Digital Film Design VFX
Why study „Digital Film Design“?
The beauty of moving pictures!
Moving images and visual effects are your passion? You love to create dark creatures, futuristic Cyborgs or fearless androids? Developing epic battles in far-away galaxies is exactly your thing? And you love colorful worlds, exciting stories and heroes traveling the universe? So do we! At the Mediadesign University we will teach you how to visualise storylines and how to bring 3D-animations to life!
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Duration
ECTS points
Degree
Start
Language
Campus
Berlin (DE)
Düsseldorf (DE)
Format
Düsseldorf (On site)
Monthly fees
Non-EU from 1.050,00 €
Sign early & receive a free Wacom Movink 13
Sign the contract by 31 March 2025 for your studies at mdh starting in the winter semester 2025 and receive your Wacom Movink 13 at the start of your studies. (only valid for EU students directly applying to mdh)
Insights
You can look forward to:
Your Program
Courses at mdh cover the complete range of film design, including virtual reality, augmented reality, VFX and even 360-degree filming. The theoretical foundation of Design is taught in lectures, but practical know-how is gained in real-life projects. Key qualifications taught over the course of your studies are, amongst others:
- Film design & staging
- Computer graphics, visualisation & typography
- 3D-modeling, animation & drafting
Your study content
Enhancing your skills and abilities
Apply your new skills and know-how directly in practical exercises. Just like in real-world projects, you will develop genuine film material with your team, combining it with digital elements. This way you not only learn the craft of cinematography, but everything you need to know about the design, planning and execution of film projects.
Intuitively you will become familiar with increasingly complex technology and tools. We begin with Autodesk Maya. In Compositing you will learn After Effects and Nuke. At a later stage, we add designing with the 3D-software Houdini.
At the end of the program, all our students will have accumulated sufficient material to produce their own demoreel, which all graduates need for their application portfolio before entering the job market.
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Our showreel
Exhibition Hall
Your Career
Target group - Who should study "Digital Film Design"?
- Creative talents, who like to draw, paint and make movies
- Computer nerds who have an interest in learning Design techniques
- Storytellers who can develop ideas and write
The film industry is booming. Netflix & the like have set new standards. Films und tv series are more popular than ever. Other industries, too, make more and more use of animated visuals, as for example in cinematic game trailers or commercials.
What our partner companies say
Trixter
"The students of the Mediadesign University have a broad range of basic knowledge. Furthermore, their ability to work in a team and adapt quickly allows them to be integrated into ongoing productions. Therefore, we gladly accept mdh students as interns and, following their studies, as junior artists in our team."
Christina Caspers-Roemer, Head of Studio & Business Development
Trickstudio Lutterbeck
"The students of mdh are well qualified. We look forward to hiring more!"
Christian Asmussen, Production Manager
Application requirements
Enrollment Requirements
- Higher Education Entrance Qualification (Abitur) or equivalent diploma, i.e. IB or A-levels (check with our counseling department whether your diploma qualifies)
- English skills. Language proof: TOEFL IPT: 543, TOEFL IBT: 74, IELTS (Academic): 6, Cambridge FCE: B2, PTE Academic: 59, IB Diploma: English A or B at HL or SL, BI 'English Language Proficiency Exam': PASS. We also accept Duolingo.
Information for applicants from abroad: You have the possibility to check your international certificates independently in advance via uni-assist and to inform yourself about the requirements for your admission: TO UNI-ASSIST
>> International applicants who have not met the necessary HZB requirements need to complete the MDH preparatory programme for admission to a higher education programme at MDH.
Personal Requirements
- Creativity and imagination
- A feel for aesthetics and an eye for design quality
- Interest in filming trends and audiovisual media
- Being a team player
Your personality and talents are more important than top grades!
Please apply via e-Mail (or regular mail). This is what we need from you:
- A motivation letter (tell us what inspires you – ca. 1 page)
- Representative work samples (Sketches, pictures, collages or early work, etc…)
- Relevant grade reports as well as a resume with your current photo
- You may apply during the school year (even before secondary school graduation)
- Graduation diploma can be submitted after completion of your secondary school
Tuition Fees
- Campus Berlin: English language program: EU citizens: 4.710,00 EUR/Semester | Non-EU citizens: 6.300,00 EUR/Semester (with foundation programme 6.700,00 EUR/Semester)
- Campus Düsseldorf: German language program: EU-Citizens: 4.662,90 EUR/Semester | Non-EU citizens: 6.300,00 EUR/Semester
For all courses we charge a one-time registration fee of 490,00 EUR and a one-time examination fee of 1.050,00 EUR.
For non-EU citizens, the one-time examination fee of 1.050,00 EUR is included in the tuition price.
In case of prepayment (semesterly, annually, completely) the tuition fees can be reduced by up to 5%. (This discount is not compatible with early registration discounts).
Lecturers Showreel
Your career prospects
Your future employers are studios from the film and television industry, such as Trixter, Scanline, Pixomondo or Rise FX. But also "classic" companies, such as BMW or Bosch/Siemens.
Possible professions after graduation are:
- 3D Generalist
- 3D Animator
- VFX Artist
- VFX Coordinator
- FX Artist
- ...
Your career prospects after graduating from Mediadesign University are promising, both creatively and financially. Our graduates have already achieved financial success, including one former student who joined as a VFX Coordinator after graduation and achieved an annual salary of €43,000.
Invest in your creative passion and gain not only professional fulfillment, but also the opportunity to succeed financially! The Mediadesign University prepares you optimally.
Alumnus Markus Frank - Digital Film Design (B.A.)
Head of VFX-Department / VFX-Supervisor, Cine Chromatix, Berlin
"The Mediadesign University is characterized by its practice-oriented teaching concept. The lecturers are experienced professionals from the industry who pass on their expertise with great enthusiasm and commitment. They gave me valuable insights into the different areas of media and helped me develop my own skills."
VFX & Animation Studium in Berlin, München und Düsseldorf
Wenn du dein Digital Film Design Studium an der Mediadesign Hochschule aufnehmen möchtest, hast du die Wahl zwischen drei attraktiven Standorten. Wir heißen dich in Berlin, Düsseldorf und München willkommen, wo Studierende aus der ganzen Welt ihre kreativen Köpfe zusammenstecken, um die hohe Kunst erstklassiger Animation zu erlernen. Knüpfe schon jetzt wertvolle Kontakte für deine berufliche und private Zukunft und lerne von passionierten Dozierenden, die sich selbst schon einen Namen in der Filmbranche gemacht haben.
An unseren modernen Standorten erwartet dich neben begeisterten Kreativen außerdem hochwertige, topmoderne Medientechnik – vom Schnittprogramm über Kameratechnik bis hin zu spezieller 3D-Software bieten wir dir alles, was du brauchst, um zum echten Profi in VFX & Animation zu werden. Starte jetzt dein Visual Effects Studium an der mdh!
Alumna Patricia Feldmann - Digital Film Design (B.A.)
Chief Operating Officer, Cine Chromatix, Berlin
"I benefited in many ways from my studies at mdh. Above all, it was important for me to go through each area once. This was possible due to the many different projects. Our student teams were structured like they are in the real working life. That helped me a lot to find my way."
The mdh effect - take off with the Digital Film Design degree programme!
Why study Digital Film Design at mdh?
Because we help you to transform your creativity into true art! We don't do gimmickry, but rather in-depth knowledge of visual effects & animation that will enable you to inspire people and create great things. Our lecturers are passionate about innovative film design and visual effects and can't wait to share their knowledge with you. Together with other students, you will realise creative projects in which you turn your theoretical know-how directly into reality. Our lecturers will be at your side and support you with their experience from everyday life in the film and television industry.
For us, your personality is by far the most important thing. That's why we nurture your talents during your Digital Film Design degree programme and continue to support you after you graduate: In our comprehensive career network, we help you start your career. You can also stay in touch with former students via our alumni community.
You don't need to become an animator, but are already passionate about fantastic visual effects? Start your studies at the Mediadesign Hochschule now and experience the mdh effect - first study, then take off!
FAQ
1. Was ist Digital Film Design – Animation & VFX?
Im Studium Digital Film Design lernst du, wie digitale Filme, Animationen und visuelle Effekte (VFX) entstehen – von der Idee über das Storyboard bis zur finalen Filmszene. Du gestaltest mit Software wie Maya, Houdini oder After Effects und arbeitest kreativ an Projekten wie Werbefilmen, Serien, Games oder Kinoanimationen.
2. Was lernt man im VFX und Animations-Studium an der mdh?
Du entwickelst Fähigkeiten in 2D/3D-Animation, Compositing, Modelling, Texturing, Lighting und Visual Storytelling. Neben den technischen Tools lernst du, kreative Inhalte zu konzipieren und professionell umzusetzen – praxisnah und projektbasiert.
3. Brauche ich Vorkenntnisse für das Studium?
Nein, du brauchst kein Vorwissen in Animation oder VFX. Wichtig ist, dass du kreativ bist, Interesse an visuellen Medien hast und motiviert bist, dich in professionelle Software einzuarbeiten. Alles Wichtige lernst du Schritt für Schritt im Studium.
4. Ist das VFX Studium eher technisch oder kreativ?
Beides. Du brauchst ein gutes Gespür für Bild, Bewegung und Storytelling – aber auch Lust, dich mit digitalen Tools und Effekten auseinanderzusetzen. Das Studium verbindet kreatives Arbeiten mit technischem Know-how.
5. Warum sollte man Animation & VFX in Berlin studieren?
Berlin ist ein Hotspot für Animation, Film und digitale Medien. Die Stadt bietet viele Studios, Postproduktionsfirmen und Kreativagenturen – perfekte Bedingungen für Praktika, Nebenjobs und Networking. An der mdh Berlin studierst du mitten in der Hauptstadt, in direkter Nähe zu Filmfestivals, Branchen-Events und innovativen Projekten. Du profitierst von einem starken Praxisbezug und Dozent:innen mit direktem Draht zur Film- und VFX-Szene.
6. Warum sollte man Animation & VFX in Düsseldorf studieren?
Düsseldorf ist ein wachsender Medienstandort mit viel Potenzial für kreative Berufe. Besonders in den Bereichen Werbung, Motion Design und digitale Produktionen findest du hier spannende Unternehmen. Die mdh liegt direkt im MedienHafen, einem der kreativsten Orte der Stadt – umgeben von Agenturen, Studios und Start-ups. Das schafft ideale Voraussetzungen für ein praxisnahes Studium und erste berufliche Kontakte in der Region.
7. Welche Jobs kann ich nach dem Animation/VFX Studium machen?
Nach dem Digital Film Design Studium arbeitest du z. B. als 3D Artist, Animator:in, VFX Artist, Motion Designer:in oder Compositor – in Filmstudios, Werbeagenturen, Game-Studios oder Social-Media-Teams.
Unsere Absolvent:innen haben bei Produktionen wie Cloud Atlas oder Im Westen nichts Neues mitgewirkt.
Auch außerhalb der Filmwelt sind deine Skills gefragt – z. B. in der Automobilbranche, Architektur, Werbung oder E-Learning. Animation und VFX sind heute in fast allen Bereichen digitaler Kommunikation unverzichtbar.
8. Wie kann ich das Studium an der mdh finanzieren – und warum lohnt sich die Investition?
Das Studium an der mdh ist privat finanziert, aber es gibt viele Möglichkeiten zur Unterstützung – z. B. BAföG, Studienkredite, Ratenzahlung oder Bonus-Programme. Die Investition lohnt sich, weil du praxisnah mit moderner Technik und professioneller Software arbeitest, ein starkes Portfolio aufbaust und direkten Zugang zur Medien- und Filmbranche bekommst. Die individuelle Betreuung, das Karrierenetzwerk, kleine Lerngruppen und Kontakte zur Industrie bereiten dich gezielt auf deinen Einstieg in den Job vor.
Du kannst dich jederzeit von unserer Studienberatung individuell beraten lassen!
