Digital Technologies in Architecture and Design (DTAD) Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

Partner universities (upon Learning Agreement for the third semester):

• Finland: Aalto-yliopisto / Espoo (one place)
• Sweden: Blekinge tekniska högskola  |  Karlskrona (Software Engineering / Computer Science) (two places)
• The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, USA (one place)

Courses are held in English.

Additionally, courses in German can be taken with student instructors who have very good German language knowledge (minimum B2) or are German native speakers.

The Master's thesis can be written in either English or German.

Are you interested in the interplay between architecture, design and digital technologies? Do you have an affinity for digital applications and methods, and would you like to implement innovative approaches? With its experimental and practice-oriented fields of research, the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism offers exciting new fields of activity and project-oriented studies in cooperation with the Faculty of Media and the Faculty of Art and Design.

The degree programme is application-oriented and interdisciplinary, focusing on the penetration and communication of innovative digital technologies and their interaction with societal developments, discourses, and needs (cultural, political, economic, ecological, etc.) in architecture and design. Graduates will be able to handle, penetrate, and apply new digital technologies in an interdisciplinary manner. This includes developing digital innovations in the fields of construction, planning, media, and design, as well as linking them to curatorial or administrative areas. The teaching integrates scientific and economic perspectives aimed at promoting innovative digital concepts in sustainability and transformation to the point of business creation.

The Master's programme is English-taught and internationally oriented. The core is team-based and application-oriented project work. To this end, students address changing topics on new digital technologies from various research and application areas for interdisciplinary design and implementation processes. In doing so, they develop fundamental digital and design competencies and skills as well as their own expressions and design approaches (digital literacy). Additional discourse-practical and methodological offerings are provided for the critical contextualisation of the innovations under examination. Special attention is given to medial, experimental, transformative, sustainable, and social aspects. Current topics such as (i) creative digital explorations, (ii) transformative technologies, (iii) collective experiences, (iv) intelligent systems, or (v) digital sustainability are addressed.

In-depth study content:
The interaction of the different subject areas outlined below allows for a differentiated examination of various issues.

• Design and Architectural Theory
• Design and Building Form Studies
• Computer Science in Architecture
• Urban Studies and Sociology
• Interface Design
• Emerging Technology and Design
• History and Theory of Cultural Techniques
• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

The beginning of the programme is in October, and the regular duration of the programme is two years.

Applicants from non-EU countries:
15 May for the following winter semester

Applicants from the EU, including Switzerland:
25 June for the following winter semester

More details at:
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: Application
and Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: Study programme

Digital Technologies in Architecture and Design consists of three main instructional forms: design projects, seminars, and lectures.
The project modules are central to the study programme. The project structure enables exemplary work on open presentation of problems. Here you will already find the elective choice between a more theoretical and a more design-practical orientation. The importance placed on both theory and practice can be determined by the student. Plenum, individual consultations and presentations structure the project module. Work in interdisciplinary project groups allows you to experience the cross-over learning method and strengthens your skills for interdisciplinary teamwork. Project consultations are offered in an interdisciplinary manner by professors from both the architecture and the media, art and design faculties.
An alternative to the projects set by the respective professors is a "free" project topic, which is developed by the student him/herself but is carried out under the guidance of the instructors in the appropriate area of studies. In this way, active participation of the students in the shaping of the study programme is encouraged.
Theory and subject modules supplement the course offer as elective requirements. They make a more theoretical or a more design-practical orientation possible. Methodical as well as conceptional skills and the use of tools in close connection with concrete tasks and questions can be acquired in such a manner. This generally takes place in lectures, seminars and specialised courses.
Differentiated – in accordance with the focus of the topic horizon – elective requirements supplement the course offering. They are offered by the faculties of architecture, media, and design. Furthermore, additional language courses can be attended.

First semester:
The introductory project serves as an in-depth introduction to the areas of the participating chairs focusing on interdisciplinary aspects, as well as an orientating examination of the problems particular to the course of study. It comprises three sub-projects that comply with the specific expertise of each chair.

Second semester:
Project module II serves as a continuative project development in the research profile of the studies. It is supplemented by a project-related, specialised course.

Third semester:
Project module III serves as a continuative project development in the research profile of the studies. The third semester offers the opportunity in its detailed orientation for study or an exchange with one of the international project partners or for an internship.

Fourth semester:
The fourth semester is reserved for completion of the Master's thesis. A Master's colloquium accompanies the thesis work.

The third semester offers the opportunity for an exchange with one of the international partner universities.

An internship in the third semester is not compulsory, but it is possible if it leads to adequate results as a replacement to project module III. It is formally based on a learning agreement.

No tuition fees

The semester contribution is approx. 280 EUR per semester. This is allocated to student services & the student council. It grants free regional bus transport in Weimar, Erfurt, & Jena as well as train transport in Thuringia. Moreover, it provides student discounts for meals at the university cafeteria & for theatre and museum tickets, along with access to the university sports complex. An additional fee for the "Thoska" student ID is 20 EUR (one-time only fee).

In Weimar, living expenses tend to be lower than in larger German cities. We recommend that students budget approx. 960 EUR per month:

• Health insurance approx. 140 EUR
• Books and stationery approx. 70 EUR
• Rent approx. 350 EUR
• Meals approx. 220 EUR
• Other expenses approx. 180 EUR

Students coming from outside the EU need to provide proof of financial resources amounting to 992 EUR per month in order to obtain a residence permit.

Students must either hold a relevant degree or equivalent certificate in architecture, media, digital arts or related fields with a scientific or artistic/design-oriented degree (Bachelor's, Master's, or "Diplom") and have equivalent professional experience. Additionally, students must pass the aptitude test.

Original document in German or in English or a certified translation must be submitted with the application.

Language skills: Applicants must prove that they have an adequate command of English.

Proof of English language proficiency according to B2 (minimum requirement) of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages through certificates:

• TOEFL-test, minimum (PBT 550, CBT 213, IBT 80)

• IELTS, band 6.0 or others according CEFR B
• Cambridge Certificate, (First Certificate FCE), grade C

• comparable certificates that are recognised internationally



Applicants whose mother tongue is not English are required to provide proof of these skills. Exceptions are possible if proof of a university degree from an English-speaking country can be provided.

Applicants from non-EU countries:
15 May for the following winter semester

Applicants from the EU, including Switzerland:
25 June for the following winter semester

More details at:
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: Application
and Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: Study programme

There are scholarships granted by the university as an institution. There are scholarships based on academic merit and/or social engagement for second-year and more senior students.

The International Office grants scholarships through the Erasmus+ programme that support students (including international ones) who are going abroad for studies or internships.

A part-time job can be a good way to supplement your finances during your studies. There are opportunities for students who are looking for teaching and research assistantships at the university or part-time jobs with local companies and within the service sector of the city. International students should be aware that a good command of German is necessary for working outside the university (and for many jobs within the university as well).

Jobs are offered on the "Pinnwand" message board of the university, on the job portal operated by the Career Service, and on the "Studierendenwerk Thüringen's" Job Search platform.

International students from outside the EU are only allowed to work a limited number of hours in Germany (140 full days or 280 half days per year). Student jobs at the university are exempt from this rule. Either way, during the lecture period, students are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. The minimum wage is 12.82 EUR per hour and is standard for student jobs.

If you earn more than 556 EUR per month, you will be subject to higher health insurance premiums.

You can find accommodation in Weimar through the "Studierendenwerk Thüringen", which manages more than 1,000 apartments in the student halls of residence. These halls of residence are located at various locations in the city and are geared towards different needs and preferences. Accommodation costs between 250 and 350 EUR per month, depending on the size and location. The university itself does not provide accommodation.

If you want to rent a room through the "Studierendenwerk Thüringen" – which we strongly recommend to all newly arriving students – it is paramount to apply as early as possible as spaces are limited.

Further information: https://www.stw-thueringen.de/en/housing/residential-homes.html
Online application: https://www.stw-thueringen.de/en/housing/application/online-application.html

Typically, between two and up to five students share an apartment. Students have their own bedrooms and share a kitchen and a bathroom. Most rooms are furnished (bed, desk, chair, cupboard, shelf), but kitchenware and appliances are not included. Mentors for international students provide assistance in settling in during the first couple of days and also organise events.

Students advertise private and shared flats on the message board ("Pinnwand") on the university website: https://www.uni-weimar.de/de/universitaet/aktuell/pinnwaende/bereich/wohnen/.

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Career Service supports students both during and after their studies. The Career Service offers individual career consultation, workshops and seminars on entering the workforce or starting a new career.
https://www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/studies/careers-service/

More support programmes of "Studierendenwerk Thüringen":

• student services
• counselling students and offering advice on studying
• psychosocial care and legal counselling service
• service for students with special needs
• service for students with children

https://www.stw-thueringen.de/en/counselling/

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is a small, renowned, and very international university with a very distinctive range of subjects. It is located in the historic city of Weimar and emerged from two progressive institutions: The "Saxon-Grand Ducal School of Art Weimar" and the "State Bauhaus", founded here in 1919.

Various personalities from different countries have shaped the institution and developed ideas that are recognised and respected worldwide. At the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, we continue to follow a unique path that offers unrivalled opportunities by combining science and technology with art and design.

The international and interdisciplinary approach encourages experimentation and offers space for creativity, which attracts an above-average number of international students to Weimar. The university specialises in study and research in the fields of architecture and urbanism, civil and environmental engineering, art and design, and media.

We offer an ideal space for creative academic and artistic work, supported by laboratories, workshops, studios, libraries, online teaching facilities, and a favourable student-teacher ratio. Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is connected worldwide due to a large network of partners, which our students benefit from through programmes such as study abroad periods as well as international projects and excursions. Among more than 200 international partners are universities and schools throughout the European Union as well as in Ethiopia, Japan, Switzerland, and the USA.

Here are some important facts from the history of the university: In 1919, Walter Gropius created the "State Bauhaus" in Weimar. Four years later, he called for the search for the "new unity of art and engineering". That meant combining the vanguard of art and design with modern industry. With this approach, the Bauhaus became the most famous school of architecture, art, and design in the 20th century.

Our university flourishes through its experimental environment, familiar atmosphere and especially through the people, who study, research, and work here at the university. The best way is to experience this special atmosphere yourself. Join our "Welcome to Weimar" online crash course or visit us, for example, at the annual Bauhaus Spring School or the Bauhaus Summer School and learn about what lies behind the following numbers:

• Four faculties – Architecture & Urbanism, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Art & Design, Media
• 42 degree programmes
• Approx. 4,000 students, including doctoral students
• Approx. 30% international students
• 87 professors
• More than 200 partner universities and more than 500 student exchanges
• Many opportunities for funded short-term stays at partner universities

https://www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/international/to-weimar/fulltime-students/preparing-your-studies/

The historic city of Weimar is a cosy town that has had a profound influence on Europe. This becomes most evident in architecture, art and design, music, and literature.

Weimar is situated right in the middle of Thuringia, the "green heart of Germany", and it is about 300 km from both the German capital, Berlin, and the German financial centre, Frankfurt am Main. Today, Weimar is a lively town with about 66,000 inhabitants and a town centre where you can reach everything within 15 minutes. The green areas of the town, such as the park on the Ilm River, include many sights, e.g. Goethe's summer house and the palaces of Tiefurt, Ettersburg, and Belvedere. Among many others, the famous German writers Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller walked in the park along the Ilm River. The famous pianist and composer Franz Liszt stimulated modern music, and the architects Walter Gropius and Henry van de Velde initiated modernism.

Weimar has much to offer art lovers, culture lovers, revellers, lovers of nature, and gourmets. There are more than 20 museums, three cinemas, a national theatre, various cabaret theatres, student clubs, concerts, and multifaceted cultural events, such as the traditional folk event and the "Zwiebelmarkt". Additionally, one can enjoy Thuringian delicacies like "Rostbratwurst" (sausage), "Rostbrätel" (marinated grilled meat), and "Thüringer Klöße" (dumplings). During the spring and summer, Weimar hosts the annual Bauhaus Spring School and the Bauhaus Summer School as well as Yiddish Summer Weimar (featuring klezmer music) and several art festivals. Other highlights include the "summaery" annual exhibition at the Bauhaus-Universität and the "Master classes" at the "Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt". According to the International Student Barometer survey, 95.4 percent of international students commend the exceptional quality of life in the city of Weimar. We hope to welcome you to Weimar soon!