Best Industrial Design Schools in Germany

Last Updated : 04 Apr, 2024

If you are looking to study industrial design in Germany, you will be pleased to know that the nation is home to 49 of the universities featured in the recently released 2024 QS World University Rankings. These universities are renowned for their innovative teaching methods, flexible degree programs, and practice-focused learning in industrial design.

Germany boasts a rich history and ongoing reputation for excellence in design. For aspiring industrial designers, Germany offers a multitude of esteemed academic institutions fostering creativity and innovation. This guide explores some of the top industrial design schools in Germany, providing a starting point for your academic journey in this exciting field.

Let us find out about the best industrial design schools in Germany, course curriculum, admission requirements, fees, and more.

Why Study Industrial Design in Germany?

Germany is a nation where education is characterized by a strong emphasis on research, clearly defined high standards, a hierarchical and traditional approach to seminars and lectures, and a rigorously competitive application process. This holds the same for studying industrial design in Germany.

Germany is a terrific destination for overseas students and has a top-notch education system. The value of this education level has been enhanced by Germany’s robust economy. International candidates enjoy exceptional living standards in safe and secure surroundings.
There are many companies spanning across diverse industries like automotive, consumer goods, and machinery in Germany. As a result, studying industrial design in Germany makes sense since it opens up numerous opportunities for networking as well as securing internships at leading companies.
Compared to some other study desti͏nations, ͏Ger͏many offers relatively affordable tuition fees and living costs for international students, especially when considering the quality of education and career prospects. Some universities also offer free education.
While many programs are taught in English, studying in Germany also offers the opportunity to learn or improve proficiency in the German language, which can be advant͏ageous for future career opportunities within the country or with German companies abroad.
Graduating from a German university with a degree in industrial design open͏s up a wide range of career opportunities both within Germany and internationally. The country’s strong economy and emphasis on innovation create a ͏favorable job market for industrial͏ designers.

Course Curriculum for Industrial Design in Germany

The subjects covered in an industrial design course in Germany give the candidate an in-depth knowledge of the field, which further assists them in refining their career. Listed below are some of the subjects covered in a typical industrial design course in Germany:

History of art and design
Product analysis and function design
Sketching and drawing
The design thinking and process
Design internship presentation

List of Colleges Offering Industrial Design Courses in Germany

Listed below are some of the top colleges in Germany offering industrial design courses:

Name of the College	Programs Offered	Average Annual Fees	City	Official Website
RWTH Aachen University	MS in Industrial/Product Design	No tuition fees at RWTH Aachen University for international and national students. Nonetheless, every student must deposit social contribution fees, which are subject to the student body.	Aachen	https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/a/?lidx=1&mobile=1
Folkwang University of the Arts	B.A. in Product Design M.A. Design Futures in der Fachgruppe Industrial Design	No monthly tuition fees.	Essen	https://www.folkwang-uni.de/en/home
Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design	B.A. in Industrial Design M.A. in Industrial Designing	Free of charge.	Halle	https://www.burg-halle.de/en/
Dresden University of Applied Sciences	B.A./B.Sc in Industrial and Product Designing M.A./M.Sc in Industrial and Product Designing	N/A	Dresden	https://www.htw-dresden.de/en/
University of Wuppertal	B.A. in Industrial Design	No monthly tuition fees. Students need to pay €30,803 per semester.	Wuppertal	https://www.uni-wuppertal.de/en/study/degree-programs/detail/ba-industrial-design-ein-fach-studiengaenge/
Potsdam University of Applied Sciences	B.A./B.Sc in Industrial Designing M.A./M.Sc in Industrial Designing	While there’s no tuition fee, candidates have to submit a semester fee of €304 (INR 24,691) to the University of Potsdam.	Potsdam	https://www.fh-potsdam.de/en
Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts	M.A./M.Sc./MEngin Industrial Designing	Free of cost for European/Non-European students.	Hanover	https://www.hs-hannover.de/en/
Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences	BEng/MEng in Industrial Designing	Free of tuition fees, except for some postgraduate courses of study	Magdeburg	https://www.h2.de/en/home.html
Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design	BEng in Industrial and Interface Designing MEng in Industrial and Interface Designing	No tuition fees for the courses.	Kiel	https://www.burg-halle.de/en/
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences	M.A/M.Sc in Industrial/Intermedial Design	€500/year (₹45,365)	Kothen	https://www.hs-anhalt.de/en/start-page.html

Admission Requirements and Eligibility Criteria for Studying Industrial Design in Germany

Overseas applicants need to meet every admission requirement for the industrial design school of their choosing. Once they fulfil all the specified criteria, their application form will be screened amongst other candidates and shortlisted for a final, personal interview with the university authorities. The eligibility criteria for foreign candidates are listed below:

Students planning to apply for a bachelor’s degree program in industry design in Germany must hold a high school diploma from a recognised school with at least a 3.5 GPA.
When applying for a Master’s degree in industrial design in Germany, overseas candidates must have at least a 3.5 GPA in their bachelor’s degree certificate.
Overseas candidates seeking admission at the best industrial design schools in Germany should have qualifying marks in any of the English language proficiency exams like PTE, IELTS, or TOEFL. They should score at least 5.5 or more in IELTS and 80 or more in TOEFL.
A candidate might need to submit GMAT or GRE scores when applying for industrial or product design courses in German universities. Always check the university’s official website in order to confirm the submission of standardised exam marks. A candidate must score 315 and above on the GRE and 550 and above on the GMAT.
Candidates who are interested in doing industrial design should have a work portfolio of ten to twelve pages and an updated resume where all their previous work experiences are stated.
To study in Germany, candidates should apply for a student visa at the German consulate or embassy. As soon as the German student visa is approved, they can legally stay in Germany for the entire course duration.
Overseas applicants should have a passport with three more months of validity on the day they move back to their native place from Germany. They can either apply for a passport at the nearest passport office or do the same online.

Documents Required to Study Industrial Design in Germany

Documents play a pivotal role in your application process for the best industrial design colleges in Germany. Together with the general documents such as academic transcripts, you’ll submit additional papers like CV and work portfolio. When applying for the design school of your preference, you should present all these necessary documents:

Minimum two letters of recommendation
High school diploma certificate
Statement of purpose
Academic transcripts of previous attended college or university (for postgraduate studies in industrial design)
Health insurance certificate
Work portfolio
Valid Passport
German student visa

Admission Process for Industrial Design in Germany

In order to be admitted successfully to the best industrial design schools in Germany, foreign applicants must complete the application procedure without any error. Because one small mistake can cost you your admission, following these steps cautiously will help you to get admission to one of the best industrial design schools in Germany:

Please visit the official website of the university and carefully read all the entry requirements to avoid mistakes while filling out the forms.
After creating a student account on the portal, fill out the online application form with basic information.
Read the list of documents required with the application carefully and send copies of them.
Once you have submitted all documents, pay the application fee online and complete the application form before the deadline.
Participate in a virtual interview with university officials as part of your selection process.
When you receive the admission letter with your registered email address, pay the tuition fee and apply for a German student visa.

Conclusion

Pursuing a degree in industrial design in Germany is undoubtedly a life-changing experience for overseas candidates. In fact, industrial designers are one of the most sought-after professionals in the field of art and design. The industrial design market is growing rampantly, with an estimated valuation of $2594.24 billion globally and will reach up to $3908.54 billion by the end of 2028.