Title: Bachelor of Graphic Storytelling (GS)

Duration of the program: 4 years (240 ECTS), full time

Program start: August every two years (odd years only)

Language: English

Finances: Danish students can apply for SU. For more information on finances go to the 'Fees and finances'-section.

Study program: See the full study program here (in Danish)

More information:

• Graduate Survey (PDF)
• Follow-up on Student Satisfaction Survey (PDF)

First year: Craft fundamentals and shortform storytelling

The first semester is all about the fundamentals of comics, from various approaches to drawing and story to digital and traditional tools. The second semester focuses on clarity in visual storytelling and short narratives, culminating in a collaborative anthology magazine project. 

Second year: Illustration, world-building, and long-form storytelling

The third semester focuses on illustration for books, magazines, and newspapers, as well as world-building and IP generation. 

The fourth semester explores a range of different storytelling genres and methods, culminating in a graphic novel pitch featuring 10 sample pages and a comprehensive synopsis, marking your first stab at a long-form story.  

Third year: Related fields, interactive media, and Applied Cartooning

The fifth semester focuses on fields outside of comics, including background design, storyboarding, and video games. Furthermore, you will be introduced to interactive comics and start to create your professional portfolio. The sixth semester deepens into more advanced sequential storytelling, including advanced writing techniques. The semester also features a five-week production where you and your fellow students will create Applied Cartoons together with outside clients.  

Fourth year: Internship and Bachelor Project

During the seventh semester, you get hands-on experience from the industry in a relevant internship for at least three months. The eighth semester is dedicated to the Bachelor Project, where you create original comics, illustrated books or story bibles.

Read Cathrin's diary from her internship with Ed Piskor

We only admit students to Graphic Storytelling every second year in September - odd years only. This means that the next admissions round is in March 2019.

Admission to The Animation Workshop’s bachelor programs is talent based. This means that we are looking for students with excellent drawing and storytelling skills. Therefore, all applicants must present a portfolio along with their application.

Quick overview of the application procedure

1. You apply through www.optagelse.dk
2. In order to apply you must meet the formal requirements
3. With your application, you must submit a portfolio. We require you to upload it in one single PDF-file, including a mandatory cover page and a letter of intention
4. You receive a receipt for your application and are invited to log on to VIA’s admissions portal where you can keep track of your application
5. After the deadline we select and invite applicants for a test and interview in Viborg
6. You get the result of the admissions test in June
7. The final enrollment is completed on the last work day of July

More information

• Go to the Admission page to get more information about requirements, procedures etc.
• Need help to figure out www.optagelse.dk? Download our Five step application guide
• Download the Admissions checklist to make sure you have all the right documentation

All teaching and extracurricular activities at TAW are held in English. The student body as well as the teachers, community, and staff count many with an international background.

Read more about living and studying in Denmark 

Applying to the educations with international background 

International applicants apply on equal terms with Danish applicants, following the same deadlines and procedures.

Please make sure to attach proof of English proficiency (PDF)

For applicants from non-EU countries there is a special early enrollment flow.

Visa and residency 

Coming to Denmark from a Nordic or EU/EEA country, including Switzerland, you are free to live, study and work in Denmark. However, you must register, if you intend to stay more than 3 months. If you are coming to Denmark from outside the EU, you need a tourist visa (valid up to 3 months) or a residence permit (for stays exceeding 89 days). Normally, you must apply for visa or residence permit prior to your arrival in Denmark. Applying for a visa is a part of the enrollment process for the bachelor educations and is initiated by the school after you have been admitted to the program.

For detailed information about the application process and requirements, please visit the website of the Danish Immigration service

Registering for Danish Social Security number (CPR) and Danish Health Insurance scheme 

You must register in order to receive a Danish CPR-number. It is a social identity code which is key to all public registration and services, including tax, opening a bank-account, etc. Furthermore, the CPR-number will guarantee free public health insurance for the entirety of your stay (after a quarantine for the first six weeks for non-EU citizens).

EU Citizens must register through Statsforvaltningen, all other citizens must register at the local municipality.

Tuition

There are no tuition fees for students coming from Denmark, the Nordic countries, EU/EEA countries and Switzerland. Students coming from countries outside of EU/EEA must pay tuition fees, unless they hold a permanent Danish residence permit. Paying the first year’s fee is a precondition for obtaining a student’s residence permit.

Payment schedule for Graphic Storytelling (PDF)

Materials fee

All students must pay a materials fee of 2200 DKK (300 EUR) per month, except for the internship semester.

• Total fee for Bachelor in Graphic Storytelling:
  - 42 months x DKK 2200 = DKK 92,400 

The fee covers costs and services which students at other institutions are expected to pay for themselves, and include:

• Individual work stations including an industry standard computer and Wacom board
• Animation drawing table
• Various animation supplies: specialty pencils, paper, books and readers, sketch books
• Study trips to animation film festivals
• Software and materials related to creating the productions
  and much more.

See full Material list (PDF)

The current fee of 2200 DKK might be subject to change in 2019.

Living Costs

You should expect average monthly living costs between 5000-7000 DKK (roughly 650-900 EUR), including accommodation.

Financial support for Danish students

The bachelor program is approved for SU for the official duration (4 years or 46 months). 

Apply for SU

Financial support for students from EU/ EEA countries 

Foreign students are not eligible for the Danish educational support scheme (SU). Some exceptions are made for refugees and relatives of refugees and for other foreign citizens. EU citizens may be eligible for SU if they have a contract for 10-12 work hours per week.

More information about SU for foreign students

Financial support for tuition-paying students from countries outside the EU/EEA

VIA offers a limited number of scholarships to cover the tuition fees for a shorter or longer period of your education. The scholarship is normally granted for one semester or for a full academic year at the time. You can apply for a scholarship during the application process. The application deadline follows the admissions deadlines. Please note that you will not receive a scholarship, unless you are admitted to the education. If you were enrolled and were not awarded a scholarship, you can still reapply every semester. 

You can read more about the scholarship and find the application form here

Shortly after you have been accepted into TAW, you will be contacted by the school’s Housing Coordinator with specific housing information.

TAW itself has no accommodation. The school's role is to provide various opportunities for housing and help create contact between housing providers and new students - and to assist with language barriers if necessary. If you need language assistance, please contact taw.housing@via.dk. Students can choose to apply for a dorm room - or make arrangements with private housing providers - for example for shared apartments with fellow students.

Cost of Living 

Dorm rooms in Viborg typically cost between 2500-3500 DKK (250-470 EUR) per month depending on size and whether you are willing to share facilities. Utility expenses, like electricity, internet and heating, are often paid separately and cost around 600 DKK (80 EUR) per month. Private rooms in shared apartments can range depending on size, location and other factors, but aren’t drastically different from the cost of student accommodation.

Camp Logos 

The dormitory Camp Logos is located across the street from the school and houses many of our students. Rooms at Camp Logos come with basic furniture. The availability in Camp Logos is very limited at this point. However, a new wing is under development and expected to be completed in August 2018. The school will contact you with further information about Camp Logos, prices and availability, shortly after you have been accepted into TAW.

Shared apartments

It is our experience that the majority of our students prefer to move into a shared flat in the city. Join our Facebook Housing group to team up with other students looking for roommates and new tenants for the apartments, they are leaving themselves.

These websites may also be helpful:

• Boligselskabet Sct. Jørgen(Camp Logos and various rentals across city) 
• Boligselskabet Viborg(Merkur Kollegiet and various rentals across city)
• Danhousing (many large apartments in the city – suitable for sharing) 
• BoligPortal
• Boligdeal.dk 

If you have questions about housing or need language assistance, please contact taw.housing@via.dk