Ba hons illustration in Berlin school of business and innovation

In collaboration with the esteemed University for the Creative Arts, the degree program offers a stimulating and hands-on approach to the field of illustration. Students are actively encouraged to cultivate their own distinct style and perspective, acquiring the essential skills to excel in their future professional endeavors.

The course employs a comprehensive range of teaching methods, placing particular emphasis on narrative development, drawing practice, critical analysis, workshops, and collaborative projects.

Throughout the program, you'll have the opportunity to enhance both your analytical and technical abilities. Immersed in a studio environment, you'll explore innovative approaches to illustration, culminating in an imaginative and dynamic visual storytelling project that brings together all your newly acquired skills.

For international students, the four-year route program includes a foundation year, which serves as an introduction to the fundamental principles of the creative industry and facilitates the exploration of potential career paths. By the end of this phase, you'll have built a robust portfolio, positioning you to seamlessly transition into your BA degree. Moreover, you'll be well-prepared to use English in an academic context to excel in your studies.

Foundation International Route Option:

The Foundation International Route Option allows individuals who have completed at least 11 years of schooling and are at least 18 years old to enroll. Even if the applicant is 17 and will turn 18 within three months of enrollment, they are still eligible to apply. The integrated international route foundation in art design and media course offers guidance on creating an outstanding portfolio, ensuring a direct progression into the BA degree course.

For academic qualifications, the equivalent of GCSE from ECCTIS UK is required.

English language requirements can be met through various official English tests, such as IELTS (minimum score of 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each component), Password test (minimum score of 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each component), PTE (Academic) (minimum score of 46 with at least 41 in each component), LanguageCert International ESOL SELT (minimum B1 Achiever High Pass), or Duolingo test (overall score of 95+). West African Certificates (WAEC AND NECO) with a minimum of C6 in English and issued within the last 5 years, or Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with an overall grade C or above are also accepted. However, for applicants from Tanzania and Cameroon, an IELTS or equivalent certificate is required.

Those from majority English speaking countries who have completed their academic qualifications in that country (e.g., 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) do not need to take an English test.

The English language test can be waived if applicants have achieved an ECCTIS recognized High School Certificate where the medium of instruction was entirely in English, or if they are Canadian nationals who completed studies at an English-speaking School/College/University.

BA (Hons):

The minimum age for BA (Hons) entry is 18, awarded upon completion of at least 12 years of schooling. For direct Year 1 BA entry, an online portfolio submission is required via the BSBI Applicant Portal.

Academic qualifications include a school leaving certificate that allows pursuing higher education in Germany (e.g., Abitur, Fachhochschulreife, or Matura), or alternatively, an international baccalaureate, international school leaving certificates, BTEC/national diploma, or advanced vocational certificate of education.

English language requirements involve meeting specific scores in official English tests such as IELTS (minimum score of 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each component), Password test (minimum score of 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each component), PTE (Academic) (minimum score of 56 with at least 51 in each component), TOEFL IBT (minimum overall score of 80), Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English Proficiency (minimum score of 69 with at least 162 in each component), LanguageCert International ESOL SELT (minimum B2 Communicator High Pass with at least 33 in each component), or Duolingo test (overall score of 105).

Applicants with an insufficient score in one component but meet the overall threshold can take an English diagnostic test online or an internal assessment in Germany, with a passing rate of 50%+.

Schengen Zone residents are exempt from presenting an IELTS language test or equivalent, but they are required to pass the BSBI English diagnostics interview.

BSBI provides a study environment that prioritizes industry-focused learning to help students achieve their career goals. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will have the opportunity to pursue various career paths, including freelance illustration, in-house illustration and design, printmaking, project management, web and app illustration, digital imaging, art directorship, set designing, and opportunities in the education sector.

Hamburg, being a hub for the creative industries in Europe, offers a promising landscape for designers and illustrators. The digital transformation and the positive economic situation in Germany have contributed to an average growth rate of 4.1% in the communication design industry from 2014 to 2019. Established creative agencies like Jung von Matt, Blynk, Serious, Paperlux Studio, and Sum.Cumo, along with startups handling major clients like BMW, Google, Airbus, Mercedes Benz, and McDonald's, are in close proximity, providing excellent opportunities for students to connect and network.

The gaming industry in Germany has experienced significant growth, especially during the Covid-19 year of 2020, resulting in increased sales revenue and heightened interest from consumers and customers. This boom in the gaming sector is creating a surge in job opportunities for aspiring illustrators. Out of the 1.2 million employees in the creative industries, around 30%, approximately 472,000, are employed in the software/gaming industry. In Hamburg, the software and games sector, which requires illustrators, accounts for 28% of the workforce, as reported in the Monitoring Report on culture and creative industries in 2019 by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), ZEW - Leibniz Center for European Economic Research GmbH Mannheim, and Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI.

1st Jun