Offenbach University of Art and Design (Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach am Main) is a public art and design college in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. Offenbach University of Art and Design is a public university, structured around Art and Design, with an open interdisciplinary model linking studio practice, media, product systems, theory and doctoral research. Its institutional development 1832 — the institution was founded as a craft and technical school in Offenbach. Nineteenth-century growth followed the city’s traditions in manufacturing, leather, typography, and applied art. Its academic profile today is shaped by fine art, communication, media, film, photography, stage and costume design, electronic media, product design, mobility, interaction, material practice, art history, design theory and practice-oriented doctoral research. Location matters as The Isenburg Palace campus and its associated buildings are located right on the Main river in Offenbach, in the vicinity of Frankfurt's museums, design agencies, creative industries, film and media institutions, manufacturers, transport systems and an internationally diverse metropolitan public.

The course portfolio within this master file consists of 2 undergraduate and 3 postgraduate entries. Where appropriate, subject combinations have been grouped under their parent degrees. Art, Design (initial entries) Art, Design (examples of undergraduate work) Postgraduate study in Art, Art with Extended Theory, Design and Art, Art with Extended Theory, Design. Each course remains a parent qualification and specialisations are listed in the course entry rather than being misrepresented as separate degrees. With the winter term 2022/23 Art and Design has moved from the previous diploma to work with bachelor and master structures. The university also offers a doctorate that explicitly links theoretical work with artistic or design practice.

Program level admission is controlled. Digital application submitted by published deadline, portfolio or program task and formal documents submitted, and artistic or design aptitude selection completed. Candidates for Master’s and Doctoral degrees add a relevant degree, project direction and research evidence. Applicants should check language of instruction, semester of entry, subject pre-requisites, selection process and document pathway prior to applying. International School or University Qualifications External evaluation, certified translations, APS documentation where applicable or other proof of academic equivalence may be required. Master’s committees may ask for module descriptions, portfolios, writing samples, professional experience, or interviews. Entry to a doctorate is distinct from admission to a bachelors or masters degree and generally requires a viable research proposal, eligible supervision and formal acceptance by the relevant faculty.

Regular degree study is free of tuition fees. Students pay the semester contribution as stated in the binding enrolment or re-registration notice; costs of portfolios, prototypes, art materials, media production, software, workshops, travel, insurance and living expenses are in addition. These institutional charges do not include rent, health insurance, food, learning materials, residence formalities, project costs or personal travel. Special tuition may be applied in the case of continuing-education, distance-learning, joint, second-degree or long-term study formats, if provided for by the relevant law or program regulation. Funding may include BAföG for eligible students, the Deutschlandstipendium, DAAD and Erasmus+ mobility support, foundations, research employment or university-specific awards, but each funding application is assessed independently from admission.

Career preparation is a reflection of the subject mix of the university, not a guarantyd placement scheme. Internships, applied projects, research assistantships, employer events, language development, entrepreneurship services, international mobility and a thesis developed in cooperation with an external partner can all help to improve professional readiness.