The application procedure is the same as for the area of study “Fine Arts”.
Entrance qualification
International students who want to apply for the study courses in the Design
Department need a qualification for entrance to German universities (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) or a school qualification recognized as equal. If the secondary school degree from your native country is comparable to the German “Fachhochschulreife” or “Allgemeine Hochschulreife”, you have direct access to higher education.
Applicants must not be younger than 18 years or must have completed their 18th year by the end of the application year.
Special entrance regulations
In exceptional cases, applicants without university entrance qualifications showing outstanding artistic ability may also be admitted. A selection commission will assess the presence of exceptional artistic ability by examining the portfolio.
Artistic Aptitude Test
The Artistic Aptitude Test is administered only once a year. New students are admitted only in the winter semester of an academic year, beginning in October.
The Artistic Aptitude Test for studying Fine Arts consists of a pre-selection (portfolio review)
and an examination interview with the examining board.
Portfolio review
The examining board reviews the submitted portfolios. It selects the candidates who reveal the artistic qualification for the requested subject. For the successful applications the aptitude test carries on with an interview.
Examination Interview
The examination interview is conducted in form of a conversation. Particular aspects for evaluation are basic questions related to artistic creation as well as technical problems in the presentation of works related to painting, graphic, sculpture and space, considering the desired course of study.
At the interview it is absolutely necessary that the applicants have sufficient knowledge of German language.
Application procedure / Application documents
The application process begins with the application for the admission to the artistic aptitude test. The application form (Antrag auf Zulassung zur Eignungsprüfung) can be downloaded here.
Applicants must submit the completed application form (Antrag auf Zulassung zur Eignungsprüfung) and the artistic portfolio together with supporting documents by 31 May.
If 31 May is a weekend or holiday, deliveries will be accepted on the next working day.
Application must also include the following material and documents:
Portfolio with 20 self produced artistic and creative works in original and a signed declaration that the submitted works were made by the applicant himself. The work samples from the field of painting, prints and drawings must not exceed the format DIN1. Three-dimensional works like plastics, reliefs and models must be submitted in the form of photographs (minimum size 24 x 30 cm). Media works like video, audio works can be submitted in VHS, DVD and CD.
Applicants are notified in writing about their admission or rejection.
Passing examination results will remain valid for two years.
The HBKsaar takes every care to treat portfolios with the utmost care. However the HBKsaar is not liable for possible damage or loss to the artistic works submitted. Applicants may pick up their works in person or person with a written authorization. Portfolios will be discarded 3 months after the end of the aptitude test. The HBKsaar does not return portfolios.
Documents:
- Curriculum vitae (in German) with passport photograph
- School-leaving certificates
- Certificate of qualification for university entrance
- Other certificates of education, vocational training and university degrees
- Official academic transcripts and/or reports
- All copies of original documents and their translated transcripts must be authenticated.
- Completed application form “Antrag auf Zulassung zur Eignungsprüfung” (PDF-download)
Proof of proficiency in the German language
In addition to the artistic and academic requirements, applicants from non-German speaking countries are required to give proof of sound German language skills.
The proof of German language proficiency can be provided by:
- DSH, level 2 as total result: German language university entrance exam for foreign students
- TestDaF, minimum level TDN4 in all parts of the test: test of German as a foreign language
- Kleines oder großes Sprachdiplom eines Goethe-Institutes
- DSD, level II, Language certificate issued by the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs
- Studienkolleg, preparatory college
Chinese applicants
Chinese applicants are requested to have their academic transcripts approved by the academic examinations office of the cultural affairs department at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Peking (APS). For more information please visit the website: www.aps.org.cn
Portfolio advice day
Each year the HBKsaar organizes Infotage (Information Days) which provide applicants best opportunities to meet staff and to show their portfolios to professors from the area they are interested in.