Bachelor’s degree programme Produktdesign (Product Design) – B.A.

Standard duration of programme	Deadline for application	Application
8 Semesters	31 March each year	How to apply

The design criteria have an aesthetic, semantic, symbolic, stylish, technical and material-related character. The design pieces are generally developed and created through research, conceptual consideration, free sensual investigation, sketches, experiments, material testing, digital design tools, presentations, models and patterns.

In addition to the product‘s aesthetics, understandability, necessity and attractiveness, product designers are also expected to consider related issues, e.g. sensible production methods, energy efficiency and resource conservation, and offer possible solutions.

Electronic technologies, in particular, which are firmly anchored in product design and manufacturing, require cooperative working methods and individuals who can reach a compromise without diminishing the quality of the final product. Product distribution, media-driven marketing activities, integration of products in material cycles and consumer behaviour are all fundamental components of design. The field of design must also respond to problems that the academic concept of art fails to resolve.

This pragmatic focus requires students to search, reflect, experiment, discuss and collaborate.

Following the prescribed duration of study of eight semesters, students obtain the »Bachelor of Arts« degree, the first-level certificate of professional qualification.

Application for the aptitude test in the undergraduate degree programme Product Design

The application for all degree programmes of the Faculty of Art and Design at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is exclusively conducted digitally via the Bauhaus.CampusPortal. Please register for the aptitude test – new from 5 February – by 31 March at the best. The homework will be published at the beginning of April. Please upload your application, including all required documents and the completed homework assignment, by 30 April.

The aptitude test for the degree programme is divided into three parts:

Registration for participation in the aptitude test. We will send you a homework assignment with dates and details of the examination procedure at the beginning of April.
Upload of the homework solution, motivation letter explaining the desire to study in the degree programme on around one A4 page, your curriculum vitae with details of your education, previous knowledge if applicable and the most recently obtained school certificate as proof of the general higher education entrance qualification
practical examination, personal interview and presentation of up to 10 original design work samples which you please bring to the interview.

The aptitude test committee of the degree programme makes a preselection after reviewing the solution of the homework. Those who make it to the shortlist will be invited to the further aptitude test and take part in a personal interview, to which please bring up to 10 original design works. Further details on the aptitude test are regulated by the aptitude test regulations (Accessible document) (only available in German language).

Language requirements:
Please note that passing the aptitude test does not mean automatic admission to the degree programme. Please submit a current proof of language proficiency with your application documents, which shows that you will reach the required language level by the time of your matriculation at the latest.
Lessons are taught in German. You must provide proof of German language proficiency with one of the following or equivalent certificates:

DSH-2 (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang)
Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache - DaF (mininum 4xTDN 4)

Prerequisite for International Students are German language skills at the level C 1 (DSH-2 or TestDAF TDN 4). If you have any questions relating to certification, please contact the colleagues at the Office of Student and Academic Affairs: studium[at]uni-weimar.de

For further information visit the website of the Language Centre.

After Graduation: What’s Next?

The professional world is changing rapidly, and some career prospects that are relevant today did not exist just a few years ago – and new fields of activity are constantly emerging. The Product Design degree programme provides a practical, future-oriented education through its interdisciplinary project teaching in the Weimar Model. In addition to design and technical knowledge, the programme promotes critical thinking, problem-solving skills and a holistic perspective.

Our graduates work in a wide variety of fields in business, research and culture, including

Industrial design and product development
Sustainable design
Ergonomic design and human-centred design
Interior design
Transportation and vehicle design
Employment or self-employment in the creative industries
Design consulting
Design and innovation management
Design for medical products
Design of digital products
Exhibition design
Project-related work in the public sector
Transformative design
Research and teaching

These examples give an insight into the diverse career prospects opened up by the degree programme. As the world of work is constantly evolving, new professional fields are constantly emerging that require design expertise. Depending on their individual interests and specialisations, our graduates have numerous other opportunities to work in design and research - even in areas that we can perhaps only imagine today.