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.