Application and admission
Required documentation
All documentation must be submitted in either English or a Scandinavian language. Documents must be in PDF format, with a maximum file size of 15 MB. Incomplete applications and non-mandatory documentation will not be considered.
Bachelor degree with 180 ECTS
To be eligible, you must provide documentation of a Bachelor's degree and at least 80 ECTS in design-related courses.
Upload your transcript and diploma from relevant higher education (university level)
The documentation must include:
- Name of the school, university or institution
- Year and term for your studies
- Results for each course you have completed
- Signature from the institution
The documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language. If your university cannot issue a Transcript of Records or Diploma Supplement in English or a Scandinavian language, you must provide a certified translation. You cannot translate the documents yourself.
If you have completed relevant courses in addition to your undergraduate degree, you may upload these.
If you have not completed your degree by the application deadline
Upload confirmation from your educational institution. The confirmation must include:
- Name of the study programme
- Expected date of completion for your degree or module
- Signature from the institution
Upload the information you have at the time of applying, such as Transcript of Records and formal documentation about the courses in progress. Submit your final degree transcripts and Diploma as soon as you have received these. Your degree must be completed by the start of semester in August.
Digital portfolio and CV
General requirements
Your portfolio must include a selection of your works and projects, from studies and work experience. There is no minimum or maximum number of works or projects – choose the ones that best represent you.
Please include your CV on the first page of the portfolio. List your education and relevant work experience. There are no specific requirements for the format or layout of the CV.
The portfolio must be uploaded as a single PDF file, with a maximum file size of 15 MB.
You may include a link to your website as a supplement to your portfolio. However, portfolios that only include a website link are not accepted as a submitted portfolio.
Recommended skills
Students admitted to the programme are divided across the different study specialisations. Below are the recommended skills for each one.
Industrial design:
- Ability to use a computer aided design tool (CAD) on an advanced level.
- Ability to work with physical models, both as a process method and for presentation purposes.
- Ability to use hand drawings, both conceptually and communicatively
Interaction design:
- Applicants should have demonstrable experience in designing for interactive experiences and digital services. This should be evident through project work in designing for digital interfaces, user-experience, communication and screen-based interactions.
- It would be an advantage for the applicant to be familiar with designing for digital interactions across Web and software applications, as well as other digital materials and formats (including tangible interactions and interactive products). The applicant should have experience from iterative, digital design processes and concept development, as well as skills in developing and testing interactive prototypes with users.
Service design:
- Students applying for a master’s in service design should have demonstrable experience of designing for service. This should be evident through project work and the use of visualization and communication tools such as the customer journey, blueprint, storyboarding, experience prototyping, and evidencing.
- It would also be an advantage for the student to have some understanding of concepts relating to service design such as, the value network, time as a design material, actor networks, value in use and design for experience.
Assessment criteria
If you are formally qualified, the AHO Assessment Committee evaluates your portfolio. Criteria for assessment include knowledge and sensibility towards various aspects of design studies, skills and variety in representation, and portfolio design – focusing on structure, length, clarity, and the conveying of concepts rather than on completed and fulfilled assignments.
Satisfactory knowledge of English
International applicants from outside the Nordic countries must document satisfactory knowledge of the English language.
Tuition fee
Students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland study free of charge.
Students from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are required to pay a tuition fee of NOK 150 000 per academic year, unless they qualify for an exemption.
You do not need to submit documentation related to tuition fees as part of your application. If you are offered admission, you will be required to present valid identification and either pay the tuition fee invoice or apply for an exemption, if eligible.
Apply
Log in to the application portal Søknadsweb to register as an applicant. Select AHO as your institution.
Contact
Do you have questions about the programme, application process or admission to AHO?
Admission 2026: dates and deadlines
5 December
Søknadsweb opens for applications
Log in to register as an applicant and select AHO as your institution.
You can log in with BankID or create a new account as an international applicant. If you register as an international applicant, you will receive an email with login information.
2 February
Deadline to register your application in Søknadsweb
Log in to register as an applicant and select AHO as your institution.
You can log in with BankID or create a new account as an international applicant. If you register as an international applicant, you will receive an email with login information.
5 February
Deadline to upload all documentation in Søknadsweb
Upload the required documentation relevant to the study programme you have applied for. Incomplete applications and non-mandatory documentation will not be considered.
1 March
Reprioritisation deadline
Do you want to change the order of your study programme preferences? The final deadline is 1 March at 23:59. If you receive an offer, programmes ranked lower will be removed.
30 April
Admission results will be published in Søknadsweb
Prior to this, your portfolio will be assessed by an assessment committee, and you may be asked to complete a video interview. Due to the high number of applicants, feedback on portfolios will not be provided.