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BA in Design preparation course

Teacher-led prep course in Zoom for anyone applying to study in a Design BA program in the top University level.
Is your dream to get accepted to  e.g. Aalto University BA in Design program or Design Academy Eindhoven? Take this course to reach your dream!
NEW: self paced course for more independent schedule
Format

Hybrid
Course
zoom / in class

Starting date & studying time

Several starting dates and groups

Next groups start Sept 2025

Teacher interaction

Teacher-led online lessons  

Support on projects & application process

Gains and skills:

Next level ideating & design skills

Successful application assignments & portfolio

Early bird offer until Aug 15th!
690€ (850€)

690 € - 1990 €

Is this course for me?

Are you playing your cards right and have several options in your list of desired university programs? Did you know that you can prepare for them all in this one course? Weather you are preparing a portfolio, or working on mandatory assignments to include in your portfolio or preparing to shine in the preliminary assignment process to  Aalto University, This course is for you. Many of our students apply to several programs that have different application methods and this course is designed to support you in all of them!
Aalto University in Finland is one of the highest ranked Design Universities in the world. In 2023, only 6.8% of the 618 applicants were accepted into the BA program in Design. The admission process includes creative assignments to evaluate the applicant's suitability for the program. 
Design Academy Eindhoven is also in the top ten Design Universities in the world. Their Design BA application process includes two mandatory assignments and portfolio of your previous creative works. 

Don’t worry if all this is new – we got you! In this course you'll learn how to work on the assignments creatively and how to put together an interesting portfolio that shows your potential! Send us your application now to ensure your place in 2025 groups

Course content

The BA in Design prep course will increase your understanding about different fields of design, for example product- and visual communication design. You grow to understand what the entrance exam assignments ask for and how differently you can work on them. You will learn to make your assignments visually interesting while communicating who you are as a potential design student.
We will practice with variations of typical preliminary/mandatory design assignments for different universities which will develop your creative skills and methods you'll need to succeed in the application process. Our design related projects are also a great addition to your application portfolio, showing your variety and potential as a future design student. 

These topics will be covered in the course:

Lesson 1: Assignment & portfolio examples

Lesson 2: Sketching & ideation 

Lesson 3: What is Design

Lesson 4: Concept in  Design

Lesson 5: Visual concept & identity

Lesson 6: Prototyping

Lesson 7: Composition

We offer professional guidance, practice assignments, and experienced teachers' feedback to improve your project focus. You will get tutoring and comments on your application process to ensure your work meets the school's requirements. Peer support and discussions about your ideas are also provided and encouraged, as design most often is teamwork!

In the tutoring process we respect each schools directions about the type of guidance you are allowed to have, so you do not have to worry about the validity of your application. 

ZOOM Class Groups and times

September 8th 2025 -
December 1st 2025

+ individual tutoring time with the teacher until the admission process is done
GROUP 1  Mondays at 17:00 - 20:00 CET (Central European Time)
This group is especially suitable for students form Europe, as the lessons are in the early evening time in most European countries. However, If the times fit your schedule, please feel free to join from anywhere in the world!

September 10th 2025 - December 3rd 2025

+ individual tutoring time with the teacher until the admission process is done
GROUP 2  Wednesdays at 12:00 - 15:00 CET (Central European Time) 
This group suits especially students from Eastern Asia, as the lessons are roughly at the early evening time in Japan, Korea, China or Vietnam. However, if the times fit your schedule, please feel free to join from anywhere in the world!

October 24th 2025
- December 5th 2025

+ individual tutoring time with the teacher until the admission process is done
GROUP 3  Fridays at 8:00 - 11:00 CET (Central European Time)

Our meeting is scheduled for 10:00 AM Helsinki time. This is in your local time.

This group suits students from Eastern Asia, as the lessons are roughly at the early afternoon time in Japan, Korea, China or Vietnam. Also students in Europe who have their mornings free can easily attend the Group 3. The weekly lessons require slightly stronger commitment to the homework projects than in the biweekly meeting groups. 
Please note Finland changes to the winter time on 26th October 2025, and the time zone changes from +2 to +1, meaning one hour delay in the course time, if your country doesn't make the change as well.

Choose your preferred learning method and and sign in or apply to the course!

Self paced
course

Study anywhere, at any time!

690 €

  • 7 video lectures and lesson slides immediately at your disposal
  • 7 subject related quick tasks to ease you into the ideas
  • 7 homework projects relevant to the admission process
  • Teacher's feedback on your returns
  • Personal tutoring on your admission process

Fixed time zoom
course

Next groups on September 2025!

Live Teacher's interaction and peer support. Apply now to this high demand course!

890 €

  • 7 Zoom lessons with Teacher - group interaction 3 hours/lesson, 21 in total
  • 7 video lectures and lesson slides to get back to at any time
  • 7 subject related quick tasks to ease you into the ideas
  • 7 homework projects relevant to the admission process
  • Teacher's feedback on your returns
  • Personal tutoring on your admission process

Guaranteed learning course

Next groups on September 2025!

Boost your chances with this all-inclusive course. Send your application today!

1990 €

  • Course guarantee - if you don't get a study place in this admission round, you can join the course for free next year.
  • Fixed-Time zoom course with all it's content and learning benefits (see left)
  • Teacher's feedback on your returns
  • Personal tutoring on your admission process
  • EXTRA LEARNING PACKAGE 1: Digital Design foundation course to enhance your presentation skills
  • EXTRA LEARNING PACKAGE 2: Your chosen SDS Foundation course for more extensive training with 10 lessons and 20 projects

Our students love us!

Why us?

Scandinavian Design School is located in Finland. We have guided our students to successfully enter  Finnish and International creative degree programs for almost two decades now. Our professional teachers have a solid understanding of the qualities and requirements the programs are looking for in their potential students.

In joining the course you will attain skills and capabilities to apply to any Design BA program in the world.

Fixed-time zoom classes

Study from anywhere in the world in a teacher-led zoom class

Peer support

Similar minded study group motivates and provides different perspectives for your learning!

Teacher’s feedback

Get live feedback from your teacher and fellow students

We have 10+ years of experience with proven results

Of our students were invited to the second stage in their application process

Of our students applying to DAE in 2024 were offered a study place.

Of our students applying in 2023 were accepted to Aalto University.
(6% of all applicants)

Of our students got a study place in one of their destination universities
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