FAQs

High school/ bachelor's diploma and transcript* or equivalent occupational diploma officially translated to English or German.

* In certain cases, you may also be able to study without a high school diploma. In such cases, you will need to have a minimum of three year’s professional experience and be enrolling in a programme relevant to that experience. 

No.

Yes, you can submit the certified copy of your high school diploma or an equivalent certificate at a later time.

Yes, § 11 of the Berlin University regulations allows entry for subject-specific occupational experience. Please mention this in your application.

First, fill out the application form on our website. Upload a certified copy and the certified translation in German or English of your high school diploma or an equivalent certificate. If you have already studied, please also submit a copy (if necessary a certified translation) of your transcript.

For Art & Design degree programmes, a portfolio must also be submitted. You will find the relevant information on the respective degree programme page or in the next section.

With a portfolio you show us your passion for your chosen study programme. The portfolio consists of a selection of design projects. It is up to you to decide how you would like to present yourself and which work samples you consider suitable. It may be useful to specifically supplement the projects you already have. Our university provides suggestions for this at regular portfolio workshops. 

Film & Motion Design

5 - 8 work samples centered around moving images. You may submit filmed or animated, digital or analog samples. All kinds of picture series (storyboards, flipbooks) and also other creative projects are welcome, too. You may also submit videos as MP4, Vimeo or YouTube links.

Communication Design

About 8 - 12 work samples that show your strength in visual communication. You may submit drawings, sketchbooks, collages, photographs, moving images, interactive projects, websites and other creative projects. Sketchbooks are welcome, too. All work should be accompanied by a short text reflecting on your project or work.

Game Design

5 - 10 work samples made by you: Concept sketches, storyboards, collages, renderings and other design projects are welcome. Additionally either a digital game (.exe as ZIP) or a written game concept (1 page).

Illustration

15 samples of work are required. In addition, illustrations and drawings, a sketchbook and other projects that demonstrate an interest in the subject area may be part of your portfolio. We also like to see themed series and concept sketches.

Photography

2-3 series of photos and individual images (at least 20 images). The photographic projects can be supplemented by other media such as videos, drawings and graphic designs.

UX/UI Design

A portfolio with samples can be submitted but is not required.

Digital Product Management

A portfolio with samples can be submitted but is not required.

You don't know yet which design study programme suits you best? Then opt for a Foundation Diploma.

You might still be missing something specific for our admission requirements? With our Foundation Diploma, you will acquire all the skills you need to enrol into one of our business- or tech-related Bachelor's programme in just six months.

Essentially, the same rules apply to you as they do to German applicants. You must apply online and successfully pass the interview. Upon selection of a German-speaking programme, you will need a certificate of German-language ability (Test-DAF 4/DSH 2). Upon application for an English-speaking programme, you should likewise be able to demonstrate English-language ability (min. Level B2 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages). German skills are not required if you study an English-taught programme.

Yes, all foreign students in Germany require a health insurance. This means that almost all students (there are only a few exceptions) have to be insured over a statutory health insurance company (public health insurance). Beside the health insurance they also need a compulsory nursing care insurance. A proof of a health insurance is an obligated condition of enrolment. Without this proof an enrolment is not possible. For detailed information please visit www.germanyhis.com.

The basic admission requirement for the Bachelor's programme at UE is the higher education entrance qualification (Fach-) Hochschulreife) that you have achieved with the Abitur or Fachabitur and, if applicable, the submission of a portfolio (for Art & Design programmes). A completed and study-related (individual examination) apprenticeship with subsequent 2 years of professional experience can also enable you to study at UE. UE will check your requirements and inform you immediately after you have submitted your documents whether you can be admitted to the degree programme.

First, fill out the online application on our website. Upload a certified copy and the certified translation in German or English of your Bachelor, MBA, Diploma or an equivalent certificate as well as your transcript.

Business, Sport, Psychology, and Tech study programmes

Please also prepare a motivation letter (min. 500 words). 

Art & Design study programmes

Please also prepare a motivation letter (min. 500 words) and your portfolio. Below in the FAQs, there is a list of what is required for which degree programme.

Once we have gone through your application, we can then evaluate whether you are suitable for studying at UE. 

• For the 60 ECTS version: Undergraduate degree (Bachelors) with at least 240 credit points according to European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
• For the 90 ECTS version: Undergraduate degree with at least 210 credit points.
• For the 120 ECTS version: Undergraduate degree with at least 180 credit points. 

The portfolio consists of a selection of design projects. It is up to you to decide how you would like to present yourself and which work samples you consider suitable. It may be useful to specifically supplement the projects you already have. Our university provides suggestions for this at regular portfolio workshops.

Visual & Experience Design

Up to 10 examples of your best creative work – commercial and/or non-commercial. The Visual & Experience Design program accepts applicants from a wide variety of fields including graphic/communication design, advertising, digital product design, architecture, fine arts, exhibition design, visual and sound design, etc.

Innovation Design Management

Up to 10 examples of your best creative work. The Innovation Design Management programme accepts applicants from a wide variety of fields, but is most suited to those who already have a digital design background. 

Photography

Your portfolio should consist of at least 20 photos. It is particularly desirable to see from the selection of images, that the applicant works on thematically coherent series.

Communication Design

A portfolio with samples can be submitted but is not required.

New Media Design

Up to 10 examples of works may focus on artistic, conceptual, formal or technical capabilities. We accept a range of different fields: architecture, visual communication, product design, game design, exhibition-making, interior design, sound design, motion design, event installation, performance. Your portfolio submission may also demonstrate basic digital understanding in creative coding as well as analog works e.g.: collage, sculpture and animation. Please include a short descriptive text with each work outlining your process and implementation.

Creative Computing

Up to 10 examples of your best creative work. The Creative Computing program accepts applicants from a wide variety of fields, but is most suited to those who already have a digital design background. Due to the technical nature of the program, coding skills are a plus, but not necessary for admittance. 

Yes, all foreign students in Germany require a health insurance. This means that almost all students (there are only a few exceptions) have to be insured over a statutory health insurance company (public health insurance). Beside the health insurance they also need a compulsory nursing care insurance. A proof of a health insurance is an obligated condition of enrolment. Without this proof an enrolment is not possible. For detailed information please visit www.germanyhis.com.

Essentially, the same rules apply as for German applicants. You must apply online and successfully pass the interview. For the international English-speaking Master’s degree, you will need a certificate of English-language ability (European Framework of Reference for Languages B2 and/or certified in the interview).

Our student advisor are there to answer any questions you may have about applying as well as our course structure, and to provide assistance – in one-to-one consultations if desired.   

You can apply to UE all year round, however,  you should be aware of certain application deadlines*.

The application deadline for the winter semester is 1 September and for the summer semester 28 February. After these deadlines, there will be a waiting list procedure for available study places each semester. If you already have a valid student visa for Germany, you can apply within the official application deadlines.

* Please take into consideration delays e.g. with entry visa

Yes, we offer regular trial studies and info sessions, including sample lectures from all campuses (analog or digital). Find out more about our webinars and on campus events.

For most programmes at all our locations, students can enrol twice a year at UE. Our summer semester starts in March; our winter semester in September. There are, however, a few exceptions. Dual programmes at UE start once a year (August or September). Our full-time MBA (Master of Business Administration) allows to enrol into the programme in January, March, June and September each year.

For Bachelor's degrees

The programme covers six semesters (not ALBA or dual programmes). Allowances for previously completed examinations are possible and will be considered by the Examinations Office and the Department Dean. The programme includes a practical-learning semester or a semester abroad in the 5th semester.

For Master's degrees

The programme covers 2, 3, or 4 semesters. Allowances for previously completed examinations are possible and will be considered by the Examinations Office and the Department Dean.

For Bachelor's degrees

The 5th semester is specifically set aside for a practical-learning semester or a semester abroad. You have the opportunity to do a work placement within Germany or abroad, or to complete a semester abroad at another university.

For Master's degrees

No, the one-and-a-half-year Master’s degree programme does not include a semester abroad or practical-learning semester.

For Bachelor's degrees

The Bachelor’s programmes at UE requires you to obtain 180 ECTS credits.

For Master's degrees

The Master’s programmes at UE requires you to obtain 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Yes, various preparatory courses may (have to) be attended. Please contact our Service Center for more information.

After UE has received your application, our service center will contact you to explain everything about the online-test.

Yes. With the acquisition of a state-accredited Bachelor’s degree from UE you may take part in the Master’s degree at our university or another university. Please note that the admission criteria for Master’s study programmes vary from university to university.

The accreditation of the programmes is important for proving the quality of a university and its programmes. Through accreditation of individual programmes, these bodies guarantee that the same standards are observed and quality requirements are met. For these purposes, the state accreditation also guarantees that graduation from private and state universities are comparable. Germany’s ZEvA (Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency) is a well-known and recognized accreditation agency.

In February 2021, UE was granted the system-accreditation status which is the highest possible form of accreditation and a tribute to the highest standards for internal quality management processes within the university sector. Only a handful of private institutions in Germany have received such recognition of excellence.

For Bachelor's degrees

The Bachelor’s programmes encompass approximately 25 hours of attendance per week per semester, plus around 15 hours of preparation and follow-up work per week. Furthermore, workshops and projects take place outside of teaching hours. The lecture period spans 15 weeks per semester.

For Master's degrees

(E.g. 3  semesters) The Master’s programmes encompass 21 to 23 hours of attendance per week for the first two semesters; the third semester encompasses three hours of attendance per week. Additionally, around 20 hours of preparation and follow-up work will be required per week. Furthermore, workshops and projects take place outside of teaching hours. The lecture period spans 15 weeks per semester.

All students at UE have access to our intranet. This is where you can find timetables and documentation relevant for your classes to download. Our intranet also contains a blog system, which provides information, news and events about your study programme. An online gallery offers you a platform for presenting your own artistic work to the public.

The student contract can be cancelled each semester until the end of the semester. The exact deadlines are listed in each respective contract.

Yes, it is possible to transfer upon completing an interview. The recognition of examinations and the possible admission into a higher semester is undertaken by the Examinations Office and the Department Dean. Please provide all relevant documentation with your application.

As a private institution, the UE receives no public funding and is therefore financed solely by tuition fees. You can find the exact amount of tuition fees on the respective programme page. Please find more information in here.

In general, courses at a university of applied sciences are more practical in nature. Lectures are delivered more so in the style of tutorials. Thus, there is more interaction between lecturers and students. At UE the practical orientation is particularly well developed, because our lecturers work in other (in some cases their own) firms in addition to teaching at the university. In contrast, public German universities provide an in-depth theoretical education that is generally more academic and less applied in nature.

Yes, with the completion of a state-accredited Master’s degree, you may complete your doctorate degree (PhD) at a partnering or other university. 

Payments are made according to your contract – please refer to the first page of your contract. You pay your first semester’s fee, minus the amount of your deposit.

Please review the first page of your study contract to read more about your semester payment breakdown. If you have further questions, please contact our Service Center.

Your first point of contact should be our Service Center.

We are working on a technical solution to show the deposit amount on the invoice. The invoice shows the full semester amount. As written on the invoice, the deposit amount can be deducted.

 If there is any information about your saving missing from the document, please contact our Service Center. They will be able to check the system in accordance with your contract/letter of admission and the related information. After which, our finance department will be able to issue a new invoice.

 If there is any information about your saving missing on the document, please contact our Service Center. They will be able to check the system in accordance with your contract/letter of admission and the related information. After which, our finance department will be able to issue a new invoice.

If a deposit is made, it can be deducted from the invoice.

In case of a timely and proper payment according to the payment terms in the contract, finance will not confirm the payments received. Only in the case of overdue payments will finance send a payment reminder.

If the student received an invoice for the semester fee, there is a debtor-ID on it (same as the student-id) and the invoice number. Students should use this as a reference number for the bank transfer, so we can allocate the payment to their debtor account. If the student needs to pay the deposit, there are references (application number) on the payment request.

We accept bank transfers from all students. EU students can also pay monthly by standing order or have it collected by SEPA direct debit.

EU students have the option to pay in monthly installments via Sepa direct debit or standing order. Non-EU students need to pay according to their contract or pay the full amount in advance.

Students are eligible if they obtained the German nationality. For further advice on how to apply, you should speak to your programme consultant.

Our programmes are self-funded and therefore need to be privately financed. EU students may be able to access Government loans 

such as KFW-Studienkredit or BAFöG and pay their fees in monthly instalments.

It is also possible to receive scholarships from various funding organisations. Find out more about financing here.

Semesters abroad are a great way to broaden your learning experience. A range of options are available to students and are subject to eligibility. The cost of the semester abroad will depend on the option you choose:

• If you decide to study abroad with ERASMUS (only in Europe), you will need to pay your UE semester fee. You may also receive funding from ERASMUS. You will not need to pay at the institution where you are taking your study abroad semester. 
• If you decide to study abroad at one of our partner institutions, you will need to pay the UE semester fee plus tuition fee to the abroad institution. The amount of the tuition fees vary. In some cases, you will pay an addition fee to UE (2,500€) but no additional fee to study abroad institution.  

All students that are enrolled will receive an invoice from the service center and/or the finance department with information on how to pay (exception: SEPA direct debit procedure).

Students should pay according to the details of their contract (payment terms). The latest date to do so is the first day in class.

You will be sent an invoice to pay the tuition fees before the start of your semester. 

Here you will find details of our Welcome Centre.

We recommend all students to consider studying a semester abroad. However, this is not mandatory. Studying abroad is a perfect option to broaden your academic experience. You are also able to do an internship semester instead of a semester abroad.

As per the curriculum, 18 hours per week according to your individual schedule. You will have an individual timetable for each semester of your studies. This is designed individually for each programme. The number of days you need to attend campus will depend on the scheduling of your lectures and will be shared with you at the start of the semester.

Every inquiry is important to us and the UE Service Centre works hard to ensure you receive accurate and relevant information. We aim to get back to you within 48 hours. For general information, please use our chat feature on our homepage, consult the online campus and regularly check your UE email address for updates.

During busy periods, such as just before the semester begins and exam periods, we see an influx of enquiries. We recommend you check your UE e-mail account frequently and utilise the online campus at first. The Chat Bot on our homepage may be able to help answer general queries. We aim to respond within 48 hours.

We would have sent the invoice to your UE e-mail account (private account for first semester students). Please also check your spam folder. Should any issue occur, please contact our Service Centre.

Please provide a bank transfer of the tuition fee to the account mentioned in the contract.

Please contact our Finance Office. 

Yes. Please contact our Welcome Centre.

To apply for your visa, you will need the following documents:

• A valid passport (issued within the last 10 years and with at least 12 months’ validity left after the scheduled return)
• Visa application form and signed declaration
• An A4 size photocopy of your passport details page
• 3 passport-sized photos according to size specifications
• A cover letter that covers the purpose and the duration of the stay
• Letter of admission from UE (electronic version)
• Proof of tuition fee payment
• Proof of language proficiency of the language of study (English or German)
• Proof of other academic qualifications, where applicable

For further information, please contact our Welcome Centre

Please contact Welcome Centre for further information.

In principle, you will have already submitted the necessary documents electronically during the application process. If something is still missing after enrolment, you can submit the remaining documents to our Service Center electronically. Original documents need to be provided as soon as you arrive in Germany.

Yes, they do. Please contact your student advisor or the Welcome Centre to find out if the embassy will ask for additional admission documents.

We send everything electronically to ensure it is sent safely and directly to the recipient; this is also the most economically friendly way to send documents.

We don’t keep your original documents. You will only be required to show them to student services.

In the first week of March, you will receive the necessary information regarding the above.

Please check the online campus for any updates and should issues arise, please contact our Service Centre.

All deadlines will be mentioned within your contract. The tuition fee should be paid by the first calendar day of the respective start of the semester, 1 March or 1 September.

Please hand in your documents at the UE Service Centre or welcome desk.

Please hand the documents in as soon as you arrive in Germany.

Please bring your High School Certificate (Hochschulzulassung/ A-Levels/ Abitur or equivalent) and be prepared to sign your initial contract. This is a legal obligation in Germany in order to officially enter university education.

You would not need to certify any documents. You can show us your original documents and we will compare your original documents with our copies.

You can also send us the signed contract by post. In this case, you have the responsibility to ensure that the contract reaches us.

While there are restrictions in place due to COVID-19, everything can be done via post. However, as soon as you are in Germany, you will need to present your original documents. 

Usually, you are able to collect your card one week before semester starts. For enrolled students, please check your UE e-mail account for information. For first year students, please check your private mail.

Please contact our Service Centre. 

Check and refresh the page of the Bürgeramt* at different times of the day. It is possible to get an appointment the next day or sometimes even the same day. It may be that the appointment is not in your local area. 

* citizens' office

The semester ticket is valid from 1 March until 31 August (summer semester) and 1 September until 28/29 February (winter semester). 

We offer a student support service for those looking for a suitable internships and career opportunities. For individual coaching and careers support, please contact our Service Centre.

We provide an online campus which contains all the relevant information regarding your schedule. You will receive your IT login details by e-mail, as well as support on how to navigate the system.

For enrolled students: You will receive your individual schedule within the upcoming weeks. Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, the semester will being online. Please review communication from the rectorate and individually contact your programme leader for more information.

For first year students: We are currently working on your study schedules and, until 30 April, your lectures will be taught online as per statutory regulation in Germany. We will keep you updated within the upcoming weeks regarding returning to campus.

The semester abroad is not included in the tuition fees. There are also events and presentations which are offered free of charge.

No. Any events not included in your curriculum are not compulsory.

Yes, the semester ticket is a reduced-price ticket based on a solidarity system, and as a result, exemptions are tightly regulated.

You do not need to apply for the ticket. You will be automatically contacted regarding the semester ticket.

All of the information regarding the course modules are provided in the overviews on the website. You can also contact your programme consultant for more information.

Our Welcome Centre will help you with all your questions about accommodation, health insurance and much more.

Classes normally can take place Monday to Saturday between 8:30 and 18:45 CET. You can find the exact details in your timetable.

As a student at UE, you'll receive a reduced-price semester ticket for bus, underground, suburban trains, and select regional trains. UE will provide more information about the semester ticket.

In the first week of March or September you will receive key information about the Welcome Days and information regarding enrollments week.

You can access your timetable in the Online Campus. 

You will receive your login details approximately two weeks before lectures start.

Login details will be sent from noreply@ue-germany.de. Please watch out for the e-mail and make sure you check your spam/junk folder.

You will be able to access your classes via Microsoft Teams. As soon as you have been enrolled, you will automatically be given access to the virtual classroom in Teams.

Yes, we do offer support with accommodation. Please contact our Welcome Centre for further information and guidance.

It is best to start looking as early as possible (usually finding accommodation can take 4-8 weeks), however, you should not sign any rental agreements until you receive your visa. 

You will have an overview of the curriculum of your programme and a timetable for your lectures for every semester.

The UE Service Centre is dedicated to answering your administrative questions regarding lectures, exams, etc., they will be at your disposal. Academic questions can be addressed to your programme leader, who is be responsible for the academic aspects of your programme.

Our current rankings are: CHE & U-Multirank 2020: We are ranked as one of the top 10 private universities for business administration.

UE is an officially accredited university in Germany. Our programmes and certificates carry the same value as any other degree obtained from a German public institution.

All international students who are matriculated at a university may study at our university for one or two semesters as a visiting student. Students from our partner universities as well as from other institutions are welcome at UE.

If you are a student at a partner university, please register with us through your home university. After you have been nominated by your university we will get in touch with you regarding the next steps. 

If you are a student at a university outside our network, please apply through our online-application form. 

June 1^st, for the winter semester beginning in September.

December 1^st, for the summer semester beginning in March.

In Germany, the academic year is divided into two semesters:

• The winter semester is from September to February. Exams takes place in Mid-February.
• The summer semester is from March to July. Exams takes place in Mid-July. 

UE offers course packages for each semester with a total of at least 30 credit points according to the ECTS standard (regular workload). Each course package contains a set of courses that can be studied with us during the semester. Please have a look at our portfolio of courses and their language offerings.

If you are interested in our Masters, please contact International Affairs or the Service Centre directly to see which courses we offer.

Language skills of at least the B2 level (CEFR) in either German or English are required. Should your native language be neither English nor German, please include proof of your language skills with your application. 

• Your résumé in a tabular format.
• Certified copies of your high school diploma or equivalent occupational diploma.
• Portfolio with your own artistic design work (see section 'BA' about the detailed programme-specific portfolio advices)
• Social or charity projects, for example projects that you have worked on or are working on.

ERASMUS+ students:

• No fees at UE

Students from partner universities:

• Depends on the individual contract. Please talk to your current university.

Free-movers (students from universities outside the network):

• Bachelor’s degree programme: regular tuition.
• Master’s degree programme: regular tuition.

UE participates in the ERASMUS+ programme and gives guest students with an ERASMUS+ scholarship a heartfelt welcome. Talk to your current university to discover if they have an ERASMUS+ contract with UE, because the application process for an ERASMUS+ scholarship is through your current university. 

Theory and practice in one study programme! The dual study programme consists of practical work in a partner company and attendance at the university. This means that you base your studies and your knowledge gain on these two pillars - i.e. dual.

A typical week involves working at the partner company 3 days per week and attending UE 2 days per week. You do not have to agree with the partner company on which days you will work for them. We at UE communicate the university days to your practice partner so that the framework of your working hours is already set and only individual working hours need to be agreed by you.

No. We at UE do not have an NC. On the one hand, we are of the opinion that all persons who have a higher education entrance qualification are allowed to study and that each person can then show his or her potential in the study programme. On the other hand, we are an international university with students from 129 countries, so we do not want to use an NC as a grade average from so many different school, grading and evaluation systems as an admission criterion.

All dual studies are taught in German. The exception is the dual study programme 'Hotel Management', which is taught in English.

The practice partner pays the tuition fees at UE as well as the semester ticket for public transport. In addition, the practice partner pays the student pocket money of approximately €500 per month.

Yes, you can. As a dual student, you can apply for BAföG just like other full-time students. 

You have to pay for your own living expenses. The pocket money of your practice partner, BAföG (if you are eligible), child benefit and financial support from your family are, of course, still available to you as means of financing.

At UE, we support you from the very first step! You apply to us at UE for a dual study programme. After that, we talk to you and find a practice partner/partner company and organise interviews, etc.

There are two main sources: your unsolicited application directly to the company of your choice, in which we support you, and in parallel, the referral of companies via our practice partner exchange, through which we introduce you to potential companies. Both search methods go hand in hand and are supported by the respective study advisors.

As soon as you have applied and gone through our application training, you will be activated on an internal portal, which is used to search for practice partners. In our practice partner exchange, you will find all the companies that are offered in your study programme at your location. On our website, you will find some examples of companies under the respective dual study programme.

You can apply for a dual study programme in our online application portal. Please make sure to select 'Bachelor' as the degree you are aiming for, 'German' as the language and your desired degree programme with the designation 'Dual' at the end.