Illustration, Bachelor of Arts

Who is the Bachelor Illustration at SRH University suitable for?

The Bachelor degree programme in Illustration in Berlin is aimed at creative individuals who want to professionalise their drawing talent and apply it in various media and contexts. If you want to tell visual stories, enjoy designing, and are interested in both analogue and digital illustration methods, you will find the right course here. The target group especially includes school graduates with a general university entrance qualification, those with subject-specific higher education entrance qualifications, or professionally qualified persons who are enthusiastic about illustration, visual communication, design, or media. Career changers from related fields such as graphic design, fine arts, or media design can also benefit from the practice-oriented approach of the course.

Admission requirements for the Bachelor Illustration

• General university entrance qualification (Abitur) or advanced technical college entrance qualification: Corresponds to the classic access to university studies in Germany.
• Professional qualification: A relevant professional qualification can also enable access. Professionally qualified applicants with at least two years of vocational training and a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience may be admitted via an aptitude test.
• Creative portfolio: A portfolio with about 20 original creative works is used to assess your design skills and suitability for the course.
• Curriculum vitae with a recent passport photo.
• Copy of ID: For German nationals, a copy of the identity card; for international applicants, passport or National Identity Card.
• Selection interview: After submitting your documents, you will be invited to an interview.
• For international applicants, language proofs in German or English may be required, depending on the chosen language of instruction.

The course has no NC, i.e. no numerus clausus. A preliminary internship is not compulsory. Further details can be found in the official information material of the university.

Personal requirements

• You are creative and enjoy drawing, designing, and experimenting with different techniques (analogue and digital).
• You have an interest in communication through images and want to learn how to convey content visually.
• You are characterised by initiative and openness to artistic challenges.
• You are willing to work independently on projects, take criticism constructively, and further develop your design skills.
• Good powers of observation and the ability to implement ideas clearly and individually will help you in your studies.
• Illustrators also benefit from perseverance and an interest in familiarising themselves with new software and methods.

What can you expect from the Bachelor's degree course in Illustration?

The Bachelor's degree course in Illustration at SRH University in Berlin equips you with comprehensive design and drawing skills. You will learn to develop individual drawing styles and to use image-based communication professionally. The focus is on storytelling, the combination of images and text, and the craft of realising work with both analogue and digital methods.

• Own drawing style: Developing a personal style in drawing and illustrating.
• Diverse techniques: Application of analogue printing methods such as screen printing or risography as well as digital illustration techniques.
• Variety of media: Illustration for comics, posters, magazines, character design, concept art and animated films.
• Practical relevance: Collaboration with real clients as well as regular visits to illustration and animation studios.
• Languages: Degree course optionally entirely in German or entirely in English.

Other contents include typography, editorial design, editorial illustration and interactive work in three-dimensional space.

How is the degree structured?

• Duration of study: 7 semesters (full-time)
• Degree: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• Credit points: 210 ECTS
• Start: 1 October
• Study model: On-campus study
• Location: Berlin

The curriculum is organised as follows:

• 1st–2nd semester: Basics of design and illustration, communication and media studies, media lab, compulsory elective modules
• 3rd–4th semester: Animation, concept art, artistic research, narrative illustration, editorial design, further compulsory elective modules
• 5th semester: Mobility phase: internship in Germany or abroad as well as a free illustration project
• 6th semester: Editorial illustration, scientific colloquium, practice-oriented work
• 7th semester: Portfolio work, entrepreneurship and media law, writing workshop/colloquium, bachelor thesis

The course includes project-oriented work and allows individual specialisations through compulsory elective subjects.

What career opportunities are available?

With a Bachelor's degree in Illustration, you will be prepared for various career paths. Typical fields of employment are:

• Media companies such as publishers, agencies, film and animation studios
• Freelance work for the book market, cultural and scientific institutions
• Character design and concept art for the animation and games industry
• Illustration of print media, digital and interactive media, 3D animations and special effects
• Development of your own children's books, non-fiction books or graphic novels
• Editorial, consulting and coordinating activities in the field of illustration

The degree also grants access to advanced Master's degree courses at home and abroad.

Where is the degree offered?

The Illustration degree course is offered at the Berlin campus of SRH University. The central location in Berlin provides direct contact with the creative scene, numerous opportunities for cooperation as well as practical insights through contacts with studios and agencies on site.

What costs arise? What financing options are available?

• EU/EEA/Switzerland/Western Balkans/Ukraine: €750 per month (as of 2024, applies for 7 semesters)
• Non-EU/EEA: €4,950 per semester
• Application fee: €750 (EU/EEA) or €1,000 (Non-EU/EEA)

The fees remain stable throughout the entire duration of study. There are various financing options, including education loans and scholarships. SRH University provides information on individual funding options for students.