VIA Design, Technology & Business 

Titel: Academy Professions (AP) Degree in Design, Technology & Business 

Duration of the programme: 2 years (120 ECTS). Full time course of study 

Programme start: Early September 

Study location: Herning - Read more about Campus Herning 

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

See average grades and statistics of VIAs programmes (only in Danish) 

Please note: After the AP-degree you can continue your education at our top-up bachelor programme in Design & Business.

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.

Requirements for Danish applicants

Danish applicants need an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate (STX, HF, HHX, HTX, EUX) with mathematics or economics at intermediate level C (the levels referred to on this page refer to Danish levels).

You must have passed mathematics C or economics C with a minimum mark of 02. Furthermore, you must have passed English B with a minimum mark of 3.

Requirements for International applicants

To be eligible to apply for the international AP degree programme, you need to have completed one course from the list below. 

• General upper secondary education 
• International or European Baccalaureate 
• High school in the USA/Canada
• At least two years of relevant studies from universities in Africa, India, Pakistan and countries with a similar educational system 
• Students who have completed the first year of a bachelor's degree can also apply, but will need individual assessment. 

All applicants are required to have obtained mathematics or economics results corresponding to a Danish Level C. (min. 125 hours, 1 hour = 60 minutes during the final three years in upper secondary school). Use the verification form for this. The grades from the applicant’s High School Diploma will be converted into Danish grades. 

All applicants will have to document English equivalent to a Danish B-level with a minimum average weighted grade score of 3,0 (min. 210 hours, 1 hour = 60 minutes during the final three years in upper secondary school). Use the verification form for this. The grades from the applicant’s High School Diploma will be converted into Danish grades.

Please note: In cases where applicants cannot meet the Danish B-level requirement or grade conversion is not possible, the applicant may provide other documentation. Please find an overview of accepted language test certificates and test scores on our page for VIA Language Assessment Centre.

You may also choose to sit VIA University College's English Language Assessment Test (VIAT/e), but you need to be present on Campus. Read more about the VIALAC test.

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)

You can visit the website of the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science to find help or to have your qualification evaluated by the Ministry before applying.

Language requirements

As documentation we accept the following internationally recognized language tests and minimum test score:

Please be aware that your test scores are only valid for 2 years after the test date.

If you are an international student who does not meet the required language skills, you may also choose to sit for VIA University College's English Language Assessment Test (VIAT/e):

• Find further information about VIAT/e

Applicants who are native speakers or have proof of secondary school education from the UK, Australia, the USA, Canada or New Zealand are exempt from the English language admission requirements.

Applicants with an IB (International Baccalaureate) exam do not need to be tested in English for the English speaking study programmes.

Applicants from Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland do not need to be tested if they fulfil the levels in English and Mathematic. Their high school diploma will be converted to Danish grade levels and they will then be assessed and admitted according to the requirements for Danish applicants.

Admission assignment

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

Skype Interview

When you have successfully applied through www.optagelse.dk, and if you fulfil the formal entrance requirements of the programme, you may receive an invitation for a Skype interview with one of our lecturers. 

The Skype interviews will take place in May and June.

You apply for admission online at optagelse.dk

Online enrolment opens 1 February every year. 

Please find more information and admission assignments here: 

• Non-Danish applicants 
• Danish applicants

Applicants from countries outside the EU membership are required to pay an application fee of 100 EUR.

 Tuition is free if you are:

• A citizen of Denmark
• A citizen of a country that is a full member of the EU.
• A citizen of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein (EEA countries) or Switzerland.
• A refugee/immigrant living in Denmark with a permanent residence permit issued in Denmark.
• A student on an exchange programme as part of a bilateral agreement with VIA University College
• A citizen who is granted a residence permit under §9c, paragraph 1 of the Aliens Act as the accompanying child of a non-Dane with a residency permit issued under section 9a of the Aliens Act

All other students (primarily from outside the EU) are obliged to pay tuition fees. Open the below pdf to learn more

Payment schedule and Terms of Payment (pdf)

Find more information about fees and finances

Application fee 

Application is free if you are from a country that is member of the EU. Applicants from all other countries are required to pay an application fee of 100 euro. The application fee must be paid in full when applying for the programme. The processing of the application starts only after the payment of the fee.

Learn more about the application fee and how to pay 

Scholarship 

Each year the Danish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education gives a limited number of scholarships to highly qualified students from countries outside the EU and the EEA. 

• Find further information and the application form

Contact 

Contact us for further information:
E: design.int@via.dk

During the third semester, you will get the chance to try out your skills in an internship at a company 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

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.

Read more about VIAs bilateral agreements

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)

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 Hansen
Student counsellor

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

VIA Design, Technology & Business
Birk Centerpark 5
DK-7400 Herning 

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

• Find us on Google Maps 
• Read more about Campus Herning