Portfolio Assessment
General Information
In order to be admitted to the degree programme Information and Communication Design, candidates need to pass an aptitude test regarding their artistic/creative capability, as well as presenting corresponding university entrance qualifications. The aptitude test is necessary to ensure that candidates are capable of studying a creative subject.
Please note that you can only be admitted to the Information and Communication Design degree programme if you have first successfully participated in the aptitude test (portfolio assessment) AND then applied in the applicant portal. Please note that apart from registering and passing the aptitude test, an online application is mandatory. (See chapter 6 for details).
The aptitude test consists of the following steps:
- You first register on our website.
- You will receive a confirmation by email including your personal application ID, an upload link as well as other important information.
- You upload your application documents (filled application form, CV and portfolio) using the upload link provided.
1. Contacts
Questions related to the degree programme and portfolio assessment:
portfolio-ICD@hsrw.eu
For all other questions, please contact our Student Service Center:
contact form and FAQs.
Exchange students please contact our International Office.
international-office@hochschule-rhein-waal.de
How to apply? What qualifications do you need? Which degree programme will suit you best?
check here
2. Application Portfolio
In order to assess your artistic/creative capability, we need to see some examples of your work. Please submit a portfolio with 10 creative examples. They should give an impression of you and your interests. This is why we want you to decide for yourself which topic you would like to focus on and which presentation techniques you would like to use. The main objective is to visualise your interest in design and your creative talent. Your work should convey what you are trying to say without the need for any additional explanation.
Most of all we are interested in creativity and richness of ideas. Your work can scarcely be too daring or too unconventional. We are going to assess your concepts and ideas rather than the perfection of your techniques – the later are subject to your studies.
The submitted work will be assessed according to the following criteria: power of observation, imagination and presentation skills. We recommend that you do not submit factual drawings featuring a lifelike reproduction of an object, as these do not reveal enough of you and your talent.
You may hand in paintings, drawings, texts, collages, photographs, films or photographs of 3D works. Any means of artistic representation is permitted. Simply use the methods that you like working with. The ability to draw is explicitly not a prerequisite for admission to the course - but if you can draw well, you may of course use your talent.
The works you submit do not have to be on the same topic.
3. Portfolio Advice
In order to get our feedback, you are welcome to submit your work in digital form by email attachment to portfolio-ICD@hsrw.eu. Please send your portfolio in one single PDF file of max 10 MB.
4. Submission Deadline
The deadline for portfolio examinations for winter semester 23/24 is Wednesday, June 5, 2024, midnight.
5. Information on Results
You will receive the results of your application by email shortly after your portfolio has been assessed. Experience has shown that mails are sometimes send to spam by mistake, so we would advice you to check your spam folder regularly.
6. Online Application Portal
Please also apply online using our online application portal. If you do not have a German entry qualification to higher education, please use uni-assist to start the enrolment process. Please note that the online application is mandatory.