Design Courses in Germany for International Students: Top Universities, Cost, and Entry Requirements
There are two types of higher education institutes offering design programs in Germany: universities and universities of applied sciences. They both offer bachelor’s and master’s courses in the field of design. The DAAD website lists 108 master’s programs and 31 bachelor’s programs in design and related fields. All these listed programs are taught in English and thus attract many international students every year. Before discussing the programs offered by German design universities, let’s take a closer look at the specialties you might anticipate in this broad industry.
Design courses come in a variety of packages ranging from product design, and interior design to fashion design.
Product design
Product designing is the process of assisting brands in creating products that satisfy consumers’ needs. A good product designer must be highly creative and should possess both practical and theoretical knowledge.
Fashion design
It centers around fashion, including designing clothing and accessories. As a fashion designer, you will learn about the clothing material used, prototyping, computer-aided designing, tailoring, sewing, etc.
Communication design
Communication design is a mix of design and information development used to express information or deliver a message. Communication designers include people who work as copywriters, web developers, creative directors, etc.
Digital and interaction design
This industry combines traditional graphic design and creative skills with technical expertise to create user-centered interactive digital products. UX, UI, and interaction design are some popular sub-types in this field.
Interior and architectural design
Interior design involve the process of enhancing a building’s interior/exterior through art and science to make it aesthetically pleasing. Whereas architectural design is a subset of the architecture field that deals with only the design aspect of it.
Overview of Design courses in Germany
Bachelor Design courses | Master Design courses | |
Duration | 3 to 3.5 years | 1.5 to 2 years |
Degree type | Bachelor of Arts | Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Engineering |
Annual fees in euros | 7,680 to 12,100 for private universities, public universities charge semester contributions only | 3,000 to 14,300 (some public universities only charge semester contribution ranging from 334 to 1,000) |
Popular Design courses and universities in Germany
Bachelor Design courses and fees in Germany
All the undergraduate design courses in English listed by the DAAD website are Bachelor of Arts or B.A. degrees. They are 6 semesters to 7 semesters long and are offered by the universities of applied sciences. The table below lists some popular design colleges in Germany for international students. You can apply to these universities via Gyanberry.
University Name | Course Name | Duration (years) | Tuition Fees (Euros/year) | Tuition Fees (USD*/year) |
University of Europe for Applied Sciences | Communication Design | 3 | 12,100 | 12,076 |
UX / UI Design | 3 | 12,100 | 12,076 | |
Game Design | 3 | 12,100 | 12,076 | |
Film + Motion Design | 3 | 12,100 | 12,076 | |
SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences | Audio Design | 3.5 | 9,000 | 8,982 |
Film + Motion Design | 3.5 | 9,000 | 8,982 | |
University of Applied Sciences Fresenius | Fashion Design | 3.5 | 8,700 | 8,683 |
Fashion & Design Management | 3.5 | 8,700 | 8,683 | |
CODE University of Applied Sciences | Interaction Design | 3 | 10,922 | 10,901 |
Berlin International University of Applied Sciences | Graphic Design & Visual Communication | 3 | 8,760 | 8,743 |
Interior Design | 3 | 8,760 | 8,743 | |
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences | Information and Communication Design | 3.5 | 628 | 627 |
HMKW University of Applied Sciences for Media, Communication and Business | Graphic design and visual communication | 3 | 7,680 | 7,665 |
Master Design courses and fees in Germany
The post-graduate design courses in Germany are 1.5–2 years long and are thesis-based. They are offered by universities of higher education as well as universities of applied sciences. They offer these courses in the following degree types
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
University Name | Course Name | Duration (years) | Tuition Fees (Euros/year) | Tuition Fees (USD*/year) |
University of Europe for Applied Sciences | Visual & Experience Design (M.A.) | 2 | 12,600 (Standard Track), 14,300 (Fast Tracks) | 12,575 and 14,272 |
University of Stralsund | Simulation and System Design (M.Eng.) | 1.5 to 2 | Semester contribution | – |
HMKW University of Applied Sciences for Media, Communication and Business | Communication Design and Creative Strategies (M.A.) | 2 | 8,340 | 8,324 |
Brand University of Applied Sciences | Design & Innovation (Brand Innovation M.A.) | 1.5 | 13,680 | 13,653 |
University of Rostock | EMship – Integrated Advanced Ship Design (M.Sc.) | 2 | 4,000 | 3,992 |
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar | Integrated Urban Development and Design (M.Sc.) | 2 | 1,000 (semester fee) | 998 |
University of Stuttgart | Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design (M.Sc.) | 2 | 3,000 | 2,994 |
SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences | Social Design and Sustainable Innovation (M.A.) | 2 | 10,800 | 10,779 |
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Ostwestfalen-Lippe | Sustainable Landscape Design and Development (M.A.) | 2 | 334 (semester fee) | 333 |
Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences | Analysis and Design of Social Protection Systems
(M.A.) |
2 | 570 (semester fee) | 569 |
Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg | Urban Design – Revitalization of Historic City Districts (M.Sc.) | 1.5 | 3,000 | 2,994 |
Esslingen University of Applied Sciences | Design and Development in Automotive and Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.) | 1.5 | 3,000 | 2,994 |
University of Stuttgart | Integrative Technology and Architectural Design Research (ITECH) (M.Sc.) | 2 | 3,000 | 2,994 |
RWTH Aachen University | Management and Engineering in Design Concepts and Structural Engineering of Industrial Facilities (M.Sc.) | 2 | 11,000 | 10,979 |
College of Arts, Bremen | Digital Media / Media Design (M.A.) | 2 | 756 (semester fee) | 755 |
Merz Akademie University of Art, Design, and Media, Stuttgart | Research in Design, Art, and Media (M.A.) | 1.5 | 3,000 | 2,994 |
In addition to tuition fees, students must take into account the cost of living in Germany. On average, you will need 800-900 euros per month to survive in Germany. For more information about living expenses in Germany, click here.
Eligibility and academic requirements
Since design courses are administered in English, German universities ask applicants to produce proof of English language proficiency at the B2 level. Students can submit the following internationally recognized English language test scores
- IELTS 5.5 to 6.5
- TOEFL iBT 72 and above
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) – PTEA 60 and above
Several German universities request that students provide their curriculum vitae (CV). The main objective of a CV is to provide the admissions committee with a summary of your education, artistic, academic, and professional history (if any), as well as your skills. You can create your own format or utilize the official Europass CV builder provided by the European Union. Remember to be precise and concise while still being clear. Usually, one page is plenty.
Here are some general academic requirements for design courses in Germany.
Requirements for bachelor’s Design courses in Germany
- University entrance qualification (Abitur or Fachabitur)
- English proficiency
- Portfolio
- Entrance examination or personal interview
- Passport copy
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Proof of funding
- Valid health insurance
If your high school education does not equate to Abitur or Fachabitur then you will have to complete a preparatory course called Studienkolleg. This course prepares you for the German university entrance exam, Feststellungsprüfung” (FSP). Once you clear the exam, you can apply to any German university of your choice.
Requirements for master’s Design courses in Germany
- Bachelor’s or first degree in relevant subject area
- English proficiency
- Internship or work experience
- Motivation letter
- Entrance examination or personal interview
- Passport copy
- CV
- Proof of funding
- Valid health insurance
If you are confused about the requirements for German design colleges, you can book a free video call with Gyanberry experts. Our experts will guide you through the admissions process and also help you choose the right university and course.
Career scope
If you are someone who is artistic, creative, and self-motivated, then a career in any design field is perfect for you. There are a variety of specializations in this field. Let us look at career opportunities in each
Product design | Fashion design | Communication design | Digital and interaction design | Interior and architectural design |
CAD technician | Fashion designer | Film production assistant | Digital brand designer | Interior designer |
Product designer | Retail manager | Advertising manager | UX designer | Landacspe designer |
System designer | Fashion stylist | Animator and creative director | Visual interaction designer | Furniture designer |
Process designer | Textile manager | Video editor | UI designer | Urbanist |
Interface designer | Jewellery designer | Video game designer | Web developer | Lighting designer |
Automotive Designer | Fashion consultant | Copywriter | Digital product designer | Scenic designer |
A bachelor’s degree will qualify you for an entry-level or lower management role, whilst a master’s degree will enable you to advance up the management ladder to become CEO, COO, etc.
*Note: The tuition fees are converted based on the current exchange rate, i.e., 1 Euro = 1.00 USD. Exchange rates can fluctuate from time to time.