Information and Communication Design, BA

About the course

A fully English-taught design degree at the Kamp-Lintfort campus. In the first year you get foundations in creative, technical and theoretical areas. From semester 3 you work on practical design projects, and technical training continues through semester 4, covering interface, online and motion design. Semester 6 is a semester abroad or a work placement, and semester 7 is a practical design thesis with written academic work. The course runs for 7 semesters, full-time.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• Germany’s recognition rules say the Leaving Cert gives direct university entry if you have six subjects, including two languages and Maths at O5/H6 or better. At least two must be Higher Level at H5 or better, and the other four at O6/H6 or better. Design counts as an arts subject area, so the German rules add no extra subjects. uni-assist checks your certificate for the university, so confirm with admissions.
• Portfolio: admission depends mainly on a portfolio assessment. You register online, then upload a single PDF (up to 10 MB) with an application form, your CV and 10 creative examples. They are assessed on power of observation, imagination and presentation skills. There is no grade cut-off (NC) and no pre-study internship.
• English: the programme page does not state a separate English requirement, although the course is taught entirely in English. Ask admissions which English proof, if any, Irish applicants need.

How to apply

1. Register for the portfolio assessmentRegister on the university website when the 2027 round opens, then upload one PDF with the application form, your CV and 10 creative examples. Ask portfolio-ICD@hsrw.eu about dates and advice sessions.
2. Prepare documentsGet your Leaving Cert results, your passport and any English proof admissions asks for ready.
3. Apply via uni-assistAfter you pass the portfolio assessment, apply through uni-assist (from March, by the published deadline, usually 15 July) and pay the handling fee.
4. Enrol and moveIf you get an offer, enrol, pay the semester contribution and look for housing in Kamp-Lintfort early. The winter semester starts in autumn.

Costs

• No tuition fees for EU students at this public university. You pay only a semester contribution, which includes the Deutschlandticket. An earlier draft gave €365.10 for winter 2026/27 (about €730 a year), but this could not be confirmed on the official fees page, so check the current amount. uni-assist charges a separate handling fee for checking your Leaving Cert.

At a glance