Design, Technology and Business

About the Design, Technology and Business study programme

• Structure and content

  • Language: The programme is taught in English 
  • Curriculum: See the curriculum
  • Executive order: See the executive order (only in Danish)
  • See the study activity model
  • Please note: After the AP-degree you can continue your education at our top-up bachelor programme in Design & Business.
  • See surveys and legal documents
  • What is a professional Bachelor's degree?

  The programme spreads over 4 semesters, which is two years. You can choose between these specialties:

  • Fashion Design
  • Branding and Marketing Management

  All are focused on the fashion and lifestyle branch. 

  The programme is organised so you get a broad understanding of the whole fashion and lifestyle branch as well as a profound knowledge of your chosen speciality. 

  Common core programme

  During the first semester, all AP undergraduates follow the same common core programme centred on design, business and knowledge of materials. You develop a deeper understanding of all aspects of the design and business branch. 

  Every semester concludes with an oral or written examination. 

  Focus on your speciality

  After the first semester, you will focus on your chosen speciality. You will also get the opportunity to improve your skills through elective subjects of your own interest. 

  Internship period

  During the third semester, all students will have a compulsory 9-week internship in a private company of your own choice. As an intern in a real company, you will get valuable knowledge of how different professions are interrelated. Numerous students choose to do their internship outside Denmark with one of our many co-operative partners. 

  Final assignment

  You will finish your AP degree with a written assignment followed by an oral examination. The assignment will be based on a formulation of a problem made by the student in collaboration with a company. 

  After graduation, you have the skills to get a job in the fashion and lifestyle branch, or you can continue your studies with a BA top-up programme.

• Enrolment

  Admission requirements

  • Upper secondary school leaving certificate/high school exam or
  • The International and the European Baccalaureates or
  • Danish Admission course for Engineering programmes

  Specific admission requirements

  In addition to the admission requirements, all applicants must also meet the following specific admission requirements:

  • Mathematics equivalent to a Danish C-level (min. 125 hours*)
  • and English equivalent to a Danish B-level (min. 210 hours*) or a Danish C-level (min 75 hours*)  AND a valid English test (see list here) 

  *1 hour = 60 minutes. Study hours during the final three years in upper secondary school.
  
  All of the above subjects must be passed with a minimum average of 2.0 on the Danish grading scale.
  
  Non-Danish applicants must include a copy of the original exam certificate and a transcript of records plus a state-authorised translation of their transcript of records in either Danish or English.

  English proficiency certificates

  All study programmes taught in English have requirements for English proficiency. Go here to find English proficiency requirements and how to document these.

  Admissions levels 

  See last year’s admissions levels via UddannelsesGuiden.dk under the tab "Professionshøjskolen VIA University College" (only in Danish).

  Admission with special permission

  If you do not fulfil the entry requirements but have other professional qualifications that can be equated to the missing entry requirements, you can apply for admission with special permission. Read more here. 

  Verification form

  Applicants who hold a non-Danish entry qualification must fill in the verification form in order to verify the hours of instruction of every needed subject during the final three years of upper secondary school as well as last received grade. 
  
  This helps us convert your qualifications to Danish levels. The verification form must be stamped and signed by your previous school in order to be accepted. The form must be submitted with your application at optagelse.dk.
  
  Download Verification form (pdf)

  Admissions assignment

  When you apply, you are required to do an admissions assignment for each of the specialties you wish to apply for. You can read more about the admission assignment under “How to Apply”

  Assessment of your application

  When you have successfully applied through optagelse.dk, and if you fulfil the formal enrolment requirements of the programme, you may receive an invitation for an online interview with one of our lecturers. The online interviews will take place in May and June.

  NB: We reserve the right not to create classes in the event of too few applicants.

  Appeal – due to legal matters

  You may appeal the decision when the appeal concerns legal matters. The deadline for appealing due to legal matters is 2 weeks from the day that the decision was informed.

  This means that you can appeal if you believe that the decision is in violation of applicable law – it could, for example, be due to, lack of justification or interpretation of the legislations. Academic assessments and specific judgements cannot be appealed

  If you still believe that the decision is in violation of applicable legislation you may send your appeal to VIA University College apply@via.dk no later than 2 weeks after the decision is informed. If the case is not reopened VIA will forward the entire case to the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science. 

• How to apply

  Apply online through optagelse.dk. The application portal opens on 1 February every year.

  How to apply:

  Step 1 – find step-by-step guides here:

  EU applicants

  Non-EU applicants

  Danish applicants

  Step 2 – Admissions assignment

  • The information regarding admissions assignment will be sent to you by email in week 12
  • The Admissions assignment is available in WISEflow from 25 March and deadline for handing in is no later than 8 April at 12 noon
  • All examination papers from summer examinations (upper secondary school certificate) must be uploaded at optagelse.dk as soon as possible and no later than 5 July at 12 noon. 

  The area code for the programme is 73115

  Area Code Name: AP Graduate in Design, Technology and Business

  VIA Design reserves the right, however, not to set up speciality for which the number of applicants is too low.

  When applying for the AP Degree in Design, Technology and Business programme you need to make an admissions assignment to be eligible to be accepted.

  The admissions assignment must be solved online through WISEflow which is a digital system for handing in assignments.

  You will receive more information about the admissions assignment in week 12.

  Below you can see the examples of previous admissions assignments:

  • Branding & Marketing Management (pdf)

  • Fashion Design (pdf)

  Application deadlines

  The application portal opens on 1 February every year.

  Deadline for international applicants is 15 March at 12 noon. Find deadlines for Danish applicants here.

  Available study places

  Any available study places will be published on 28 July here.

• Fees and finances

  Whether you need to pay tuition fee or not depends on several criteria. For further information, go to the Tuition Fees page.

  Payment schedule and Terms of Payment for Design, Technology and Business (pdf)

  Terms and agreements

  Terms and agreements between partners and VIA University College can be seen in the different contracts under:

  Code of Conduct (pdf)

  Living Costs

  You should expect average monthly living costs between DKK 5000 and 7000 (roughly 650 - 900 EUR), including accommodation.

  Financial support

  Danish students can apply for SU. The bachelor's degree programme is approved for SU for the official duration of the programme. Foreign students are not eligible for the Danish educational support scheme (SU). Some exceptions are made for refugees and relatives of refugees and other foreign citizens. EU citizens may be eligible for SU, if they have a contract for 10-12 work hours per week. More information about SU for foreign students.

  Scholarships

  Each year, VIA awards a limited number of scholarships to highly qualified students from countries outside the EU and the EEA. The scholarship can be applied for by all current, international, and tuition-fee-paying students who have completed the first year of studies at VIA (2 semesters). This means that first year students cannot apply for a scholarship. A maximum of two full semesters can be awarded during studies at VIA.

• Internship

  During the third semester, you will get the chance to try out your skills in an internship at a company preferably in Denmark of your own choice. 

  Your internship can take its starting point in your speciality and involve the various disciplines in the company. 

  The purpose of the internship is to give you a basic insight into the work processes of creative companies, so you can understand the importance of close co-operation between the various functions. You will also learn to work in interdisciplinary teams. 

  After the internship, you must hand in a written assignment followed by an oral examination. 

  The list below gives you examples of companies that welcome interns from Design, Technology & Business: 

  • Barbara I Gongini 
  • Bestseller A/S 
  • Baum Und Pferdgarten 
  • Designers Remix Collection A/S 
  • Lolly's Laundry 
  • Nelly.com 
  • ScanZa – Zanzibar 
  • This Way – Shanghai 
  • Toonari News & Media 
  • Won Hundred ApS

• International opportunities

  At VIA, we want to ensure that all students have an international element in their studies, either by doing an exchange or internship abroad or by participating in international activities at home. See examples of how students obtained international elements here, or read more about internationalisation at VIA in general here.

  Working relationships have been established with a number of universities and educational around the world, and more are being added. This enables our students to improve their skills outside Denmark during or after completion of their study programmes. 

  Working relationships have been established with a number of universities and educational establishments around the world, and more are being added. This enables our students to improve their skills outside Denmark during or after completion of their study programmes.

  Exchange – studying outside Denmark

  China, the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland – you can study anywhere you like. The fashion and lifestyle sector is a global industry, so studying outside Denmark is a natural part of your education and will not prolong your studies. 

  During your time of study, you have the opportunity to go abroad as an exchange student. This is possible during your 3rd semester. The duration of a study period outside Denmark is normally one semester – corresponding to 3-5 months.

  If you want to learn more about your international opportunities, contact the international coordinator at your programme.

  Internship outside Denmark

  Why not do your mandatory internship outside of Denmark? This will give you the chance to get to know a culture and way of living that is different from your own. You will gain linguistic and intercultural skills that may be useful in your future career. You will also get the chance to extend your network at an early stage of your career – and a good network will probably be very useful to you later on. 

  The duration of a internship period is 9-12 weeks

  New York City, India, China, Thailand, Canada – the world is your oyster. Please ask the student counselling service for advice. The internship can be done at companies and research centres in the private or public sector. 

  Study trips

  During your studies you will be given the opportunity to go on study trips based on specific themes. 

  Whether the trips are in Denmark or other countries, the goal is to learn about companies within the fashion or lifestyle sector. This will provide you with experience and knowledge useful in your future career.

  BA top-up degrees and MA degrees abroad

  With an AP degree or a Bachelor's degree from VIA Design, you have the opportunity to continue your education abroad. We have agreements with universities in various countries. You must observe the procedures of the university at which you wish to enrol. 

  Please feel free to contact the International department if you need any help.

  More information

  • Visit the websites of our partner universities for more information about your options (pdf)

• Contact

  If you have any questions about our study programmes or just need to confirm your choice of education, our student counsellors are always at your service. 

  The student counsellor can help you with: 

  • Questions about VIA's study programmes at VIA Design, admission requirements, selection criteria and admission procedures 
  • Guidance about how you qualify yourself for admission or perhaps suggestions for other study opportunities if you are rejected/not admitted 
  • Accommodation and living costs in Herning 

  Anne Louise Degn Stagstrup
  Student counsellor

  T: +45 87 55 05 48
  E: design.info@via.dk

  You are also welcome to contact us if you have any general questions about VIA

  Herning

  VIA Design & Business
  Birk Centerpark 5
  DK-7400 Herning 

  T: + 45 87 55 05 00
  E: herning@via.dk 

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