Information and Communication Design, BA Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences

Courses are held entirely in English.

• Applied and innovative: Our offers are based on the requirements of the labour market. To ensure that you are well prepared for a long-term career, this includes a continuous examination of new ideas, exploration of new techniques, and time for experiments.
• Internationality: We are passionate about being an international degree programme. From our point of view, cultural exchange is something very valuable – especially in design. Meet students from many different countries and enjoy the exchange of ideas in international teams.
• Individual support: The main focus of the course is project work in small groups. We aim at supporting each student in developing his or her unique talent.
• Outstanding equipment: As a young university, we have state-of-the-art facilities, including Mac labs, a digital print shop, media labs, and a photo studio. The heart of the faculty is the FabLab, a high-tech workshop that is larger than 600 m².

Profile
Interfaces, books, posters, trademarks – we are surrounded by the works of communication designers. Good communication design is not only functional but receptive to emotional aspects as well. This is why communication designers have to find solutions to a huge variety of questions. Which features does a user interface need to make it easy to operate? What kind of package design is best suited to emphasise the qualities of a product? How can a diagram distil complex information into a more easily understandable form? How can I develop a creative and intelligent concept to help a business stand out from other businesses? The list goes on.

Designers of the future will not just be responsible for staging the products of others. Working in interdisciplinary teams, they will be tasked more and more with developing contents, products, and services from scratch. This is why at Rhine-Waal, we put a special emphasis on interdisciplinary cooperation and work closely with our faculty’s IT experts, psychologists, natural scientists, engineers, and economists.

Our approach to teaching and learning focuses on the cutting edge. For example, it addresses future-oriented design areas like User Experience Design and Artificial Intelligence. Throughout your studies, you will benefit from continuous access to state-of-the-art equipment, computers, and tools used in professional media production.

The programme is taught in English to provide you with language skills that will be highly appreciated by future clients and employers who increasingly approach design from a global point of view. Our international orientation ensures that you will gain insight into many different perspectives.

Career Prospects
By the time you graduate, you will be well prepared for a career in the creative industries and can work in design agencies, advertising agencies, in-house design departments, media companies or as a freelance designer.

All applicants: 15 July for the following winter semester

In your first year, you will be introduced to creative, technical, and theoretical fundamentals and are offered courses in illustration and photography to advance your skills in crucial design techniques.
Starting with the third semester, you will undertake a large number of practical design projects which are the heart of our degree programme. The diverse range of practices and processes you can engage with are, e.g. corporate design, editorial and book design, interface design, motion graphics, information design, or exhibition design projects. In many of our projects, we cooperate with external institutions and companies to provide you with opportunities to gather design experience in a real-world setting. Although the focus is on practical work, we also emphasise the history and theory of design through lectures and seminars.
Technical skills are another core element of our curriculum. Up to your fourth semester, you will develop your knowledge of interface design, online design and motion design along with your project-based learning.
After spending time abroad or undertaking a work placement in the sixth semester, you will start working on your Bachelor's thesis. Again, this will be a practical design project, this time accompanied by an academic paper.
From day one, you will also develop key skills like project management, rhetoric, presentation, and entrepreneurship to the best of your ability.

Internship or study abroad in the sixth semester (as stated above)

No tuition fees

Enrolment fees amount to approximately 300 EUR per semester. This covers nominal administrative fees and a public transport ticket valid for the entire federal republic of Germany.

The average cost of living for students in Germany is around 1,150 EUR per month. This includes rent, utilities, personal expenses, and general expenses (https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/plan-your-stay/money-and-costs/cost-of-living_28220.php).

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences welcomes applications from nationals of all countries. Please see our website for general admission requirements.
Other requirements for Information and Communication Design BA programme include the following:

• a sufficient level of English language proficiency (level B2 CEFR or better)
• interest in design, music, and arts

Admission to this course is primarily based on submission of a portfolio of your work. For more information, please see: https://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/faculties/communication-and-environment/degree-programmes/bachelor-degree-programmes/information-and-5.

Please note that English language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference are required for our Bachelor's degree programmes. Please be aware that all applicants' test report form numbers will be checked. The following certificates are accepted:

• IELTS: level CEFR B2 or better
• TOEFL: level CEFR B2 or better

The TOEFL code of our university: 6962

All applicants: 15 July for the following winter semester

The university offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships ("Deutschlandstipendium") to both current students and students who are soon to be enrolled with excellent marks. This scholarship consists of a monthly stipend of 300 EUR and applies to international students as well. Further information is available on our website: https://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/students/costs-scholarships-and-grants/scholarships-and-financial-aid.

Non-EU students can work up to 120 full days or 240 half days per year without requiring an additional visa. Student jobs within the university can be solely in English, but the vast majority of off-campus jobs will require at least basic proficiency in German. German courses are available for students through our International Center.

First-year students are strongly advised to focus primarily on their studies and to begin learning German. This will open up many more part-time job opportunities in later semesters.

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences strongly urges you to arrange your accommodation before arrival. One option is accommodation at the residence halls run by student services ("Studierendenwerk Düsseldorf") with one-, two- or three-room flats and rent starting around 290 EUR per month (with a security deposit equivalent to three months' rent). Availability is limited, so register online as soon as possible. See our website for details.

Most students live in private flats shared with other students. There are a number of popular online portals for finding a flat in Germany. Contact the Welcome Centre for more information or look into social media platforms because some students might be graduating when you plan to start. Additionally, the Welcome Centre is always ready to offer advice or help with conversations or correspondence in German.

Internship, student job, or first steps in a new career – Rhine-Waal’s Career Service is here to help with a broad range of useful services.

Correspondingly, we act as bridge builders between students and fresh graduates, the university, and companies or organisations from industry, science, social sectors, etc. Our overall goal is to "help others help themselves" by supporting capacity development in students and fresh graduates with respect to their individual career paths.

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, with two campus locations in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort and around 6,500 students, is an innovative, interdisciplinary, and international university of applied sciences. The university currently offers over 30 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in engineering, the natural and social sciences, technology, design, and more. Our programmes are geared towards your employability, addressing current and future needs of industry by giving you valuable expertise and experience in your field of study. We are unique in that some 75% of our programmes are taught exclusively in English, resulting in a vibrant campus culture and a rich, intercultural exchange of ideas, experience, and knowledge.

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences prides itself on top-notch teaching, excellent research, and a strong network of international partnerships with research institutions and industry. Our team of professors bring a fresh, dynamic approach to teaching and continuously support, encourage, guide, and inspire students. Professors are often on a first-name basis with their students. Teaching takes place in a range of cutting edge facilities, laboratories, work spaces, smart classrooms, and auditoriums.

The result is a memorable and valuable university experience, which will help you grow as a person and set you on the path to your chosen career. We look forward to welcoming you!

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is centrally and conveniently located on the Lower Rhine between the Netherlands and the Rhine-Ruhr metropolis.

Kleve, where our main campus is located, is a city rich in tradition and history, and it has approximately 50,000 residents. It offers the best of both worlds: the bustle and excitement of nearby cities like Nijmegen, Düsseldorf, and Cologne with the safety, comfort, and ambience of a smaller town. The flat landscapes, mild climate, and good infrastructure of the Lower Rhine make it ideal for getting around by bicycle. Noteworthy sights include the Swan Castle, Baroque-style botanical gardens, museums, and art galleries. The town is home to large department stores and smaller boutiques, pubs, cafés, and more. Students can also participate in a range of sports offered both by the university and local clubs.

Kamp-Lintfort, our campus for the Faculty of Communication and Environment, has a current population of around 39,000 and is located 60 km (37 miles) south of Kleve. Kamp-Lintfort takes its name from a nearly 900-year-old monastery, maintained in its original style to this day. The city's proximity to the Rhine-Ruhr metropolis made it an integral part of post-WWII coal production in Germany. In recent years, Kamp-Lintfort has redefined itself as a hub of technology, innovation, and higher education. The Kamp-Lintfort campus is centrally and conveniently located in the centre of town. In addition to its historical sights, Kamp-Lintfort offers a welcoming and safe atmosphere for students with numerous shops, pubs, cafés, and sports.