSBI Applicant Portal.

Academic Qualifications:

• A school leaving certificate with a pass to pursue higher education in Germany e.g. Abitur, Fachhochschulreife, or Matura. Alternatively, an international baccalaureate, international school leaving certificate, BTEC/national diploma, or advanced vocational certificate of education will be accepted.
• If you do not meet the above academic requirements, applicants with professional qualifications and/or four years of full-time work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

English Language Requirements:

• Official English Tests -
  • IELTS – minimum overall score of 6.0 (with min 5.5 in each component);
  • Password test – minimum overall score of 6.0 (with min 5.5 in each component);
  • PTE (Academic) – minimum overall score of 56 ( with min 51 in each component);
  • TOEFL IBT overall score of 80 (Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17);
  • Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English Proficiency overall score of 69 (min 162 in each component);
  • LanguageCert International ESOL SELT overall score of B2 Communicator High Pass (min 33 in each component);
  • Duolingo test with an overall score of 105.
• Applicants who have an insufficient score in one component (i.e. 5.0 instead of 5.5) but overall meet the required threshold, can sit for an English diagnostic test online. Students based in Germany will also be able to sit for an internal assessment, free of charge, with a successful passing rate of 50%+.
• The English Language test can be waived and a medium of instruction letter submitted if:
• Applicants who have achieved an ECCTIS UK recognized school certificate within the last 2 years where the medium of instruction was entirely in English (teaching and assessment). A medium of instruction letter can also be accepted if the applicant has graduated within the last 5 years but must be supported by a Duolingo test.
• Canadian nationals who have completed a bachelor’s degree at an English-speaking university must submit a Medium of Instruction Letter.
• West African Certificates (WAEC AND NECO only) as a stand-alone with a minimum of C6 in English and issued within the last 5 years. Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is also accepted with an overall grade of C or above. For Tanzania and Cameroon, we request an IELTS (or equivalent certificate).
• WAEC/NECO must be enhanced by a successful (50%+) Internal English Assessment if issued more than 5 years ago.
• Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge AICE certificates.
• International baccalaureate diploma with: English Syllabus A: Standard or Higher Grade 4, or above and English Syllabus B: Standard Grade 5 or Higher Grade 4, or above.
• Nationals of a majority English-speaking country who have taken their academic qualifications in that country, do not need to sit an English test ( Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and USA.

• A high school certificate can be an undergraduate certificate, undergraduate diploma, HNC, HND, CertHE, DipHE, etc.

  Schengen Zone Residents Entry Requirements:

  • Applicants who are residents of the Schengen Zone are not required to present an IELTS language test or equivalent but are required to pass a BSBI English diagnostics interview, which will be provided by BSBI.

Fees

October: €11,000/year (International) | €8,450/year (EU students).

With campuses across Berlin, Hamburg, Paris, Athens and Barcelona, BSBI prepares its students to make a real meaningful impact in the world of business. All programmes are enriched with BSBI’s three core values: enterprise, leadership and success and include a strong focus on improving practical and relevant skills for the market of today. Students gain the confidence to pursue their professional dreams by fine-tuning the most sought-after skills and learning from industry-focused academics at the top of their field. They will also benefit from an excellent career support team for extra guidance.

BSBI’s memberships include: AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, UN-PRME, Erasmus, Erasmus + and Business Graduates Association (BGA) Bronze member. Multiple study locations - Our well-equipped main campus is located in the heart of Berlin, Germany’s capital. Germany is one of the world’s most innovative countries according to the 2021 Bloomberg Innovation Index. We also have study locations in Hamburg, Paris and Athens. BSBI offers blended study formats so that you can juggle other commitments alongside your studies. BSBI has integrated the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and e-learning programmes into the heart of its teaching. Excellent student support - We provide excellent academic tuition, guaranteed small-sized classes, industry experts and guest speaker presentations. Classes are taught in English and Free German language lessons are available. This will help you increase your employment opportunities in Germany after graduation. Dedicated career service - From CV workshops and networking events to personalised career advice, the team are on hand to provide students with the specialised services needed to fulfil their career aspirations. Post-study German visa - After graduation, if you would like to extend your residence permit in Germany, you can apply for a job-seeking visa for up to 18 months that will allow you to work without any limitation. In order to benefit from career opportunities in Germany, a good level of German is necessary. Free Legal Support: Once you arrive in Germany our legal partner SERS will provide the visa advice and support completely free of charge.

Learning outcomes

• Our programmes have been designed to develop the practical business skills needed to thrive in today’s global business market.
• With enterprise, leadership and success at their core, our programmes combine theory with practice to keep students up-to-date with the latest industry trends.
• We offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programmes, all of which focus on helping you become an exceptional leader in your field.
• Designed and delivered by industry experts, our programmes will provide you with a competitive edge needed to stand out in the global job market.

Diversity, Class Size, Student Satisfaction

With enterprise, leadership and success at its core, BSBI offers industry-relevant programmes which focus on developing the practical business skills needed to ensure your professional success. These programmes are competitively priced to meet the needs of the international market. With our main campus in Berlin, BSBI attracts a diverse student cohort with more than 90 nationalities represented.

We offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate programmes, all of which focus on helping you become an exceptional leader in your field. Our academic partners include: University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Concordia University Chicago (CUC) and International Telematic University UNINETTUNO.

We are proud to be a member of several organisations such as The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), The United Nations – Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN-PRME) and The Business Graduates Association (BGA). These memberships demonstrate our commitment to academic excellence, enriching our students’ learning experience and allowing them access to a growing network of leading industry players. These memberships provide BSBI with a range of resources and access to a network of professionals, helping us to continue to bring flexible and affordable programmes to our students.

A broad range of programmes from business, marketing and finance to creative arts and IT now with the option to study online, or have an international multi-campus education, with partnerships in France and Greece. Small class sizes and a diverse student cohort of over 90 nationalities, resulting in an enriched learning environment and sharing of culture. Outstanding student services, ranging from the welcome week, peer to peer mentoring, extracurricular activities like fresher’s parties, business competitions, talent shows and more. Flexible payment plans, partial scholarships and promotional offers.

Admissions

Undergraduate Programmes

• Age: 17 - 20 years old
• Education background:
  • High school graduate;
  • With titles awarded upon completion of at least 11 years of schooling;
  • Academic Qualifications: ECCTIS equivalent to GCSE.
• Work experience: None / possible early age freelance part-time jobs due to online opportunities boom.

Postgraduate Programmes

• Age: 21 - 34 years old
• Education background:
  • Undergraduate/Bachelor's Degree;
  • May be assessed on the relevant work experience of at least 3 years of management experience;
  • Potentially with other Postgraduate Degrees (looking to switch careers).
• Work experience: May be assessed on the relevant work experience of at least 3 years of management experience.

Doctorate Degree

• Age: 23 - above
• Education background:
  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution in a business-related discipline; a master’s degree or a Level 7 postgraduate qualification, or an MBA from a recognised Institution.
  • Applicants with degrees in other disciplines and applicants with no bachelor’s or master’s degree, but with other academic qualifications and significant professional experience at the executive level are also welcome to apply. Their acceptance might be subject to successfully sitting to an entrance test and an interview.

Ideal students

Undergraduate Programmes:

• High school students looking at earning their undergraduate degree outside the country;
• Students who are looking to improve job prospects to get a higher salary in the future.

Postgraduate Programmes:

• Young urban professionals/undergraduates who are looking to add a postgraduate degree under their credentials to increase employability and chances of a higher salary in their organisation.

Doctorate Degree:

• Professionals who want to secure placements in large consultancies firms, international retailers and fashion houses and other service industries or those who want to pursue research degrees in top universities around the world.