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Who this Interior Design B.A. is for – and how to qualify
This full-time Interior Design degree suits you if you see space as a medium and want to work in professional studios in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg or Munich. Typical profiles include: international school leavers with a strong creative portfolio aiming for interior or exhibition design; applicants with practical experience in furniture making, set construction or shopfitting who want an academic foundation; and design-focused applicants interested in experience, retail or hospitality spaces who value hands-on studio work over seven semesters (210 ECTS).
Admission requirements
You need a recognised university entrance qualification and the ability to study in German. Key points at a glance:
- General higher education entrance qualification: German Abitur or an equivalent secondary school certificate that qualifies you for university study.
- Admission with foreign qualifications: international diplomas are accepted if they are equivalent to a German university entrance qualification; official translations may be required.
- Admission without Abitur: possible with a completed Meister examination or a comparable professional qualification.
- No Numerus Clausus: there is no grade-based cut-off for Bachelor admission.
- Teaching language: the programme is taught in German (individual modules may be in English). You must provide proof of sufficient German language proficiency during application.
- Study format and duration: on-campus, full-time, standard period of study 7 semesters including a mandatory internship.
Personal requirements
Success in this studio-based degree depends on your commitment and craft skills. Expect an average workload of about 35–45 hours per week in lecture periods, including studio time, workshops, model-making and project work; the compulsory internship runs full-time for one semester. You should be comfortable with manual and digital drawing, basic 3D/CAD, iterative prototyping and giving/receiving critique.
- Strong self-organisation: multiple project deadlines in parallel, from research and concept to technical development and documentation.
- Perseverance and accuracy: spatial detail, materials and construction logic matter in assessments and real client briefs.
- Communication skills in German: you need functional German for studio critiques, safety briefings in workshops and teamwork; English helps in internationally oriented modules.
- Realistic time planning from abroad: plan for intensive on-campus attendance, group meetings and access to workshops; keep evenings/weekends flexible during submission phases.
If you enjoy translating ideas into tangible spatial concepts and can manage a sustained studio rhythm, this programme offers a clear path into interior, retail and exhibition design environments.
What will you study in the Interior Design (B.A.) at AMD Akademie Mode & Design?
The programme is taught in German. You should plan to study, present and submit work primarily in German; proof of German proficiency is required by the university. Selected modules run in English, and you can add an optional semester or internship abroad.
You build a solid design foundation combining drawing, digital tools and spatial thinking. Core blocks include manual and digital drawing techniques, visual communication and design with digital media. From there, you move into the basics of spatial design and the theory of architecture to understand how form, function and context interact.
Concept and context are central: you learn cultural history of design, design in context and narrative spaces, then translate insights into spatial concepts for offices, hospitality, healthcare, exhibitions and brand environments. Technical development accompanies creative work so that your ideas can be built, detailed and documented.
Professional practice and presentation skills run throughout. You work in semester projects, document exhibitions and learn marketing for design services. A full six-month internship (5th semester) gives you on-the-job experience. The final year culminates in your bachelor phase and thesis with a public showcase.
Electives and labs let you sharpen your profile. Options typically include digital media and motion/virtual labs, object and furniture design, sustainability, light and sound, brand strategy or start-up topics. AMD is part of a German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) and is staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised), ensuring an application-oriented, industry-linked curriculum.
How does studying in the Interior Design (B.A.) work?
Teaching language and international elements
The teaching language is German. You need sufficient German to follow studios, critiques and technical instruction; the university requires formal proof of language proficiency during admission. Some classes are offered in English, and you can integrate an optional study abroad semester and complete the mandatory internship abroad if you wish.
Study model and where you will study
You study full time on campus over 7 semesters (210 ECTS) in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich or Düsseldorf. Each campus combines design studios, digital labs and well-equipped workshops. The cities are major German creative hubs: from Berlin’s media and gallery scene to Munich’s product and brand agencies, Hamburg’s architecture and harbour districts, and Düsseldorf’s trade-fair and fashion ecosystem.
Studios, workshops and personal support
Learning is studio-based with a high share of project work. You alternate between lectures, supervised design studios, workshop time and critiques. Faculty members come from professional practice, so feedback links directly to industry standards. Cross-campus spring and autumn academies add one-week intensive workshops with peers from other programmes.
Assessments and what counts as an exam
Design modules are typically assessed through project submissions, portfolios, prototypes and oral presentations. Theoretical modules may use written assignments or exams. You also compile documentation for exhibitions and projects, mirroring professional communication with clients and juries. The programme ends with your bachelor thesis and a public presentation.
Enrolment as a non-EU student
This is an on-campus degree. If you relocate to Germany for your studies, you will need to plan time for enrolment steps and legal residence. The university supports you with study planning; visa and residence processes follow German regulations and must be organised in good time before the semester starts.
What does the Interior Design (B.A.) cost?
Tuition is €750 per month over the standard duration of 7 semesters, which totals €31,500. Expect possible one-time or small recurring administrative costs (e.g. semester contributions or workshop materials) in addition to tuition. Tuition is usually paid by monthly bank transfer; if you pay from abroad, clarify international transfer options and fees with your bank.
AMD and Hochschule Fresenius offer financing advice and may provide scholarship or instalment models; check which options are open to international students. Plan realistic living costs for your city: housing, food, health insurance, transport and materials. In major cities like Munich and Hamburg, rents are higher; Berlin and Düsseldorf can be more moderate. As a rough orientation, students commonly budget for several hundred euros for rent plus everyday expenses each month, with Munich at the higher end among the four locations.
Design degrees also involve materials and production costs. Factor in expenses for model-making, printing, software or plotter use. AMD’s workshops reduce outsourcing costs, but complex projects and thesis work can still add a notable materials budget.
What careers and recognition does the Interior Design (B.A.) offer?
The degree awards 210 ECTS under the Bologna framework and is fully compatible with European credit transfer and master’s admissions. The programme is accredited through 2027. AMD belongs to Hochschule Fresenius, a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), which signals quality assurance and recognition in Germany and the EU.
What this means for you internationally: ECTS credits and state recognition support mobility for internships, exchange semesters and further study. Employers and universities in Europe can evaluate your transcript directly; the applied profile of a Fachhochschule underlines practical skills and industry readiness.
Career paths include:
- Interior and spatial designer in design or architecture offices (workplace, hospitality, retail, healthcare, exhibition)
- Furniture, object and product designer in studios or in-house design teams
- Exhibition and event designer for museums, trade fairs and cultural institutions
- Set designer for theatre, film and TV, or experiential brand environments
- Design consultant in agencies for communication, branding and retail concepts; later, self-employment or founding a studio
Salaries vary by city, firm size and your portfolio. Internships, strong project documentation and a convincing bachelor showcase are key to entering renowned studios in Germany’s major creative markets.
Who is the Interior Design (B.A.) right for – and who not?
This programme suits aspiring designers who want to develop their creative voice and technical execution in a studio environment, with a strong link to real briefs and a six-month internship. It fits if you aim to work in Germany’s design and architecture ecosystem after graduation.
- You want a practice-oriented design degree with studios, workshops and critiques.
- You are excited by spatial concepts, material and light, and how people experience places.
- You value industry contacts, a mandatory internship and portfolio-driven assessment.
- You plan to study on campus in a major German creative city and build a local network.
- You appreciate the structure of a Fachhochschule with state recognition and accreditation.
There are also clear reasons to choose a different option. Read these carefully before you apply from abroad.
- The programme is taught in German; if you do not already have strong German skills, you cannot follow studios and critiques effectively.
- This is an on-campus, full-time degree; relocation to Germany and sustained presence in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich or Düsseldorf are required.
- Tuition at a private university is higher than at German public universities; if your priority is the lowest possible cost, consider state institutions.
- The degree does not grant automatic access to regulated professions such as licensed “Innenarchitektin/Innenarchitekt” in chambers that require additional criteria; check local rules if you target a protected title.
Lade…
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Interior Design? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution AMD Akademie Mode & Design or the editorial team will answer you.
That said, may I kindly ask: when you say “I want to do Masters in Arts,” do you mean a Master’s in Interior Design (which is a Master of Arts degree), or are you referring more generally to a fine arts or visual arts Master’s program?
Let me know your background and interests—I’d be happy to guide you further or suggest alternatives tailored to your goals.