Foundation Diploma Art & Design

Try your hand at all of UE's creative degree programmes and then choose your Bachelor in Art & Design

Discover the essentials for starting your journey at UE.

Prepare yourself for your Bachelor’s degree in Art & Design in the best possible way. Our Art & Design Foundation Diploma gives you the unique opportunity to learn the basics of our Art & Design Bachelor degree programmes. After the semester, decide where your strengths lie. At the UE Campuses we educate more than 300 students each year in the following subjects:
- Film & Motion Design (Berlin)
- Photography & New Media (Berlin)
- Illustration (Berlin)
- Communication Design (Berlin)
- Game Design (Berlin)
- UX/UI Design (at UE Innovation Hub)
- Visual Communication (Hamburg)
- Design & Management Studies (Hamburg)

You will get to know our teachers, your fellow students, our campus and our studios and equipment. After the orientation semester, you choose your focus in the Bachelor’s programme according to your strengths and preferences.

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Key facts Foundation Diploma Art & Design

Check out our Location

Take a look at our Campuses.
Immerse yourself in a city full of culture, diversity, and opportunities!

Do you want to see our campus but aren’t around? Check out our Virtual Campus Tour.

Virtual Tour

Admission Requirements

Here are some things you will require for your application at the UE:

IELTS English level 5.5 overall or higher
High school Certificate
Portfolio: not required
Examination and Study Regulation

Woman interacting with digital art installation

Start | Duration | Language

Winter semester
Summer semester
18 hours per week
English

The Art & Design faculty sets up on-campus events like exhibitions and graduations. Have a look!

Fees

We offer various savings depending on the applicant’s situation; for more information, please speak to our student advisory service.

Fill out the contact form below to get in touch with one of our student advisors.

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Your benefits of the Foundation Diploma Art & Design at a glance

You invest in your future: The costs of the orientation semester are credited to you for the 6th semester of your subsequent Bachelor’s degree.
Study something creative, in English, in one of the most creative places in the world: Berlin, Hamburg and Potsdam (near Berlin)!
You will be well prepared for your future application for a Bachelor’s programme through portfolio coaching by our lecturers at the campus.
At the end of the semester, you can decide which Art & Design Bachelor’s programme suits you best.

The pre-course consists of 18 hours per week (HPW). Learn more about the course content in the curriculum.

Distribution of the semester hours per week

Basics of the design degree programmes
Teaching of the study programme-specific basics as a summary of the respective professional field with the aim of getting to know the different genres, fields of activity and career opportunities and creating a successful portfolio.
3 HPW in each of the basic courses.

It will include a preliminary view of Scientific working, in the sense of an information-providing theory course that opens up facets of art, design, media and cultural history and provides initial access to academic work as well as an introduction to dealing with academic texts.

Also, you will get coaching from our teachers at Campus Berlin for your portfolio.
Basic aspects of specialized software in each different programmes i.e., InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere

English (3 HPW)

Listening comprehension
Reading comprehension
Speaking: taking part in discussions, summarizing texts
Writing: producing increasingly complex texts, such as summaries, comments

What can you expect from the programmes?

Communication Design
Welcome to Communication Design Essentials, where we peel back the layers of design to uncover its core. This course is your introduction to the building blocks of design thinking—research, ideation, prototyping, and execution. You’ll get hands-on with typography, imagery, layout, and a sprinkle of UX principles. We explore both old-school and digital tools, and also glance at the history and current trends of communication design to see how it shapes our world. No prior experience? No worries!
Film & Motion
Enter the world of Film & Motion Design! This course is all about diving right into the worlds of film, animation, and motion design. You’ll explore different concepts and formats while gaining a solid foundation in storytelling, editing and animation. It’s about trying things out and seeing what sticks, using both analogue and digital techniques. Here’s your ticket to a world of creative expression in the ever-evolving fields of film and motion design. Beginners are welcome!
Game Design
Game Design Essentials introduces you to the intertwined worlds of game design and development. This course covers the technical fundamentals and creative aspects of game design. You’ll learn to consider the player experience as your primary material and get a broad overview of the different roles in the games industry. The aim? To equip you with the know-how to develop your own games and work effectively in teams. Don’t worry if you’re starting from scratch, just make sure you bring a PC!
Illustration
In Illustration Essentials, you’ll begin your journey into the world of illustration, where images meet words to create something magical. We focus on the essentials: visual concepts, design principles and the balance between text and image. Through practical exercises, you’ll explore both the history and wide range of applications of illustration. This class is about getting your hands dirty and your ideas flowing in the rich field of illustration.
Photography & New Media
Photography Essentials – this course is all about fun, inspiration and creativity with photography. You’ll learn the language of light and how to use it to tell compelling stories through your lens. We’ll explore the technical and creative aspects of photography, looking at different genres, the history of the medium and its role today. On campus, students will dive into the darkroom, experimenting with analogue and then moving to digital, learning basic studio lighting techniques and exploring some AI tools to see how they can improve your photographs. Camera and lighting equipment? We’ve got you covered. The course is highly recommended and best enjoyed on location, but online students will shine too. No experience needed, just a keen eye and curiosity!

Taking part in the foundation diploma, you will gather skills in the following segments that qualify you for a Bachelor's programme at UE:

Intermediate English-level
Scientific working
Knowledge of essential creative tools such as InDesign, Photoshop or Premiere
Glances and insights into the foundation knowledge of all Art Design BA programmes
Culture Skills/Networking
Setting up and completing a final project the ability to create a creative portfolio for your next career step
You will get a certificate for taking this foundation diploma Art & Design.

Live and study in Berlin, the buzzing capital of Germany!
Stable economy, Europe's start-up destination No. 1 and the endless amount of leisure & clubbing activities that Berlin has to offer will guarantee you a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Combine a creative study programme with the advantages of the Art & Design scene in Berlin.

As a major European port and hub of international trade, Hamburg offers a dynamic economy, a thriving start-up scene, and a rich cultural landscape. From its stunning waterfront to its bustling nightlife and music scene, Hamburg ensures an unforgettable experience. Combine a cutting-edge study programme with the diverse arts and media opportunities Hamburg has to offer.

Famed for its historical heritage, Potsdam blends a peaceful atmosphere with proximity to Berlin’s lively urban life. With a growing tech sector and creative industries, Potsdam is an ideal place for innovation. Enjoy the unique opportunity to study in a city surrounded by world-class architecture, while also benefiting from its vibrant arts and culture scene

How to apply for the Foundation Diploma

Start your application here. Select Undergraduate + Foundation.
Please continue and then select the language English.
Now select the Programme you like to study xx with Foundation Diploma and then click on Start Application.