A very important admission requirement is an applicant’s creative academic qualification. It may demonstrate not only artistic skills and creativity, but also media and computational literacy, problem-solving abilities and a capacity for teamwork. We are well aware that not all applicants can be equally talented in all mentioned areas. We welcome applications from people with a first degree in Film, Games, Media Design, Architecture and so on who want to extend their skill set in 3D and animation. Applicants’ creative academic qualifications are checked in an application procedure. Furthermore, students need a good command of the English language. Applicants need to proof their English skills either with a certificate of completing secondary education in English or with a language certificate. For more info on this, see the point below: “What English certificates can I use to demonstrate my English proificency?”

Part of the application tasks is to hand in a portfolio. Works from the field of 3D modeling or animation are of particular importance. But we also accept other forms of artistic expression, e.g. 2D models, drawings, photos, motion graphics, movies, games, etc.. The overall goal of the portfolio should be to illustrate your current status as a 3D artist or animator as well as your profile as a (visual) artist.

The work samples can be sent in a PDF document, as a link to a Dropbox or Google Drive folder or an online portfolio, among other options. Analogue works need to be scanned or photographed and sent in digital form.

Applicants to the MA 3D Animation for Film & Games need to hand in a portfolio, a project idea, an application video as well as a written assignment. While the former are meant to give the committee a good impression of the artistic level of each candidate, the latter offer an insight into the analytical skill set.

Applicants need to upload a CV, a portfolio, and a high school diploma and their Bachelor’s degree. The form also requires applicants to fill in some fields with personal information and to provide a passport photo.

MA 3D applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency (min. B2-level), which is verified either by a certificate of completing secondary education in English or with a language certificate. Below you can find an overview of suitable tests and certificates. Similar to other application documents, the language proficiency certificate must be uploaded in PDF format via CGL’s application portal. The language proficiency certificate should be uploaded together with the portfolio file (as one single merged PDF).

Any form of English language certificate not listed below must be approved by the application committee. In this case, please contact the MA 3D Program Manager Olivier Haas (oh@colognegamelabe.de) as soon as possible.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
Test Type: Academic and General Training (universities require Academic).
Score Requirement: Typically 5.5–6.5 overall for B2 level.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Test Type: Internet-based test (iBT).
Score Requirement: 72–94 out of 120 indicates B2 proficiency.

Cambridge English Qualifications
B2 First (formerly FCE): Directly certifies B2 proficiency.
C1 Advanced (CAE): If achieved with a B2-level score, it also certifies B2.

IELTS Indicator: Online version of IELTS available in certain countries.

Previous Education in English: If students completed secondary education or a degree in an English-speaking country or institution.

University-Specific Exams: Some universities conduct their own English language proficiency tests.

DAAD Language Certificate: For applicants from Germany.

Applicants to the MA 3D Animation for Film & Games and the MA Game Development and Research have to prove 12 months of professional experience. In principle, only work experience after the first degree can be recognised. The required practical training period of one year in total can be acquired cumulatively. The period in which it was acquired should be within the last five years before the application date.

Possible positions are permanent employment, temporary employment, self-employment, project work, internships, research assistant and so on.

Relevant fields of work are game development, media design, film, architecture, product design, etc .

To document this work experience, applicants must submit written material. Conceivable are, for example, employment contracts in any form or project documents that allow for a temporal classification.

Every student has to pay a so called “semester fee” that includes a public transport pass for the whole semester as well as different administrative fees. Currently it is 334.70€ per semester. For more information please visit the TH Website.

Additionally, there is a tuition fee of 1.500 € for EU citizens or 2.500 € for non-EU citizens per semester.

The payment process for the MA3D program consists of two separate payments:

1. Semester fee

2. Tuition fee

1. Semester fee

The semester fee is administered by the Students’ Office of TH Köln via CAMS. It is updated every semester and includes, among other items, the public transportation ticket and the administrative fee for the Kölner Studierendenwerk. Further details on the semester fee and re-registration process can be found here: https://www.th-koeln.de/en/academics/re-registration-and-fees_5903.php

2. Tuition fee

The tuition fee is administered by the Academy of Further Education of TH Köln and is handled via invoice.

After applicants have accepted their place in the program (usually in May) and returned the Registration Form, the following payment plan applies:

Tuition fee payment schedule

• June: Payment for the upcoming winter semester
  (1st semester for new students / 3rd semester for continuing students)

• December: Payment for the upcoming summer semester
  (2nd semester for continuing students / 4th semester for final-semester students)

Both the semester fee and the tuition fee must be paid in full before students can be officially enrolled or re-registered in the program each semester.

International applicants need to have their qualifications pre-validated by the German academic service “Uni-Assist” before applying to CGL. Non EU students should be aware of higher tuition fees.

If you went to school or have studied outside Germany, you must not only apply to Cologne Game Lab through the form on our website, but also submit a couple of documents to the Uni-Assist service in Berlin. Uni-Assist verifies the validity of your secondary school leaving certificate and university degree (if applicable) in Germany.

You do not have to wait for an answer from Uni-Assist to apply through our website. Both processes can be done in parallel. Uni-Assist’s application process takes time and it is usually completed after the application deadline is over. Uni-Assist informs the CGL directly if you are allowed to study in Germany or not.

For more detailed information visit the following websites:

• https://www.uni-assist.de/en/?pk_campaign=332
  
• http://www.th-koeln.de/en/academics/uni-assist-document-review_8553.php
  
• https://www.th-koeln.de/en/academics/admission-requirements_5982.php
  

If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact our International Office.

You can pre-check whether your secondary school or university diploma qualifies you for studying in Germany at anabin.kmk.org (in German language).

Choose “Schulabschlüsse mit Hochschulzugang”, your country and then the diploma you have obtained in order to check if and where it enables you to study. If you have studied at a university before, you also need to check whether or not your university is accredited. To check that, choose “Institutionen” on the left, your country and then the university where you studied at. There you should see the university’s “status”. If it says “H+” your university is accredited. “H-” means it is not accredited.

More information on the formal requirements for studying in Germany can be found here. 

The following websites offer information on scholarships:

For German students: https://www.th-koeln.de/studium/stipendien_224.php

For international students: www.daad.de/en; in particular have a look at the scholarship option for postgraduate studies in the field of fine art, design, visual communication and film: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?status=3&origin=192&subjectGrps=G&daad=&intention=&q=&page=1&detail=57135742

The International Office of TH Koeln has collected a number of information to help international students anticipate their living costs and how to cover them: https://www.th-koeln.de/en/international_office/finances_51052.php

Yes. All degrees at CGL are certified via TH Koeln’s system accreditation process and are listed accordingly in the central database ELIAS which lists all accredited programs in Germany. TH Koeln earned the right to accredit its study programs in 2021 from the accreditation agency AQAS e.V..

More information: https://www.th-koeln.de/hochschule/akkreditierung_51636.php

https://www.th-koeln.de/hochschule/qualitaetsmanagementsystem-der-th-koeln-fuer-studiengaenge-ist-zertifiziert_80451.php

The specific cross-media orientation of the degree program “3D Animation for Film & Games” indicates a shift in the reality of the labour market. New technical developments change work processes, create synergies and thus ultimately new job profiles. At the same time, job descriptions, which outline the specific competencies required for a position, vary from company to company. Whilst individual skill sets will vary according to the individual ́s blend of creative and technical skills, graduates from this program will be qualified for various roles in the film and games industry or XR projects, e.g.:

• 3D artist
• 3D Animator
• Character Animator
• Animation Supervisor
• Lead Artist/Art Director

Once you have passed the artistic-scientific aptitude test and Uni-Assist has greenlit your degree documents, you will receive a letter of admission from the Students’ Office of TH Koeln. You can use this letter of admission for the visa application process.

As the visa appointment situation in most countries is very competitive, we would generally advise you to make the appointment as early as possible – at best once you are invited to the interview stage. You can still cancel the appointment if you do not need it any longer.

More information on the visa process can be found on the homepage of the German embassy in your country or on the homepage of TH Koeln’s International Office: https://www.th-koeln.de/en/international_office/visa_66058.php

In Germany you do not automatically receive a spot in student housing, once you are admitted into a study program. You are required to find a place by yourself in student housing or on the private market.

If you are interested in student housing, apply early for a spot. The current processing time is 6 months and more. So, if you want to have a spot in the fall, you need to apply in spring to have chance. You can apply here: https://tl1host.eu/SWK/index.html#admission

The International Office of TH Koeln provides further pointers in your search for a place to stay: https://www.th-koeln.de/en/international_office/accommodation_54136.php