Fashion Design (BA) Full-time
Charakter Fresenius Hochschule · Berlin, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
Fashion Design (B.A.) at AMD Akademie Mode & Design helps you develop a unique artistic signature by building knowledge of fashion industry principles and combining theoretical and practical skills to implement your ideas.
Your programme combines practical, application-oriented learning with cultural and theoretical foundations, and it includes a mandatory internship semester to help you build industry connections early.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Learn the basic principles of design in fashion and begin the cultural history of fashion through Fashion Design I and Visual Communication I.
- Build foundational sustainability knowledge via Basic Principles of Sustainability plus hands-on practice in the Spring/Fall Academy.
- Develop technical and creative construction capabilities through Realization I, Technology and Realization I, and Creative Construction Systems I.
- Start major studio tracks via Lab I options such as Sustainability Lab I, Staging Lab I, Virtual Lab I, or Brand Strategy Lab I.
- Advance your fashion design skills with Fashion Design II, Fashion Design III, and Fashion Design IV.
- Strengthen theory and visual communication through Fashion Theory I and II and Visual Communication II.
- Expand production and digital design capability with Technology and Realization II and Digital Product Development.
- Continue lab specialisation through Sustainability Lab I, Staging Lab I, Virtual Lab I, or Brand Strategy Lab I alongside compulsory modules like Materials Competence in Fashion I and II, Product Management, and Cultural History of Design II and III.
- Complete the mandatory internship semester to gain full-time professional experience.
- Use the internship to apply design, technology, and management skills you developed in earlier semesters.
- Continue academy-based learning via Spring/Fall Academy (1 CP) alongside internship preparation and transition into industry.
- Return from your internship and deepen your design direction through Fashion Design V and major studio track work (including Virtual Lab II, Sustainability Lab I, Staging Lab I, or Brand Strategy Lab II).
- Develop final project readiness through modules such as Academic Methodology, Onboarding in Fashion Studies, and Bachelor Thesis Defense.
- Create and present your culminating work through modules including Exhibition/Documentation and Start-up (for the thesis and portfolio direction).
- Complete the Bachelor Thesis to conclude the programme.
Curriculum
Bachelor of Arts Fashion Design (B.A.) full-time follows a structured programme across 7 semesters with a mandatory internship and bachelor thesis; total ECTS are reflected by the official semester-by-semester ECTS table in the AMD incoming student course guide.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Practically relevant basics (Fashion School shared modules plus Fashion Design BA core modules) | Onboarding in Fashion Studies | 2 | 32 |
| Visual Communication I | 5 | |||
| Basic Principles of Design in Fashion | 5 | |||
| Cultural History of Design I | 5 | |||
| Creative Construction Systems I | 5 | |||
| Realization I | 5 | |||
| Fashion Design I | 5 | |||
| Semester 2 | Initial experience (Fashion School shared modules plus Fashion Design BA core modules) | Basic Principles of Sustainability | 1 | 31 |
| Visual Communication II | 5 | |||
| Materials Competence in Fashion I | 5 | |||
| Cultural History of Design II | 5 | |||
| Creative Construction Systems II | 5 | |||
| Realization II | 5 | |||
| Fashion Design II | 5 | |||
| Semester 3 | Deepen your knowledge (Fashion School shared modules plus Fashion Design BA core modules) | Spring // Fall Academy | 1 | 30 |
| Digital Product Development | 9 | |||
| Materials Competence in Fashion II | 5 | |||
| Technology and Realization I | 5 | |||
| Fashion Design III | 5 | |||
| Cultural History of Design III (Fashion Design) | 5 | |||
| Semester 4 | Orient yourself (Fashion School shared modules plus Fashion Design BA core modules) | Technology and Realization II | 5 | 21 |
| Product Management | 5 | |||
| Fashion Theory I | 5 | |||
| Fashion Design IV | 6 | |||
| Semester 5 | Internship preparation through practical labs and focus labs (Fashion School shared modules plus Fashion Design BA labs) | Virtual Lab I | 8 | 32 |
| Sustainability Lab I | 8 | |||
| Staging Lab I | 8 | |||
| Brand Strategy Lab I | 8 | |||
| Semester 6 | Final spurt (Fashion School labs plus Fashion Design BA final-semester modules) | Fashion Theory II | ||
| Virtual Lab II | ||||
| Sustainability Lab II | ||||
| Staging Lab II | ||||
| Brand Strategy Lab II | ||||
| Fashion Design V | ||||
| Start-up | ||||
| Materials Laboratory | ||||
| Semester 7 | Conclusion and Academic Methodology leading to final thesis phase | Academic Methodology | 7 | 7 |
| Total | Total credits as reflected by the official semester-by-semester ECTS table in the AMD incoming student course guide for Fashion School (Fashion Design B.A.) | |||
Career outcomes
- You graduate with a practice-oriented Fashion Design (B.A.) that supports direct entry into fashion design and studio roles such as Fashion designer and Assistant designer.
- You build job-relevant technical and product skills for roles like Garment technologist, Product management, and merchandise-related functions in fashion brands.
- You strengthen commercial and customer-facing capability for positions such as Fashion buyer, Retail manager, Marketing manager, and Sales manager.
- Your programme supports multiple career paths, including styling, trend research, fashion illustration, and sourcing roles where creative plus structured thinking matters.
- The mandatory internship semester helps you translate your collection work into real workplace experience and improves your readiness for professional fashion industry processes.
- You can use studio labs and sustainability-focused options to develop a clear specialisation, helping you present a focused profile to employers.
Employability rate
Fashion design and related design graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 78% and an unemployment rate of about 22%, reflecting steady demand with competition for entry-level creative positions.
Together, these figures suggest a reasonable and stable outlook when you leverage the internship experience and build a portfolio-based profile during your studies.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| University entrance qualification (international school-leaving qualification or equivalent) | For a Bachelor’s program at AMD, international applicants need a university entrance qualification that is valid for a study program in Hesse. This can be an international school-leaving degree, a university qualification examination (Feststellungsprüfung/Studienkolleg), or an AMD entrance examination if your qualification does not meet German entrance requirements. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Art | Direct match | Applicants should show prior exposure to creative and design work that supports fashion design study. |
| Design & Architecture | Direct match | Applicants with backgrounds in design, illustration, visualization, or related creative disciplines are generally well-aligned with this program. |
Language requirements
For this English-language Bachelor’s program, international applicants must prove English language skills at Level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference).
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 4920 / per year | DAAD listing shows tuition fees per semester: 4,920 EUR for non-EU students (4,500 EUR for EU students). For international non-EU applicants, you should budget for 4,920 EUR per semester. Amount shown here is an annualized figure derived from the official per-semester tuition. |
| Semester fee | EUR 16 / per semester | Approx. 16 EUR semester contribution (DAAD listing). |
| Application fee | EUR 0 / one time | No separate application fee amount is published on the official programme page that was used for this structured page. |
| Admin fee | EUR 595 / one time | 595 EUR one-time registration fee (DAAD listing). |
Proof of financial resources
You must be able to cover tuition and living costs while studying in Germany. Plan for the published tuition fees and other study-related contributions, and be ready to provide proof of sufficient funds during the visa process.
- Published tuition and one-time registration fee for the program (see feesStructured on your CMS page).
- Proof of sufficient funds for your stay in Germany is required for visa/entry procedures and is typically based on the German authorities’ guidance for international students.
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | January 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | December 31, 2026 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A |
| Semester begins | October 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Start your online application
International applicants should submit an online application form and select the Fashion Design (B.A.) full-time program. The AMD admissions team then provides login information to upload your application documents. AMD states that there is no application deadline and you can apply all year round. After you submit, you move into the selection process.
Upload required documents in the upload area
After online application, upload proof that you meet the admission requirements and the other required documents in the upload area. This includes documents for university entrance qualification and English language proof at Level B2. If your school leaving qualification does not automatically meet German entrance requirements, you may be required to take an AMD entrance examination as described by AMD. Submit your documents before AMD makes its admissions decision.
Complete the admissions selection step
AMD invites applicants to a selection process as part of admission. For bachelor’s programs, AMD emphasizes that motivation and personal suitability are important for admission, not only academic grades. If your situation requires the AMD entrance examination, AMD describes it as a written online test plus an oral test. Follow the instructions provided by the admissions team after you apply.
Receive feedback and finalize enrollment
After the selection/admissions decision, you will receive personal feedback. If you are admitted, AMD sends you a study contract that must be returned within 14 days. Your studies start with kick-off weeks at your chosen campus location. Make sure you act quickly after receiving the contract.