Fashion and textiles are ideas in fabric form; they carry, perform and signify specific philosophies and attitudes to life, both reflecting and continually reinventing reality.
In the spirit of this creativity, while not forgetting the real-world aspects of work in the sector, this degree course trains specialists in fashion, costume and textile product design, teaching artistic skills and techniques from the initial idea all the way to realisation.
Your future career
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Fashion designers create collections, starting with samples and progressing via choice of colours and materials to the final, factory-ready product. They might work for a fashion house or textile businesses' sample and pattern workshops, or as freelancers advising theatrical, television or film wardrobe or props departments.
Costume designers create, curate and realise costumes and props for film, television, theatre, ballet and opera, and may work in a business supplying these.
Textile designers create fabrics with a wide variety of uses, for interiors, exteriors, fashion, art and architecture.
Course content and structure
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Fundamental courses in artistic theories and skills, preceding all three focal areas of this degree course and taken by all students together, provide a grounding in design techniques and specific methods. Workshops and labs give students the opportunity of hands-on learning about production techniques for each sub-discipline, and students are able to use them to realise assignments and projects.
Academic modules in the history of art, design and costumes and in communication theories and philosophy of culture supplement the acquisition of practical skills. Each module is part of one of four groups of modules: design, art, workshops/labs, and theory. The course structure gives you a varied degree, in the context of your chosen emphasis, which enables you to engage in interdisciplinary ways of working.
The seven-semester degree course concludes with the completion of a Bachelor thesis.
Your interests and skills
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You’ll need to have a flair for art, an eye for colour, fabrics and design, a creative streak and the ability to turn your ideas into reality.
Admission requirements
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Higher education entrance qualification and test of artistic aptitude
As well as having a school-leaving qualification that entitles you to enter higher education (the German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife or an equivalent), you’ll need to take a test of artistic aptitude (see below). In exceptional cases, we admit applicants without a higher education entrance qualification who have demonstrated outstanding talent.
Read more about the test of artistic aptitude: Application – Department of Design
Pre-course experience
We do not require you to have completed pre-course experience for this course.
International applicants
If you completed your schooling outside Germany and want to study here for a Bachelor’s degree, you need to hold an academic school-leaving qualification which entitles you to admission to higher education; that is, it needs to be comparable to a German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife. The organisation uni-assist will check your certificates from school and any degree-level studies to establish comparability.
You can find more information about HAW Hamburg’s application criteria at International applicants.
Application process
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Please note that applicants for this course are required to take a test of artistic aptitude which includes submission of a portfolio of your work. The test takes place each autumn. You can find details about the test and the registration deadlines on the Department of Design’s web page: Department of Design
You may only proceed to the formal application stage once you have passed the test of artistic aptitude. We only accept online applications. They can be submitted between 1 December and 15 January for a place in the following summer semester. This course does not have a winter semester intake. You can find the online application system (available only during the period specified above) here: Applying for a Bachelor's degree course
Applications from international applicants should also be submitted online during the application period.
We’ve prepared a step-by-step checklist to guide you through the process: International applicants
Questions about selecting a course, applications, admissions and degree courses
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Applications and admissions
Student Admissions and Registration Office (Studierendensekretariat)
Stiftstraße 69, 20099 Hamburg (ground floor)
T +49.40.428 75-9898
Contact us with your questions about applications and admissions
Drop-in hours: Monday/Tuesday: 11:00 am–1:00 pm; Thursday: 2:00–5:00 pm
Infothek opening hours: Monday–Thursday: 10:00 am–4:00 pm; Friday: 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Advice and information by phone: Monday/Tuesday: 9:00–10:00 am; Thursday: 9:00–11:00 am
Due to the restrictions resulting from the corona pandemic, drop-in office hours are not being offered at the moment. You can reach us by telephone during these times. The Infothek is closed until further notice.
For general queries on HAW Hamburg degree courses and course choice
Student Counselling Team (Zentrale Studienberatung)
Stiftstraße 69, 20099 Hamburg, rooms 121/122
T +49.40.428 75-9110
studienberatung(@)haw-hamburg.de
Advice and information by phone: Monday/Tuesday: 10:00 am–1:00 pm; Thursday: 1:00–5:00 pm
Contact person for applicants with disabilities or chronic health conditions
Meike Butenob
Alexanderstraße 1, 20099 Hamburg, room 4.10
T +49.40.428 75-7220
meike.butenob(@)haw-hamburg.de
Current office hours
Contact the department
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Specifically subject-related queries
Textile product design
Prof. Renata Brink
Armgartstraße 24, 22087 Hamburg
T +49.40.428 75-4687
renata.brink(@)haw-hamburg.de
Fashion design (for applicants and those interested in applying)
Prof. Kai Dünhölter
Armgartstraße 24, 22087 Hamburg
T +49.40.428 75-4659
kai.duenhoelter(@)haw-hamburg.de
Fashion design (for current students)
Prof. Peter Erich Seebacher
Armgartstraße 24, room A 206, 22087 Hamburg
T +49.40.428 75-4623
PeterErich.Seebacher(@)haw-hamburg.de
Costume design
Prof. Reinhard von der Thannen
Armgartstraße 24, room A 110, 22087 Hamburg
T +49.40.428 75-4685
reinhard.vonderthannen(@)haw-hamburg.de
Test of artistic aptitude
Dates for portfolio consultation sessions and the registration form for the test are published at www.design.haw-hamburg.de/bewerbung/bachelorstudium
You can contact our portfolio advisory team at
mappenberatung-design(@)haw-hamburg.de
