Media Design University of Applied Sciences (MD.H): Fees, Creative Programmes & Campuses Guide

MD.H, formally the Media Design University of Applied Sciences, is a private university founded in 2004 with campuses across three distinct German creative centres: Berlin, known for startups and digital arts, Düsseldorf, known for advertising and fashion, and Munich, known for media production, teaching around 1,000 students in bachelor's and master's programmes across media design, game design, digital film design, and fashion management. This deliberate multi-city model lets students choose a campus matching their specific creative specialisation and the local industry strengths of that city. This guide covers what MD.H international students should know: how the campus choice connects to programme specialisation, reported fees, DAAD scholarship options, English requirements, living costs across three different German cities, and Germany's job-seeker permit.

Quick facts snapshot

• Institution: MD.H, the Media Design University of Applied Sciences, a private university founded in 2004
• Students: approximately 1,000 across all campuses
• Campuses: Berlin (startups and digital arts), Düsseldorf (advertising and fashion), and Munich (media production), each aligned with that city's specific creative industry strengths
• Programmes: bachelor's and master's degrees in media design, game design, digital film design, fashion management, and related creative fields
• Tuition (third-party): course fees start from €12,000 per year before scholarships, with a more specific range of €12,600 to €14,600 per semester reported for bachelor's degree programmes
• Scholarship options: academic scholarships available based on individual qualifications, alongside external DAAD scholarships covering tuition, living expenses, and travel costs for eligible students
• Model: a deliberate multi-campus structure allowing students to choose the German creative city best matching their intended specialisation

Rankings and reputation

MD.H is a private university of applied sciences focused specifically on creative and media fields, so it does not typically appear in general research-based world rankings, and its value rests instead on its industry connections in each of its three specific German creative cities. The genuinely distinctive feature here is the deliberate matching of campus location to creative speciality: Berlin's startup and digital arts scene, Düsseldorf's advertising and fashion industry, and Munich's media production sector each offer different networking and internship opportunities. Ask MD.H which specific campus best serves your intended specialisation, since this choice may matter more to your career outcomes than a general institutional ranking.

Academics and signature programs

MD.H teaches media design, game design, digital film design, and fashion management, with programmes distributed deliberately across its three campuses to align with each city's creative industry strengths: Berlin for digital arts and startups, Düsseldorf for advertising and fashion, and Munich for media production. Ask specifically which campus delivers your intended programme, since this is not simply an administrative choice but reflects genuine industry-alignment, and confirm whether any programmes are offered at more than one campus or are genuinely exclusive to one specific city.

Admissions and international eligibility

Admission depends on your school or university qualifications, English or German ability depending on the programme, and for creative fields, likely a portfolio or motivation letter demonstrating relevant creative work, though I could not confirm exact portfolio requirements in this profile. Non-EU students must have their qualifications recognised for German study and apply for a student visa. Ask for the specific requirements for your chosen campus and programme, since MD.H operates across three distinct German cities.

English language requirements

• I could not confirm MD.H's exact English proficiency requirements in this profile, so verify them directly for your specific programme and campus
• Programmes taught in German would require German language proficiency instead, so confirm the language of instruction for your intended course
• Some applicants with English-medium schooling may be exempt from certain requirements
• Confirm the exact requirement for your programme and campus before applying

Application checklist

A typical application for creative programmes includes transcripts, a CV, a motivation letter, likely a portfolio demonstrating relevant creative work, and passport details. Ask about the enrolment contract, payment schedule, and cancellation terms before paying a deposit, since MD.H operates as a private university with binding study contracts typical of this sector in Germany.

Tuition, living costs, and scholarships

Third-party sources report that MD.H course fees start from €12,000 per year before scholarships, with a more specific figure of €12,600 to €14,600 per semester reported for bachelor's degree programmes, a notable difference depending on which figure applies to your specific programme. Given this variation, ask MD.H for a written contract stating the exact fee structure, whether billed annually or per semester, the total programme cost, and the cancellation and refund terms specific to your chosen campus and programme.

Estimated living costs

• Non-EU visa applicants usually must show funds, often through a blocked account, at an amount set by the German authorities, around €11,900 a year at the last update I know of
• Statutory or approved health insurance is mandatory for students
• Student visa holders can generally work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year
• Student rooms are scarce in major German cities, so start the housing search early
• Public transport passes are widely available and often discounted for students

Scholarships

MD.H states that academic scholarships may be available based on individual qualifications and eligibility criteria, and that international students can additionally apply for external DAAD scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service, which offer comprehensive support potentially covering tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs for eligible undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students. Ask MD.H directly about its own academic scholarship criteria and amounts, and separately research DAAD's current scholarship programmes and deadlines relevant to your nationality and level of study.

Campus life and student support

MD.H's three campuses offer genuinely distinct creative city experiences: Berlin's dynamic startup and digital arts scene, Düsseldorf's established advertising and fashion industry presence, and Munich's media production sector, each with different networking opportunities, living costs, and local industry cultures. Ask MD.H specifically about facilities, class sizes, and industry connections at your chosen campus, and consider carefully which city's specific creative industry aligns best with your career goals rather than choosing based on general preference alone.

Career outcomes and post-study work rights

MD.H's deliberate alignment of campus location with local creative industry strengths, digital arts and startups in Berlin, advertising and fashion in Düsseldorf, and media production in Munich, is designed specifically to connect students with relevant local employers and internship opportunities in their chosen creative field. Ask MD.H for graduate outcomes and internship placement data specific to your chosen campus and programme, since career pathways in creative fields depend heavily on genuine local industry connections rather than institutional reputation alone.

Germany's post-study residence options

After completing a recognised German degree, international graduates can apply to stay for up to 18 months to look for a job that matches their qualification, and can then move to a work permit or the EU Blue Card if they find qualifying employment. Rules and salary thresholds change, so verify the current conditions with the German authorities and confirm that your degree is state-recognised.

Choosing your campus deliberately

Because MD.H genuinely aligns each of its three campuses with a specific local creative industry, Berlin's startups and digital arts, Düsseldorf's advertising and fashion, and Munich's media production, your campus choice should be a deliberate career decision rather than simply a preference for one German city over another. Research each city's specific creative industry presence and MD.H's stated employer connections there before deciding which campus best serves your intended specialisation.

Building a strong creative portfolio

Since creative programmes typically require a portfolio demonstrating your existing work and creative potential, start building or refining your portfolio well before you apply, tailored specifically to whether you are applying to media design, game design, digital film design, or fashion management. Ask MD.H for specific portfolio requirements and examples of what successful past applications have included.

Health insurance and pre-arrival preparation

Students need valid health insurance before enrolment and must register their address after arriving. Budget for the blocked account, visa fee, insurance, and a housing deposit, and start the housing search early.

What to expect in your first months

The first weeks involve orientation, address registration, and setting up a bank account and insurance. Teaching combines lectures, group projects, and presentations, and students who look for internships early tend to benefit most.

A realistic budget

Using the more specific figure of about €13,600 per semester for a bachelor's degree, two semesters a year would total roughly €27,200 annually, and a three-year bachelor's degree could cost around €81,600 in tuition before living costs, which vary considerably between Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Munich. Confirm which of the reported fee figures actually applies to your specific programme before finalising your budget.

Questions to ask before you accept an offer

• Which of MD.H's three campuses, Berlin, Düsseldorf, or Munich, best matches my intended creative specialisation and career goals?
• What is the exact fee structure for my specific programme, given the different figures reported by different sources?
• Am I eligible for MD.H's own academic scholarships, and separately, for external DAAD funding?
• What portfolio or creative work samples does my programme's application require?
• What internship and industry connections exist specifically at my chosen campus?
• Does my degree qualify me for the 18-month job-seeker permit?

Who MD.H suits best

MD.H suits creative students who want to study media design, game design, digital film design, or fashion management in Germany and specifically value the ability to choose a campus city matching their creative speciality's local industry strengths. It may suit less well students who want the low fees of German public universities, a broader non-creative academic range, or a single consistent campus rather than choosing among three distinct German cities.

MD.H compared with German public universities and other creative schools

German public universities charge little or no tuition but rarely offer this specific, city-matched creative specialisation model, while other private creative schools in Germany may offer similar programmes without MD.H's deliberate three-city industry alignment. Compare the total cost, the specific campus-industry fit, and the portfolio requirements before choosing.

Step-by-step application roadmap

1. Choose your program and campus, and confirm it is taught in English.
2. Check the English requirement and book a test if needed.
3. Apply with transcripts, CV, motivation letter, and passport details.
4. Accept your offer and pay the required deposit.
5. Open a blocked account, arrange insurance, and apply for your student visa.
6. Find housing and attend orientation.

Preparing your documents early

Gather certified and, where needed, translated transcripts, your English test result, and proof of funds early. German visa appointments can be slow, so keep copies of everything and ask the institution to confirm fees and billing in writing.

Frequently asked questions