Weissensee Kunsthochschule Berlin in Berlin, Germany

Global Rank #9175

Application Deadlines

Fall 202715 Jan '27
Spring 202701 Sep '26

Shortlist Program Get Guidance

University Type

Public

Established

1946

Programs

Total Students

800

About Weissensee Kunsthochschule Berlin

Kunsthochschule Berlin Weissensee - Art School Berlin Weissensee (KHB) - is a specialist public arts and design school in Berlin-Weissensee, enrolling approximately 700 students. Founded in 1946, KHB is known for particularly strong programs in visual communication, product design, fashion design, fine arts, and textile/surface design. As a smaller specialist school, it has a more intimate studio culture than UdK Berlin.

Student Profile

Total Students

800

International Students

120 (15%)

Male Students

315 (39.4%)

Female Students

485 (60.6%)

Student Faculty Ratio

13.00

Alumni Count

15,800

Admissions & Visa

Acceptance Rate

30.00%

Post Study Work Visa

18 Months

Safety

Moderately Safe (76)

Why Study at Weissensee Kunsthochschule Berlin ?

1. Tuition-Free Specialist Design School - Intimate Studio Scale

KHB's 700-student scale creates a studio culture closer to a professional design atelier than a large arts university. Studio classes of 8–15 students with dedicated faculty mentorship throughout the degree. This intimacy is a deliberate choice - and a significant advantage for students who want deep faculty engagement.

2. Product Design - Particularly Strong Program

KHB's product design program is recognised in Germany's design community as producing graduates with strong material-craft literacy, conceptual rigour, and industrial application awareness. For Indian industrial or product design graduates, this craft + concept combination is a distinctive educational model.

3. Fashion Design in Berlin - Europe's Most Independent Fashion Scene

Berlin's fashion scene is Europe's most independent and experimental - driven by small labels, concept stores, and Berlin Fashion Week rather than the luxury fashion houses of Paris or Milan. KHB fashion graduates enter Berlin's genuinely creatively free fashion ecosystem - a fundamentally different career environment than UdK or NIFT graduates in Mumbai or Delhi.

4. Weissensee - Affordable East Berlin Location

Weissensee is one of Berlin's quieter, more affordable neighborhoods - WG rooms at €380–€520/month vs €600–€750 in Charlottenburg or Mitte. The BVG AB Semester Ticket connects students to central Berlin, while the local area provides affordable studio and living costs essential for managing art material expenses.

Courses & Programs for Indian Students

2 Courses

Program	Level	Language	Duration	Admission Basis
Visual Communication (Visuelle Kommunikation)	Diploma/Masters	German (C1)	8/4 semesters	Portfolio + aptitude test
Product Design (Produktdesign)	Diploma/Masters	German (C1)	8/4 semesters	Portfolio + aptitude test
Fashion Design (Modedesign)	Diploma/Masters	German (C1)	8/4 semesters	Portfolio + aptitude test
Fine Arts (Bildende Kunst)	Diploma/Masters	German (C1)	8/4 semesters	Portfolio + interview
Textile/Surface Design	Diploma/Masters	German (C1)	8/4 semesters	Portfolio + aptitude test

MA in Product Design

Arts

Apply Now

Duration

24 M

Yearly Tuition

₹71,250.00

English

IELTS 0.0

MA in Fine Arts

Arts

Apply Now

Duration

24 M

Yearly Tuition

₹71,250.00

English

IELTS 0.0

Tuition Fees & Cost of Studying

Fee Component	Amount	Notes
Tuition (non-EU)	€0	Berlin state policy
Semester contribution	~€310	Includes BVG AB Semester Ticket
Art materials	€400–€1,200/year	Product design and fashion require more materials. Budget separately.
Blocked account	€11,208	German student visa
Berlin audition trip	€600–€1,200	For in-person aptitude test

Admission Requirements for Indian Students

Requirement	Details
Portfolio	15–20 works. Program-specific: product design = prototypes + user research; fashion = design sketches + fabric experiments; visual comm = editorial, branding, typography; fine arts = personal creative practice. Process documentation essential.
Aptitude test	In-person Berlin - typically February–March for October intake. Portfolio presentation + creative task + faculty interview. Apply October–December.
German	C1 required for all programs - TestDaF TDN 4 or Goethe C1 certificate.
APS	Mandatory. aps-india.de - 6–8 weeks.
Academic qualification	Bachelor's in relevant creative field for Master's programs.

Eligibility Criteria

Documents Required

Official transcripts of all past studies

A valid passport

A Personal Resume or Portfolio

Valid scores in Aptitude tests (for some courses)

A VPD from Uni-Assist

US Student Visa

Letter of Motivation and Essay

Test & Score Required

TOEFL iBT

IELTS (Academic)

6.0

Language Requirement

B1 English | C1 German (DSH-2 / TestDaF TDN4)

GRE or GMAT

GMAT (MBA); GRE not required

Application Process

1Prepare all your documents

2Write your Statement of Purpose

3Request Letters of Recommendation

4Update your resume / CV

5Connect with GradRight for free

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Scholarship	Amount	Notes
Deutschlandstipendium (KHB)	€300/month	After enrollment
DAAD Arts Scholarship	€992/month	Via daad.de - arts tracks available. Apply 12 months before.
Berlin Senate arts grants	Varies	Project and exhibition grants for advanced KHB students - apply after enrollment

Campus Life & Student Accommodation

Students & Alumni

Total Students

800

International Students

15%

Male Students

39.4%

Female Students

60.6%

Student Faculty Ratio

13.00:1

Alumni Count

15,800

Others

Acceptance Rate

30.00

Post Study Work Visa

18 Months

Academic Focus

Public

Safety Index

Moderately Safe (76)

Cost of Living in Berlin

Expense	Monthly Range	Notes
Accommodation (dorm/WG)	€400–€750	Studierendenwerk Berlin dorms: €400–€520. Private WG: €500–€750.
Food & groceries	€180–€250	Mensa meals €2.80–€4.50. Halal options widely available.
Health insurance	~€110	Mandatory. TK or AOK most used by Indian students.
Transport	€0	BVG AB Semester Ticket included in contribution.
Books / SIM / personal	€70–€120	Most materials digitally available.
Misc / social	€100–€200	Berlin affordable for culture vs other European capitals.
TOTAL	€860–€1,430/month	More expensive than Bonn/Bremen. Cheaper than London/Paris/Zürich.

Tuition Fee Range

~ Moderate

Low Moderate High

Annual Living Expenses

€850–€1,100

per month

Career Opportunities After Studying at RWTH Aachen

Field	Salary Range	Employers
Product Design	€38,000–€54,000	German design consultancies, consumer electronics, furniture companies, Siemens design
Fashion Design	€30,000–€50,000	Berlin independent fashion labels, Zalando, fashion week Berlin, textile companies
Visual Communication	€36,000–€54,000	Berlin design agencies, digital studios, corporate brand teams
Fine Arts	€26,000–€48,000	Gallery exhibitions, artist residencies, academic teaching, arts administration

Rankings & Global Recognition

Aspect	Status
QS / THE	Not ranked - specialist arts school
Germany design standing	KHB product design program nationally recognised - known for craft-concept integration
Berlin accreditation	Fully accredited public arts university

FAQs About RWTH Aachen University

Is KHB Weissensee tuition-free?

Yes. Public Berlin state arts university - zero tuition. Semester contribution ~€310 includes BVG AB Semester Ticket. Budget separately for art materials (€400–€1,200/year).

What is the acceptance rate at KHB Weissensee?

10–15% overall. Portfolio quality is the primary criterion. More accessible than UdK Berlin (5–10%) but still selective.

What German level is required for KHB Weissensee?

C1 German required for all programs - TestDaF TDN 4 or Goethe C1 certificate. No English-taught programs available.

Is APS required?

Yes. Mandatory for German student visa. aps-india.de - 6–8 weeks.

What programs does KHB Weissensee offer?

Visual Communication, Product Design, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, and Textile/Surface Design - all at Diploma (equivalent to BSc+MSc) and Masters level. All German-taught (C1).

How does KHB compare to UdK Berlin?

UdK Berlin (4,000 students, more programs, Sound Studies MSc in English) is larger and more internationally known. KHB Weissensee (700 students) offers a more intimate studio culture and particularly strong product design and fashion programs. Both tuition-free, both require C1 German (except UdK Sound Studies).

What scholarships are available?

Deutschlandstipendium (€300/month), DAAD Arts Scholarship (€992/month via daad.de), Berlin Senate arts project grants.

What careers follow KHB Weissensee programs?

Product Design (€38,000–€54,000) at design consultancies, Siemens design, consumer goods. Fashion Design (€30,000–€50,000) at Berlin labels, Zalando. Visual Communication (€36,000–€54,000) at design agencies.

Is Weissensee an affordable area?

Yes - WG rooms €380–€520/month, significantly cheaper than central Berlin. The BVG AB Semester Ticket connects Weissensee to central Berlin. Good choice for arts students managing material costs.

What portfolio is required for KHB product design?

15–20 works showing design thinking process: user research, concept development, material experiments, and working prototypes or detailed models. Process documentation (sketchbooks, iterations) is as important as final work.