Architecture and Urban Design (BA)

Professors: Eckert, Jonas, Winkens

Start of the architecture degree programme
During a two-week introductory event, all first-year students are welcomed and introduced to the study of architecture by an interdisciplinary team of professors from the fields of design, drafting and monument preservation. The first foundations are laid by means of introductory lectures. On the basis of an excursion to an object in Potsdam's monument landscape, the basics of architectural drawing and building surveying are taught, thus providing a very direct approach to the study of architecture.

Professors: Bess, Cousin, Tubbesing and lecturers Rosin, Dose, Kassens

In semesters 1 and 2, "Design and Construction" is the central and integrative module in the Architecture and Urban Design programme, which is supplemented by the Design, Technology and Theory modules.

The Small House and the Landscape - The Country House/Villa and the Garden
Architectural design is determined, among other aspects, by essentially two significant parameters: the site and the type, i.e. the reference to and reflection on the given site (genius loci) and the examination of the potential building type.
The site of the first two semesters is the landscape, as a cultivated landscape park and as a designed garden. The discussion of the building type begins in the first semester with a small house ("hut") in the landscape; in the second semester, the type of country house or villa and the garden become the task. In both cases, the focus is on the further development of the existing, which is analysed and built upon. The lecture series "Construction, Components, Material" (Brands/NN) already prepares the students for the 3rd semester in terms of content.

Intermediate critique (half-time) together

Final critique together/with guests

Grading conference among all professors involved

Professors: Brands/NN, Eingartner, Kleihues, Malcovati, Dietzsch

The house in the city
"The house in the city" is the central building block of the city. The first step is to deal with the existing building, i.e. with the urban and building structure, its history and the typological peculiarities of the neighbourhood. The individual design work begins with the examination of references/comparable examples. In addition to the individual development of the design concept, the constructive elaboration of the house and its solid, sustainable materialisation are at the centre of the design work. The lecture series "Elements of Urban Architecture" (Malcovati) already prepares the students for the 4th semester in terms of content.

Intermediate critique (mid-term) together

Final critique together / with guests

Grade conference among all professors involved

The representational skills range from hand or hybrid drawings to digital renderings, which find their application depending on the project.

Lecturers: Fenske, Zitelli, Dose, Kassens

Professors: Jonas, Eingartner, Kleihues, Malcovati

The discovery of the city

Urban design "Urban Space
The design of an urban quarter is a special challenge, because in it place, type, history and concept intertwine and the questions of public and private spaces are posed. At the beginning, the design task is placed in a cultural and supra-local context on the basis of comparable references. The individual urban concept develops from this analysis and is gradually confronted with the local conditions and thus adapted to the site, whereby questions of urban morphology, house typology and landscape planning are added. The step-by-step elaboration of the urban and open spaces, the house typologies and parcelling, as well as individual architectures that shape the urban space, culminate in a holistic urban design.

Intermediate critique (half-time) together

Final critique together / with guests

Grading conference among all professors involved

The representational skills range from hand or hybrid drawings to digital renderings, which find their application depending on the project.

Lecturers: Fenske, Zitelli, Dose, Kassens

Professors: Eckert, Dietzsch, Jonas, Kleihues, Tubbesing, Winkens, Eingartner

The relationship between site and house type plays a central role in the development of architectural design, both in the landscape and in the city. Knowledge of general and local house types (lecture series "House typologies" in 5th semester / Jonas) and city typologies/urban morphologies (lecture series in 7th semester / NN) is the prerequisite for developing individual design concepts.

Since most of the work in these semesters is done on "big houses", questions of the local and historical urban context as well as the examination of programmes and projects of a comparable kind in other places and at other times play a relevant role.

Intermediate critique (half-time) with several professors

Final critique with several professors / with guests

Grade conference among all professors involved

The design offer in the higher semesters is made through open elective courses and individual counselling.

Professors: Eckert, Dietzsch, Jonas, Kleihues, Winkens, Eingartner

The design of a house with a deepening of the structural planning aspect presupposes an intensive examination of the construction of the room. In addition to the individual design work, the reflection of historical buildings and their constructive ideas thus represents an essential part of the design work. The knowledge of general and specific structural solutions and construction methods (lecture series "Great houses, construction, structure, material" in the 6th semester / all lecturers) and (lecture series "Construction theory/structural framework" in the 6th semester / N. N.) represents the prerequisite for the development of individual design concepts. The summer semester is shortened by 3-4 weeks due to the internships starting in July.

Intermediate critique (mid-term) with several professors

Final critique with several professors / with guests

Grade conference among all professors involved

Professors: Eckert, Jonas, Dietzsch, Tubbesing, Winkens

Based on the overall theme of "metropolitan architecture", the individual groups develop overarching urban planning concepts/master plans for the sites that are relevant to and shape the urban structure, and deepen them in individual approaches up to the architectural object. Joint events, meetings and lectures on general themes of the city and the specificity of the site link the different concepts in the individual groups with each other and lead to an exchange of ideas between the groups. The external students (lateral entrants) admitted for the upcoming Master's project complete the project as a design project.

(previous examples: metropolitan main streets/radials, Tempelhofer Feld, Generalzug, Mehringdamm-Tempelhofer Damm, etc.).

Intermediate critique (mid-term) with all professors involved

Final critique with several professors / with guests

Grade conference among all professors involved

The application for the winter semester takes place from 15 May to 15 July online in the MyCampus university portal of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

Documents to be submitted

When applying online, the following documents must be submitted as PDF files in the application portal:

• If applicable, university entrance qualification
• Proof of professional or other previous experience relevant to the field of study, if applicable
• If applicable, university degree certificate and justification for taking up a second degree programme
• Proof of service, if applicable
• If applicable, proof(s) of hardship application or application for disadvantage compensation

Checklist & invitation to the aptitude test

After completing your online application in the MyCampus university portal, you will receive a personal checklist with the following information:

• List of all supporting documents that you have uploaded as PDF files according to the information you provided in your online application.
• Information on the rest of the procedure
• Invitation link to the aptitude test: The invitation link will take you to the registration form for the aptitude test in architecture and design. Registration is possible until 15 July.

The course-related aptitude test in architecture and design consists of an aptitude interview. The basis for this is formed by the following documents, which you should print out and bring with you to the aptitude test:

• Completed application form (you will receive this via link after the online application)
• letter of motivation (1/2 page, A4)
• a portfolio with at least five of your own artistic works

Note on the portfolio

• The works should generally deal with the built environment or urban spaces of any kind: These can be city views, city details, houses and house details, squares, built-up streets or courtyards.
• In the sketches we would like to feel your enthusiasm for CITY | BUILDING | CULTURE. These sketches (maximum DIN A3) can be created with different techniques such as line, charcoal, ink or watercolour. You have the option of supplementing your work with photos.

Evaluation criteria

The criteria for the evaluation of the architectural-artistic aptitude are artistic aptitude, aesthetic sensibility, spatial imagination, perceptive ability, representational ability and motivation.

If you have already successfully passed an aptitude test last year, please contact studien-service@fh-potsdam.de. In this case, participation again is optional.

Selection procedure

Applicants who fulfil the admission requirements take part in the procedure for awarding places.
In the allocation procedure for the first semester, the following are deducted in advance from the number of places to be allocated:

• all applicants who were unable to accept an earlier admission due to service, as well as all applicants who are members of the national squad of a national sports association of the German Olympic Sports Confederation
• 11 % for applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification
• 3 % for applicants for a second degree
• 3 % for applicants who are to be considered on the basis of hardship.

The remaining study places are allocated 80 % according to the results of a university selection procedure and 20 % according to waiting time.

The study places in the university selection procedure are awarded according to the result of the aptitude test in accordance with § 9 Para. 3 of the Brandenburg University Admissions Act.

Admission

Following the university selection procedure, the award procedure is carried out. Applicants with a correspondingly high ranking will receive a time-limited offer of admission in the MyCampus university portal, which you must actively accept.

Once you have accepted the offer of admission, you will find your notification of admission in the MyCampus University Portal. If you do not accept the offer of admission by the deadline, the ranking list will continue to be processed and the place will be reallocated.

You have passed the aptitude test and accepted the offer of admission? Then you have the option of submitting an enrolment application for the winter semester in the MyCampus university portal of the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

Once you have submitted your online application for enrolment, please submit the printed and signed application together with all required documents in paper form by the deadline. The day of the enrolment deadline is decisive for the submission of the documents, whereby the date of receipt by post at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam is decisive.

Documents to be submitted

• University entrance qualification
• If applicable, further documents according to the enrolment application form.

Do you have questions about the enrolment process at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam? We have compiled frequently asked questions and answers regarding enrolment and admission.

Start your studies

After you have successfully completed the application process, we recommend that you take a look at the start of studies page of the degree programme in architecture and urban design. There you will find important information and dates regarding the start of your studies at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.