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BA Visual Communication

University of Europe for Applied Sciences (Art & Design) · Hamburg, Germany

100% taught in EnglishApply direct to the university, not the CAOPortfolio/auditionPrivate universityPortfolioEnglish-taught
Duration3 years
StartsAutumn 2027
EntryPortfolio/audition
Deadline (EU)1 Sep 2027
EU fee (current published rate)€6,662 / yr

About the course

An English-taught design degree (6 semesters, 180 ECTS) covering design thinking, concept development, animated visual projects, information design and storytelling, and the use of AI in creative work. Teaching uses studios for video, VR, animation and print.

Entry requirements for Irish students

  • UE requires a general higher education entrance qualification. Under German rules (KMK/ZAB), the Leaving Cert gives direct entry only with six subjects: at least two at Higher Level with H5 or better, the other four at O6/H6 or better, including two languages and Maths at O5/H6 or better. Art and design has no extra subject requirement. LCA and LCVP are not accepted. UE publishes nothing Irish-specific, so confirm with admissions.
  • A portfolio is required (UE publishes Visual Communication portfolio guidelines on its admission requirements page), plus a CV and passport copy; UE’s pages conflict on whether a motivation letter is needed. The admissions test is for non-EU applicants only.
  • English: UE lists IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 60, Duolingo 100 or equivalent. It does not say whether Leaving Cert English or Irish schooling exempts you, so ask admissions before booking a test.

How to apply

  1. Check your Leaving Cert subjectsMake sure your six subjects meet the German rule (two Higher Level at H5+, two languages, Maths at O5/H6+).
  2. Build your portfolioDownload UE’s Visual Communication portfolio guidelines and prepare your work and a CV.
  3. Apply onlineApply through UE’s portal (apply.ue-germany.com) by 1 September for winter entry or 28 February for summer entry; you can apply up to a year ahead.
  4. Sign contract and payIf admitted you sign a study contract to receive your admission letter, then pay fees and arrange accommodation in Hamburg.
Deadline for Irish/EU applicants: Winter semester: apply by 1 September. Summer semester: apply by 28 February. UE says you can apply up to a year in advance. These are UE’s general bachelor deadlines currently published, not dated for 2027; confirm with UE..

Costs

  • UE is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences. Tuition is listed as ‘from €6,662 per year’, marked as a current saving offer with terms and conditions. UE’s fees page also lists a €490 registration fee among additional charges, and a mandatory semester transport ticket charged on top (Hamburg: €185.40 per semester, 2023 figure). No application fee is mentioned.
This is a private university in Hamburg, so you pay tuition from about €6,662 a year, unlike Germany’s tuition-free public universities. Budget for Hamburg rent as well.

At a glance

CountryGermany
CityHamburg
LanguageEnglish
Apply viaUniversity online portal
PlacesNot published
EntryPortfolio/audition
Programme page ↗Admission requirements ↗How to apply (Bachelor) ↗← Back to all European courses

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Checked against the official University of Europe for Applied Sciences website: September 2026 (2027 entry). Fees and deadlines are the currently published figures, not dated for 2027; confirm them with UE. Always confirm details with the university before applying.