Industrial Design

The programme objective is to acquire professional qualifications for the design of complex, technical products. Students learn to develop industrial products in such a manner that the modern, technical possibilities are maximised through intuitive operation of the product.

Nowadays, complex industrial products are developed within ever-shorter time periods and to meet extremely diverse customer expectations. Accordingly, 3D modelling, visualisation and simulation tools as well as the technologies required for rapid prototyping are all made available to the students. Competent industrial designers who are good at working in teams are increasingly sought after to develop logical applications that are complementary to the product’s physical characteristics. The programme at Magdeburg has been designed with this in mind.

In the course of the Bachelor’s programme, all relevant fundamentals of design are taught in the fields of product and interaction design.

During the first two semesters, the design modules involve getting to know the different methods and technologies of design. They are characterised by a design scheme which permits students to develop their formal aesthetic competence relatively free from influential factors of economics and production.

Beginning in the second year, the theoretical knowledge and practical experience gained in the first two semesters are put to practice in concrete projects. As special emphasis is placed on work in interdisciplinary team projects, students of design collaborate on challenging research projects with engineers from the fields of mechanical engineering, computer science and electrical engineering. They learn how to design complex and intelligent industrial products both in terms of their physical qualities as well as their intuitive operation.

During the degree course, preferably in semester 6, students must complete one internship semester outside of the University of Magdeburg-Stendal or at another university abroad. This lasts at least 16 weeks and involves design work at a design firm or in a company where design work is performed or a design course at a university abroad.

Module handbook

A higher education entrance qualification is a general prerequisite for admittance to the programme of study. International applicants must provide proof of educational qualifications that permit study in Germany (school-leaving certificate, certificate of university attendance).

The DAAD database on admission requirements allows international students to check whether they meet the requirements for the degree programme of their choice in Germany.

In addition, applicants have to pass an aptitude test to get admission. The aptitude test for the Bachelor’s programm Industrial Design is divided into three sections:
1. Applicants solve admission tasks  > Evaluation of results
2. The candidates admitted to the examination receive a concrete task. They bring the solution to the aptitude test and present.
3. Practical test (3 exercises) + Assessment interview

The language of instruction is German. Foreign applicants must prove they have adequate knowledge of German. Evidence of the necessary German language skills can be provided in the form of:

• Goethe Certificate C1
• DSD II
• DSH I
• TestDaF (minimun level3 in the examination modules)
• TELC Deutsch C1 Hochschule
• ÖSD C1

Applicants who are unable to fulfil the specified admission requirements may contact a preparatory college (‘Studienkolleg’). These specifically prepare foreign applicants for a course of study in Germany. Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences does not have its own preparatory college. The state-run preparatory college responsible for our institution is located at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Köthen.

An overview of all preparatory colleges in Germany can be found here.

In Magdeburg you can find a private preparatory college: Europäisches Studienkolleg der Wirtschaft (ESKW)