BA (Hons) Illustration Please login to Apply

• Delivery: Campus
• Duration: 3 years / 4 years including integrated International Foundation Studies in Art Design & Media
• 2023 Intakes: February, October
• Location: BSBI Campus, Hamburg
• Awarding Body: Degree awarded by University for the Creative Arts
• 2023 Price: €11,000/year (international students) | €8,000/year (EU students)  

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The School's admissions process is subject to the Consumer Contracts (Terms and Conditions). Information on your Right of Withdrawal and our Refund Policy can be found in the BSBI study agreement.

Foundation International Route Option

Minimum Age: 18 (titles awarded upon completion of at least 11 years of schooling)

 (if applicant is 17 and turns 18 within 3 months of enrolment still eligible for enrolment)

How to create an exceptional portfolio will be available in this integrated international route foundation in art design and media course to guarantee you a direct progression into your BA degree course.

Academic Qualifications ECCTIS UK equivalent to GCSE

English language requirements:

• Official English Tests
  • IELTS – minimum OS 5.0 (with min 4.5 in each component)
  • Password test – minimum OS 5.0 (with min 4.5 in each component)
  • PTE (Academic) – minimum OS of 46 (with min 41 in each component)
  • LanguageCert International ESOL SELT OS B1 Achiever High Pass
  • Duolingo test with an overall score of 95+

• West African Certificates (WAEC AND NECO only) as a stand-alone with a minimum of C6 in English and issued within the last 5 years. Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is also accepted with an overall grade C or above. For Tanzania and Cameroon, we request an IELTS (or equivalent certificate).
• WAEC/NECO must be enhanced by a successful (50%+) Internal English Assessment if issued more than 5 years ago.
• Nationals of a majority English speaking country who have taken their academic qualifications in that country, do not need to sit an English test ( Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and US

The English Language test can be waived and a Medium of Instruction Letter submitted if:

1. applicants have achieved ECCTIS recognised High School Certificate, where the medium of instruction was entirely in English (teaching and assessment)
2. you are a Canadian national who has completed studies at an English-speaking School/College/University

BA (Hons)

Minimum Age: 18 (titles awarded upon completion of at least 12 years of schooling)

For direct Year 1 BA entry you’ll be required to submit an online portfolio via our BSBI Applicant Portal.

Academic qualifications: A school leaving certificate with a pass to pursue higher education in Germany e.g. Abitur, Fachhochschulreife or Matura. Alternatively, an international baccalaureate, international school leaving certificates, BTEC/national diploma or advanced vocational certificate of education will be accepted.

If you do not meet the above academic requirements, applicants with professional qualifications and/or four years of full-time work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

English language requirements:

• Official English Tests
  • IELTS – minimum OS 6.0 (with min 5.5 in each component);
  • Password test – minimum OS 6.0 (with min 5.5 in each component);
  • PTE (Academic) – minimum OS of 56 ( with min 51 in each component);
  • TOEFL IBT OS 80 (Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17);
  • Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English Proficiency OS 69 (min 162 in each component)
  • LanguageCert International ESOL SELT OS B2 Communicator High Pass (min 33 in each component)
  • Duolingo test with an overall score of 105

• Applicants who have an insufficient score in one component (i.e. 5.0 instead of 5.5) but overall meets the required threshold, can sit for an English diagnostic test online. Students based in Germany will also be able to sit for an internal assessment, free of charge, with a successful passing rate of 50%+.

The English Language test can be waived and a medium of instruction letter submitted if:

1. Applicants who have achieved ECCTIS UK recognised High-School Certificate within the last 2 years where the medium of instruction was entirely in English (teaching and assessment). Medium of instruction letter can also be accepted if the applicant have graduated within the last 5 years but must be supported by a Duolingo test
2. Canadian nationals who have completed a bachelor’s degree at an English-speaking University must submit a Medium of Instruction Letter

• West African Certificates (WAEC AND NECO only) as a stand-alone with a minimum of C6 in English and issued within the last 5 years. Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is also accepted with an overall grade C or above.

For applications from Tanzania and Cameroon, we request an IELTS (or equivalent certificate)

WAEC/NECO must be enhanced by a successful (50%+) Internal English Assessment if issued more than 5 years ago.

• Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge AICE certificates
• International baccalaureate diploma with: English Syllabus A: Standard or Higher Grade 4, or above and English Syllabus B: Standard Grade 5 or Higher Grade 4, or above.
• Nationals of a majority English speaking country who have taken their academic qualifications in that country, do not need to sit an English test ( Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and USA

* A high school certificate can be undergraduate certificate, undergraduate diploma, HNC, HND,CertHE, DipHE, etc.

Schengen Zone residents entry requirements

• Applicants who are residents in Schengen Zone are not required to present an IELTS language test or equivalent but required to pass BSBI English diagnostics interview, which will be provided by BSBI. 

BSBI, in partnership with leading creative institution, University for the Creative Arts (UCA) is offering the opportunity to enrich your vocational qualification with this top-up bachelor’s degree in just one year.

The course will enable you to reach your full design potential with the help of industry experts. You’ll build a strong portfolio of powerful software skills and demonstrate effective thinking methods to navigate the challenges of today’s creative industry. This course is ideal for those looking to top up and enhance their expertise, confidence and skills in illustration. You’ll become equipped with the latest skills in digital design and illustration software in order to produce an industry standard portfolio for future career opportunities.

This top-up course is ideal for anyone looking to build their subject knowledge and technical skills to a level needed to thrive in a number of creative roles within today’s illustration industry.

Modules

•Major Project
•Professional Practice 3: Launch
•Responding to external briefs
•Illustration Dissertation

Key Facts

Duration: 1 year (full-time)

Intakes: February, October 2023

Delivery: On-campus (Hamburg)

2023 Price: €11,000/year (International) | €8,000/year (EU)

Entry Requirements

Graduates from a vocational academy/institute are not required to present a portfolio upon certified successful completion of their vocational training and are eligible for a direct entry into year 3 Top Up Degree.

Same is applicable for students who completed HND in Graphic Design, Illustration or Animation or direct year 3 progression upon successful completion of level 5/Year 2 by a UK award UK awarding body.

English language requirements:

• Graduates from a Schengen zone vocational academy/HND/ Level 5 progression by UK awarding body are not required to present an IELTS language test but required to pass BSBI English diagnostics test which will be provided by BSBI for direct entry year 3 BA Top Up Degree.

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Computer Equipment

In recent developments of hybrid learning, we require each student to arrive equipped with a laptop. We, therefore, recommend the purchase of a design-friendly mobile laptop. Please click below to read more about the technical requirement.

Technical Entry Requirement

Your Portfolio Submission

For year 1 entry you’ll be required to submit an online portfolio via our BSBI Applicant Portal. Before submitting your artwork, please have a look through the Portfolio Cookbook

What is a portfolio?

• Your portfolio is a collection of your best work. We want to see what inspires you, how you develop your work, your creative thinking processes, how and what you create and what makes you a unique creative individual.

What should my portfolio contain?

• Your portfolio might contain sketches and paintings, digital art and design. It might also contain sound work, short films.
• Upload up to 12 pieces of work which can include audio or video files.

How do I submit my portfolio?

• We’ll only be accepting portfolios digitally. You can do this once you’ve applied via our online submission system within the Applicant Portal.
• You can also link to external websites such as Vimeo and YouTube.

Further information on how to compile and upload your portfolio will be provided by our admissions team via our admissions portal once you have applied.

You can apply now to study with BSBI! It’s quick and easy, here’s how it works:

1. Create an account here
2. Select the programme and intake you want to apply for
3. Complete all sections of the online application
4. Submit online application
5. Our Admissions Team will liaise with you with regards to next steps

Learn all about what Hamburg has to offer as an international study destination by clicking here