How to apply to our Bachelor's degree programmes

• Portfolio requirements

  Your portfolio should be submitted in one single PDF-file (max 99,9 mb) with the application on www.optagelse.dk. It must contain:

  • a filled-out and signed cover letter;
  • a letter of intention or video introduction and examples of your work fulfilling the requirements as listed below.

  Read more detailed information about the portfolio requirements for the specific bachelor's degrees here:

  • Character Animation
  • Computer Graphic Arts
  • Graphic Storytelling 

  Incomplete or incorrectly formatted portfolios will not be accepted. 

  Portfolio templates

  Please use the templates below to make sure your portfolio is in the right format. Each zip-file contains a template for Photoshop, InDesign, and OpenOffice as well as a how-to guide for saving your portfolio as a single PDF file.

  In the template, you will find the necessary information about the requirements for the portfolio, the cover letter form and the letter of intent.

  • Character Animation portfolio template (zip-folder)
  • Computer Graphic Arts portfolio template (zip-folder)
  • Graphic Storytelling portfolio template (zip-folder)

    

• Exam requirements (certificates and diplomas)

  Applicants with Danish exam certificates

  The following Danish upper secondary school certificates grant access to Bachelor in Animation (Character Animation, CG Arts) and/or Bachelor in Graphic Storytelling:

  Exams	Animation	Graphic Storytelling
  STX, HHX, HTX, EUX & IB/EB-Diploma	Yes	Yes
  HF	Yes	Yes
  EUD Mediegrafiker	Yes	Yes
  EUD in Digital Media	Yes	No
  EUD Grafisk tekniker	No	Yes

  Danish diplomas and exam results will be uploaded automatically when you submit the application through www.optagelse.dk using NemID.

  Applicants with foreign exam certificates

  You can apply based on a foreign upper secondary school certificate (high school, baccalaureate, IB or similar). You must submit a scan of both your diploma and the transcript of records. 

  Non-Danish applicants must include a copy of the original exam certificate and a transcript of records plus a state-authorised translation of their transcript of records in either Danish or English.

  You can find information about the rules of admission based on foreign exam results on the website of the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science.

  If you plan to apply based on foreign exam results, we suggest you to have your exam evaluated by the ministry before you apply. 

  If you are not sure whether your exam can be considered equal of a Danish gymnasium exam, you can find information about entry qualifications from a number of countries as well as EB, IB Diploma, etc.

  Deadline for submitting diplomas

  If you have already passed your exam, the deadline is 15 March at 12.00 noon.

  If you graduate the same year as you are applying, you may submit the diploma later. The final deadline for submitting your diploma is 5 July 12.00 noon. 

  Admission with special permission and other special criteria

  For more information regarding options when not fulfilling the entry requirements, the Master´s degree rule and credit transfer, see Admission with special permission and other special criteria here. 

• English language proficiency

  See VIA University College's site for additional information on English proficiency requirements.

  All applicants (including native English speakers) must document English proficiency equivalent to a Danish B-level with a minimum weighted grade point average score of 2.0 on the Danish grading scale.

  Danish applicants

  Danish applicants must document English proficiency equivalent to a Danish B-level with a minimum weighted grade point average score of 2.0 on the Danish grading scale.

  International applicants

  All applicants with a foreign entry qualification will have to document English proficiency equivalent to a Danish B-level with a minimum weighted grade point average score of 2.0 on the Danish grading scale (min. 210 hours, 1 hour = 60 minutes during the final three years in Upper Secondary School). You may document your proficiency through your upper secondary school certificate if it meets the required skill level.

  The grades from your upper Secondary School Certificate will be converted into Danish grades. Note that the rules for conversion differ for each country, so it is not possible to standardise the methods for this conversion.

  Please fill this Verification form (for your English lessons only) and upload it with your application if you would like us to assess your English level.

  Documentation of English proficiency level through a test

  If your upper secondary qualification does not meet the required level and scores, you must deliver an English proficiency test.

  You can find an overview over the accepted language tests and required scores here. Note that the test result must be no more than two years old at the time of possible study start.

  Deadline

  The final deadline for submitting valid proof of English proficiency through www.optagelse.dk – either as an upper secondary school certificate or as a proficiency test – is 5 July at 12 noon.

• Tests

  For Bachelor in Animation (Character Animation and CG Arts) the test consists of a short individual drawing test, followed by a two-hour creative group assignment focusing on collaboration and communication skills.

  For Graphic Storytelling applicants, the test consists of a three-hour individual drawing and storytelling test.

• Interview

  The interview lasts approximately 20 minutes. The purpose of the interview is for the admissions panel to get to know your motivations and goals.

  We are looking for ambitious, curious and reflective students, who are eager to learn and open to collaborate with others.

Need more information?

• Visa and residency

  Students from a Nordic or EU/EEA country including Switzerland

  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 with the Danish Immigration Service as well as the local municipality, if you intend to stay more than 3 months.

  Students from outside the EU/EEA

  If you are coming to Denmark from outside the EU, you need a tourist Visa (valid for up to 3 months) or a residence permit (for stays exceeding 90 days). Check the Danish Immigrations Service’s website, nyidanmark.dk, or with your local Danish embassy or consulate, whether you need a Visa.  Applying for a residence permit is a part of the enrolment process for the bachelor's degree programmes and is initiated by the Admissions Center after you have paid for the tuition fee.

  When the assessment of your application has been completed, you will receive a contract. After having read this carefully, you must return a signed copy of the contract to the Admissions Center.

  Once the Admissions center has received your signed contract and payment of tuition fee, the application for a Student Visa from SIRI (The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) will be initiated by the Admissions Center.

  Once the application has been initiated you will receive a mail with a reference code that you need in order to fill in part 2 of the application form. This form must be filled in no later than 30 days after the initiation of the application.

  If further documentation is needed by SIRI, we advise you to send in all requested documents as soon as possible in order to speed up the process of the Student Visa application which must be ready before study start.

  You can find the fees and payment schedules in the Fees and finances section.

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

• Fees and finances

  Tuition fee

  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 the tuition fee, unless they hold a permanent Danish residence permit or a temporary residence permit that grants them free tuition. Visit Who is eligible for free tuition for further information. Paying the first year’s fee is a precondition for obtaining a student’s residence permit.

  The tuition fee is billed in Danish kroner and the fee for students matriculating is DKK 53,000 (fifty-three-thousands) for the first semester (DKK 23,000 for the internship semester). See the relevant payment schedule for more information:

  • Payment schedule for Character Animation (PDF)
    
    
  • Payment schedule for Computer Graphic Arts (PDF)
    
    
  • Payment schedule for Graphic Storytelling (PDF) 

  Deadline for paying tuition fee

  Deadline for payment of tuition fee is 1 June.

  Terms and agreements

  Terms and agreement between partners and VIA University College can be seen in the different contracts under Code of conduct (pdf)

  Living Costs

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

  Financial support

  Danish students can apply for SU. The bachelor's degree programme is approved for SU for the official duration:

  • Bachelor in Animation: 3½ years or 41 months
  • Bachelor in Graphic Storytelling: 4 years or 46 months

  Foreign students are not eligible for the Danish educational support scheme (SU). Some exceptions are made for refugees and relatives of refugees and 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

  Scholarships

  Each year, VIA awards a limited number of scholarships to highly qualified students from countries outside the EU and the EEA. The scholarship can be applied for by all current, international, and tuition-fee-paying students who have completed the first year of studies at VIA (2 semesters). A maximum of two full semesters can be awarded during studies at VIA.