Modedesign / Kostümdesign / Textildesign
HAW Hamburg · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
Modedesign / Kostümdesign / Textildesign (B.A.) at HAW Hamburg trains you step by step into an independent design personality, with a shared artistic foundation and hands-on work in workshops and labs from initial concept to prototype. The curriculum supports both individual creative development and professional design methods across fashion, costume, and textile design.
For admission, international applicants must meet the university’s entry requirements and complete a mandatory artistic admission test for these design bachelor programs, which includes a portfolio submission and an additional practical component as described in the official admission regulations. HAW Hamburg also publishes specific application requirements and deadlines for international applicants.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Künstlerische Grundlagen 1 (Zeichnen 1) with CP 5
- Künstlerische Grundlagen 2 (Malerei 1) with CP 5
- Labor-Basiskurs 1 (Bindungslehre 1) with CP 5
- Labor-Basiskurs 2 (Textildruck 1) with CP 5
- Theoretische Grundlagen 1 (Kunst- und Modegeschichte 1) with CP 4
- Design-Basiskurs 1 (Textildesign 1) with CP 10
- CAD-Darstellung MoKoTex (CAD-Darstellung) with CP 5
- Labor MoKoTex (Laborkurs Mo, Ko oder Tex 1) with CP 5
- Textiltechnik MoKoTex (Textiltechnik) with CP 4
- Designkonzeption Textil A 1 with CP 6
- Designentwicklung Textil B 1 with CP 10
- Kunstkurs 1 with CP 5
- Theoriereihe und Studienarbeit (Theoriereihe) with CP 6
- Kunst Kunstkurs 3 with CP 5
- Labor MoKoTex (Laborkurs 5) with CP 5
- Wissenschaftliche Methoden (Wissenschaftliche Methoden) with CP 4
- Abschlussmodul [Studienabschlusspräsentation] with CP 1
- Praktisches Bachelorprojekt with CP 22
- Schriftliche Bachelorarbeit with CP 6
Curriculum
HAW Hamburg Bachelorstudiengang Modedesign / Kostümdesign / Textildesign (B.A.), Stand 17.01.2024. Credit points (CP) are the programme’s ECTS-equivalent unit in the Modulhandbuch tables.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Basisjahr: Module in Semester 1 | Künstlerische Grundlagen 1 (Zeichnen 1) | 5 | 26 |
| Künstlerische Grundlagen 2 (Malerei 1) | 5 | |||
| Labor-Basiskurs 1 (Schnittgestaltung 1) | 5 | |||
| Labor-Basiskurs 2 (Fertigungstechnik 1) | 5 | |||
| Theoretische Grundlagen 1 (Kunst- und Modegeschichte 1) | 4 | |||
| Design-Basiskurs 1 (Modedesign 1 / Kostümdesign 1 / Textildesign 1) | 2 | |||
| Semester 2 | Basisjahr: Module in Semester 2 | Künstlerische Grundlagen 3 (Zeichnen 2) | 5 | 26 |
| Künstlerische Grundlagen 4 (Malerei 2) | 5 | |||
| Labor-Basiskurs 3 (Schnittgestaltung 2) | 5 | |||
| Labor-Basiskurs 4 (Fertigungstechnik 2) | 5 | |||
| Theoretische Grundlagen 2 (Kunst- und Modegeschichte 2) | 4 | |||
| Design-Basiskurs 2 (Modedesign 2 / Kostümdesign 2 / Textildesign 2) | 2 | |||
| Semester 3 | Hauptstudium: Module in Semester 3 | CAD-Darstellung MoKoTex | 5 | 30 |
| Labor (Laborkurs Mo, Ko oder Tex 1) | 5 | |||
| Textiltechnik MoKoTex | 4 | |||
| Designkonzeption (Mode A 1 / Kostüm A 1 / Textil A 1) | 6 | |||
| Designentwicklung (Mode B 1 / Kostüm B 1 / Textil B 1) | 10 | |||
| Semester 4 | Hauptstudium: Modules in Semester 4 | Kunst (Kunstkurs 1) | 5 | 32 |
| Labor (Laborkurs 2 Mo, Ko oder Tex) | 5 | |||
| Theoriereihe und Studienarbeit (Theoriereihe in Semester 4 plus Studienarbeit) | 6 | |||
| Designkonzeption (Mode A 2 / Kostüm A 2 / Textil A 2) | 6 | |||
| Designentwicklung (Mode B 2 / Kostüm B 2 / Textil B 2) | 10 | |||
| Semester 5 | Hauptstudium: Modules in Semester 5 | Kunst (Kunstkurs 2) | 5 | 30 |
| Labor (MoKoTex Laborkurs 3) | 5 | |||
| Theorie (Theoriekurs 1 in Semester 3 for Dramaturgie Ko / Theoriekurs Mo, Tex Sem 3) | 4 | |||
| Designkonzeption (Mode A 3 / Kostüm A 3 / Textil A 3) | 6 | |||
| Designentwicklung (Mode B 3 / Kostüm B 3 / Textil B 3) | 10 | |||
| Semester 6 | Hauptstudium: Modules in Semester 6 | Kunst (Kunstkurs 3) | 5 | 30 |
| Labor (MoKoTex Laborkurs 4) | 5 | |||
| Theorie (Theoriekurs 2) | 4 | |||
| Designkonzeption (MoKoTex Mode A 4 / Kostüm A 4 / Textil A 4) | 6 | |||
| Designentwicklung (MoKoTex Mode B 4 / Kostüm B 4 / Textil B 4) | 10 | |||
| Semester 7 | Hauptstudium: Modules in Semester 7 | Labor (MoKoTex Laborkurs 5) | 5 | 28 |
| Wissenschaftliche Methoden | 4 | |||
| Abschlussmodul [Studienabschlusspräsentation] plus Praktisches Bachelorprojekt plus Schriftliche Bachelorarbeit | 1 | |||
| [Praktisches Bachelorprojekt] Ko (Praxisanteil) | 12 | |||
| [Schriftliche Bachelorarbeit] BA | 6 | |||
| Total | Gesamt (Basisjahr, Hauptstudium und Abschlussmodule) gemäß Modulplan | 210 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You graduate with portfolio-focused design and production competencies developed through repeated project work and studio/lab practice in the MoKoTex modules, helping you become employable for fashion, costume, and textile design roles.
- You build hands-on capability in key manufacturing and textile processes such as cutting/pattern and textile production topics, which supports careers in atelier-based production, product development, and creative production teams.
- You gain CAD-related workflow experience through the MoKoTex CAD-Darstellung module, giving you practical tools that are increasingly expected in design studios and industry collaborations.
- You develop a structured, industry-ready approach to design development through designkonzeption and designentwicklung modules, preparing you to present concepts, iterate prototypes, and manage creative development steps.
- You strengthen job readiness via the Practical Bachelorproject (ko) and the final thesis phase, so you finish with a tangible body of work suitable for applications in design professions.
- You can position yourself for roles connected to theatre, film, and media costume design as well as fashion and textile-oriented product design, because the bachelor is explicitly built around these design directions.
Employability rate
Design graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 82% and an unemployment rate of about 18%, reflecting steady demand alongside competitive entry-level markets.
Together, these figures mean you can expect a reasonable and stable outlook if you leverage your portfolio, project experience, and practical studio/lab training.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Academic school-leaving qualification (foreign qualification) | International applicants who completed their schooling outside Germany must hold an academic school-leaving qualification that entitles them to admission to higher education in their country and is comparable to a German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife. The university states that uni-assist checks certificates for comparability. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Design & Fashion / Textile-related education or portfolio work | Portfolio-based assessment | This programme requires an artistic aptitude test before the online study application. |
Language requirements
For international applicants, you must prove sufficient German language skills to study in this programme. The required level is C1.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Semester fee | EUR 397 / per semester | Semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) for winter semester 2026/27: 397.00 EUR. |
Proof of financial resources
International students must be able to cover their living costs while studying in Germany. For visa/residence purposes, you should prepare the financial proof documents described in the official German guidance for study visas.
- Blocked account amount and documentation requirements as described in official German guidance for student visas/residence permits
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | December 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | January 15, 2027 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | April - Summer 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
Complete the artistic aptitude test first
For this design programme, you must take an artistic aptitude test before you can apply online for a place. The university states that applicants for the Design study programmes (including Modedesign) must complete this aptitude test in October and November. You will submit a portfolio or folder as part of this process. Only after you have passed the test can you apply in the official online application period.
Apply during the official online application window
After passing the artistic aptitude test, you can submit your online application during the published study-application period for the relevant semester. The university states that the online application period for the Summer semester is from 1 December to 15 January. International applicants apply online in the same timeframe. Make sure your application is complete and aligned with the programme requirements.
Submit your required documents as requested
Prepare your foreign school-leaving qualification documents for admission assessment, and include the German language proof at the required level. The university states that comparability of foreign certificates is checked by uni-assist. Follow the instructions in the international applicant checklist used for the online application. Submit documents within the application and document deadlines published for the intake.