Documents for your online application

The application form is part of the MoveON form you're required to fill out. Please pay attention to the following aspects:

• For an exchange semester in person, please select "Study" under "Types of Study"
• Apply using your full first and last name(s) (as listed in your official documents)
• Do not write your name or other information in all caps. Only the first letter should be in caps, the rest should be in lower case letters (e.g. Ronja Schneider, Marina Zielke, not RONJA SCHNEIDER, MARINA ZIELKE)
• Make sure you select the correct academic year and semester (a spring semester, for instance, is part o the academic year that has started the year before: if you'd like to apply for the spring 2024 semester, you need to select 2023/24 as your academic year)
• Please submit all supporting documents either in German or English
• If you're applying for the Design or Media Department, don't forget to hand in a portfolio of your work as well. Please send it to  incoming.int@h-da.de.

Our Online Application Guide walks you through the online application form. After submitting the form, changes on your end are no longer possible, so please make sure your data is correct and up to date. Thanks!

• Students from Europe (EU & EEA): Please upload a scan of your Europen Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Make sure that this is a European card, not a national one. Also: Please make sure your EHIC is valid for the entire duration of your exchange semester(s).
• Overseas students: If you're studying overseas, you don't need to present proof of health insurance coverage right now. We do need you to confirm (in writing) that you're aware that health insurance coverage is required and that without it you cannot enroll at h_da.
• Students from Turkey: Please ask your health insurance company to issue a so-called A/T11 document for you. They will know what it is immediately. If you don't have the document at hand when completing the application, please proceed like an overseas students (see Overseas students).

The Preliminary Course List document is one of the most important documents for your application. The document is meant to give our professors an idea about the classes you're interested in. Please be mindful of the following aspects:

• Write down the classes you're interested in. You can find a list of our English-taught classes here. On page 2 of the document you'll find directions on where to look for our German-taught classes.
• The Preliminary Course List does not reflect your final course selection nor does it count as your (Erasmus) Learning Agreement. (Erasmus students will hand in a (n Erasmus) Learning Agreement later, after being admitted for an exchange semester with us)
• The document has to be signed by someone at your home university, except if you're applying as a free-mover student
• Please use the h_da Preliminary Course List document provided by us only; documents other than that cannot be accepted

At h_da you can study in German or English. If you want to take English-taught classes only, an English language certificate is enough. If you'd like to study in German, we require a German language certificate (German language classes do not count as German-taught classes).

Please submit proof of your German or English skills. Make sure your certificate is no older than two years. If you'd like to take both English and German-taught classes, a certificate for both languages is required.

We typically expect our exchange stuents to have at least a B2 level of German or English according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). In some cases/for some departments, a (good) B1 level may be enough. Please also read the info listed here.

If German or English is your native language or the language of instruction at your home university, you may apply without a language certificate.

If you're applying for the Design or Media Department, please hand in a portfolio of your artwork. The portfolio should showcase your artistic interests and technical skills. Please send it as a link or a pdf file. We cannot accept GoogleDrive links. Some advice for your portfolio from our professors:

• Design: Your portfolio should include 5 to 7 design projects. Please provide a short description of each project/concept for the work samples presented in your portfolio. Use photos, sketches and screenshots to visually present your work samples. Your projects should be presented in a pdf file up to 20 MB. Make sure to also include a CV/resumé in the portfolio file. Your previous works will be evaluated taking into account artistic and design-specific criteria such as content and chosen form, complexity, originality and diversity.
• Expanded Media: In your portfolio, please include anything that demonstrates your artistic taste, voice, and vision in as little time as possible. This means that you should have been the driving creative force in the projects. Also, visual or audiovisual works make better use of the reviewer’s time, while longer texts might not be read properly. Send your portfolio as a pdf file including screenshots and links to your videos (hosted on YouTube or Vimeo). Please include 3 to 5 work samples.
• Motion Pictures: Please include samples of some of your works and projects, including a short description of the project/task. Make sure to also include the years the projects were created. Send your portfolio as a pdf file including the links to any videos or other media samples.

(If you're not applying for the Design or Media Departments, you're not required to hand in a portfolio.)