English 
Deutsch 
Who this Interior Architecture B.A. suits — and what you need to get in
This full-time, campus-based degree in Hamburg or Munich is a fit if you want to design and realise spaces from concept to build. Typical profiles include: school leavers from abroad with strong drawing skills and an interest in materials, lighting and sustainability; career changers with a completed vocational background in carpentry, building trades or visual merchandising aiming for a recognised university degree; and diploma holders from foundation or first-year design/architecture studies seeking a practice-led interior focus in Germany.
Admission requirements
To enrol you need a valid university entrance qualification. The essentials at a glance:
- Higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur) or a recognised equivalent from abroad. International school-leaving certificates and diplomas can be accepted if they qualify for university study in Germany; your documents are assessed individually.
- Admission without Abitur: a completed vocational qualification or master craftsperson examination can also qualify you for study at AMD.
- No Numerus Clausus (NC) and no portfolio required for this Bachelor’s programme.
- Teaching language: German. You must provide proof of sufficient German for degree-level study; the university specifies accepted proofs during admission.
- Study model: full-time on campus, 7 semesters, 210 ECTS, including an integrated internship semester.
- Quality assurance: the programme is state-recognised and accredited for the period 2024–2032 as an on-campus, full-time degree at Hamburg and Munich.
Applications are possible year-round via the university’s online process. If you hold international documents, submit officially certified translations where required so your eligibility can be checked without delay.
Personal requirements
Interior Architecture is hands-on and project-heavy. You should enjoy iterative design, model-making and CAD, and be comfortable with user-centred thinking, construction basics and legal frameworks. Success in this programme requires reliable self-organisation, perseverance across multi-week studio projects, and the ability to give and receive critique.
If you are moving to Germany from abroad, plan for a full-time weekly schedule on campus with substantial extra hours for studio work, group projects and the internship semester. Realistic time planning is crucial; part-time jobs should not conflict with fixed studio times and critiques. You will need German skills strong enough to follow lectures, safety briefings and building-law content, and to present your designs clearly. Solid digital skills (e.g. Adobe tools, basic 2D/3D CAD) help at the start; the programme will expand these throughout your studies.
In short: come prepared to manage deadlines, document your process, and iterate until your design, drawings and realisation details align — that is what will carry you through seven semesters to a convincing Bachelor’s thesis.
What will you study in the Interior Design (B.A.) at AMD Akademie Mode & Design?
This programme is taught in German. To study successfully, you need advanced German skills (normally around C1 level). You will be asked to provide recognised proof of proficiency during application; if you do not already read, write and present confidently in German, this programme will not be suitable.
You build a solid design foundation across the first semesters. Typical core areas include Spatial Design I–IV, where you learn to conceive and detail interiors, plus Drawing Techniques & Communication to develop freehand, technical and digital representation. Design Methodology I–III trains your process from research through iteration to presentation.
Technical and theoretical competencies accompany the studio work. Realisation Skills covers materials and construction, basic sustainability principles, and construction economics, while the multi-part History and Theories of Architecture module situates your projects culturally. You also learn project management and presentation techniques relevant to client-facing practice.
Professional practice and law round off the toolbox. Law for Interior Designers clarifies planning permissions, contracts and professional responsibilities; a collaborative Spatial Design project trains teamwork with real briefs. The programme includes recurring Spring/Autumn Academies for intensive project sprints and inputs from the field.
Electives let you refine your profile, for example in lighting, furniture, or specific user contexts. In semester five you complete a full-time industry internship. The seventh semester is dedicated to your Bachelor’s thesis, including a public exhibition/documentation and a disputation (thesis defence).
AMD is part of Hochschule Fresenius, a German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences). Hochschule Fresenius is staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised), and the Interior Design/Innenarchitektur programme is accredited for the period 2024–2032. The degree comprises 210 ECTS credits and follows the Bologna structure.
How does studying in the Interior Design (B.A.) work?
Teaching language and what you need linguistically
All classes, critiques and exams are held in German. You should arrive able to read complex briefs, discuss design decisions and document projects in German. Universities in Germany typically expect an advanced level (around C1) proven by a recognised certificate; check which proofs are accepted when you apply.
Full-time on-campus study in Hamburg or Munich
You study full-time on campus in Hamburg or Munich. Hamburg is a major port city with a strong design, media and retail scene; its many agencies and cultural institutions offer inspiration and contacts. Munich is Bavaria’s economic hub, home to architecture and design firms, trade fairs and museums—useful for placements and project partners. Teaching happens in studios, workshops and seminar rooms; you choose one campus for the degree.
Studio culture, small groups and hands-on projects
From day one the programme is practice-led. You work in studio formats, often in small groups, moving quickly from concept to model, prototype and presentation. Interdisciplinary onboarding means you share early modules with product and interior design peers. Project briefs with partner companies bring real constraints and feedback; the Spring/Autumn Academies add intensive making or research phases. Expect close supervision by lecturers with industry backgrounds.
How you are assessed
Assessment focuses on your design work and its communication. You present projects in juries and reviews, submit drawings and documentation, and build models or mock-ups. The thesis ends with an exhibition/documentation and a disputation. Knowledge-based modules such as law or construction economics may include written assignments or exams. Professional conduct during the internship is assessed by AMD and the host company.
What enrolment means for international on-campus students
This is an on-campus degree. If you come from outside the EU/EEA, you should plan your relocation in time for the start of studies and ensure you can demonstrate sufficient German language skills and financing as part of your application process. Clarify timelines early so you can start in your chosen semester without delays.
What does the Interior Design (B.A.) cost?
Tuition is structured as monthly payments of €750 per month, adding up to €32,095 in total over the standard 7 semesters (210 ECTS). This gives you a clear picture of the long-term commitment compared with per-semester lump sums at many universities. Check if any one-time enrolment or examination fees apply in addition; these are not included in the total above.
International students usually pay by bank transfer from abroad. Many private universities in Germany offer scholarships or payment plans; AMD highlights general financing options and career services, but specific scholarships are competitive and limited. Plan your budget assuming full tuition without discounts.
Living costs depend on the city. As orientation: in Munich, you should plan around €1,200–€1,500 per month for accommodation, food, local transport and insurance; in Hamburg, roughly €1,000–€1,300 per month is common. Rents vary widely by district and room size. Studio work often requires materials and printing—budget an extra monthly allowance for models and project outputs.
What careers and recognition does the Interior Design (B.A.) offer?
You graduate with a Bachelor of Arts, 210 ECTS, aligned with the Bologna framework. ECTS credits are widely understood across Europe and by employers internationally. Hochschule Fresenius (to which AMD belongs) is state-recognised, and the Interior Design/Innenarchitektur degree is accredited until 2032 through the university’s internal system. This combination signals academic quality and institutional oversight—important for visa, further study and employment decisions.
The programme is also listed by the architectural chambers in Hamburg, Hesse and Bavaria as eligible towards registration under certain conditions. For formal registration as Innenarchitektin or Innenarchitekt (interior architect) in Germany, you typically need this 7-semester Bachelor, a consecutive 3-semester Master in the same field, plus at least two years of post-graduate professional practice. Registration is always decided case by case by the respective chamber; the Bachelor alone is not sufficient for licensure.
Career paths include:
- Interior design studios and architecture practices (residential, office, hospitality, retail)
- Exhibition and event architecture, trade fair and brand spaces
- Furniture and product development, lighting and materials consulting
- Project management and client services in the building and fit-out industry
- In-house roles in real estate, workplace strategy or retail design
Entry-level salaries in Germany vary by city and firm size; Munich typically pays slightly more but has higher living costs. As your portfolio, software skills and site experience grow, responsibilities and pay generally increase.
Who is the Interior Design (B.A.) right for – and who not?
This degree suits people who want to design interiors with a balance of creativity and technical feasibility. You should enjoy studio work, iterative feedback and presenting your ideas, and be ready for a practice semester and intensive project phases.
- You already speak and study comfortably in German and want a studio-centred, practice-oriented education.
- You aim to build a strong portfolio through real-world projects, a full-semester internship and public exhibitions.
- You like combining concept, drawing and digital tools with materials knowledge, sustainability and basic construction economics.
- You plan a longer educational path towards chamber registration (Bachelor + Master + practice) or a design career in agencies and firms.
There are also clear cases where this programme is not a fit. Read these carefully before you apply from abroad.
- You need an English-taught programme. All teaching, critiques and exams here are in German.
- You cannot relocate for on-campus, full-time study in Hamburg or Munich. This is not a distance or hybrid degree.
- You expect tuition similar to a German public university. As a private provider, AMD charges higher tuition to fund small studios and equipment.
- You seek direct access to a regulated interior architect licence after the Bachelor. In Germany you will typically need a related Master and two years of practice before you can apply for registration.
Lade…
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Interior Architecture? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution AMD Akademie Mode & Design or the editorial team will answer you.
Hi Mara.
Currently, we don't have any info on short courses or workshops outside of AMD's degree programmes or their so-called "Taster Lectures" - the latter have an approximate duration of merely 90 minutes to 3 hours and take place on campus, and are directed at prospective international students.
The next-shortest actual courses in this regard are the "Masterclasses" offered by Hochschule Fresenius directly, such as "Specialist in Circular Design" or "Design Thinking". They range from 20h to 125h duration in a distance learning format. However, the language of instruction is predominantly German; they are therefore not designed exclusively for, nor directed specifically at, international students.
Good afternoon. We are Sundial Tours, travel agency from Taipei Taiwan.
廖藝菲 Sofi Liao 產品線控經理 Product Manager
電話TEL：+ 886-2-29511771 / 傳真FAX：+ 886-2-29511773
地址ADD：220363 新北市板橋區三民路二段37號21樓之1
21F.-1, No. 37, Sec. 2, Sanmin Rd., Banqiao Dist., New Taipei City
For specific and individual offers, like a 2–3 day course or workshop, I recommend contacting AMD Akademie Mode & Design directly, as they can tell you if anything like this is available or if a tailor-made program can be organised for your group.
Here are the contact details for AMD Akademie Mode & Design: