Orientation course

is a new educational programme for pupils between school and university at the Department of Design. The one to two-semester artistic orientation course offers a structured introduction to numerous artistic techniques, methods, strategies and forms of expression through project work, seminars, lectures, workshops and excursions and prepares students for a degree programme in a design and artistic subject.

The lecture periods correspond to the usual semester dates at the faculty. During this time, participants are taught 26 hours per week by three lecturers in artistic projects. Tutors are also available for 10 hours per week to support independent work on the projects.

Participants in the orientation course are enrolled at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences with the status of "study preparation". No university entrance qualification is required to apply. Foreign applicants should have sufficient knowledge of German. There is no legal entitlement to participation.

All participants organise a joint final exhibition. The works created during the course are compiled for an application for a degree course in an artistic-design subject, but the orientation course expressly goes beyond a portfolio course. It serves to provide orientation and promote skills in preparation for a degree course and is a programme to promote talent in the field of art and design after school education.

Each semester, 22 places are available for the orientation semester at the faculty. The full semester fee is charged for enrolment (h-da.de/semester-fee).

After the application deadline, all applicants will receive an invitation to an interview at the Department of Design, to which you should bring samples of your artistic and creative work, such as sketchbooks. After a successful interview, you will receive a password and must use it to log into the application portal my.h-da.de to apply for enrolment. If all requirements are met, you will be enrolled after paying the semester fee. The payment details and the composition of the semester fee can be found at h-da.de/semester-fee to find.