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Digital Design and Development (DEVINE) logo Howest Institute of Applied Science logo

Digital Design and Development (DEVINE)

Howest Institute of Applied Science
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Degree Type Bachelor
Delivery Method On-campus
Duration 3
Application Deadline June
Country Belgium
Language English

Program Overview

The Digital Design and Development (DEVINE) program at Howest University of Applied Sciences is a three-year bachelor's program taught in English that combines design, development, and user experience (UX) research. Students work on increasingly complex, team-based projects throughout their studies, which conclude with a three-month internship. 

  • Focus: The program prepares students to become "Deviners"—creative digital experts with a balanced skill set in design and development.
  • Location: The program is based at Campus Buda in Kortrijk, located in a renovated textile factory that provides a stimulating creative environment.
  • International community: The English-taught track fosters a diverse and international student body from around the world.
  • Practical approach: The curriculum combines theoretical lessons with practical sessions, focusing heavily on hands-on, team-based projects and real-world assignments.
  • Industry connections: The program has strong ties to the creative digital industry, providing students with guest lectures and exposure to real-life projects. 

Key Program Features

  • <ul> <li data-start="5272" data-end="5489"> <p data-start="5274" data-end="5489"><strong data-start="5274" data-end="5301">Language of instruction</strong>: Both English and Dutch tracks available. The English track is fully taught in English; for non-Dutch speakers some Dutch classes may be offered.&nbsp;<span data-state="closed"><span data-testid="webpage-citation-pill"></span></span></p> </li> <li data-start="5490" data-end="5594"> <p data-start="5492" data-end="5594"><strong data-start="5492" data-end="5504">Location</strong>: Kortrijk
  • Belgium &mdash; creative and dynamic environment for digital design &amp; development.</p> </li> <li data-start="5595" data-end="5730"> <p data-start="5597" data-end="5730"><strong data-start="5597" data-end="5632">Focus on projects and portfolio</strong>: The curriculum emphasises hands-on
  • multidisciplinary projects
  • code + design + user research.</p> </li> <li data-start="5731" data-end="5910"> <p data-start="5733" data-end="5910"><strong data-start="5733" data-end="5765">Specialisation in final year</strong>: Students pick an expertise pillar (Visual Design / Experience Design / Development) to deepen skills.&nbsp;<span data-state="closed"><span data-testid="webpage-citation-pill"></span></span></p> </li> <li data-start="5911" data-end="6082"> <p data-start="5913" data-end="6082"><strong data-start="5913" data-end="5944">International opportunities</strong>: Study trips
  • exchange with partner institutions
  • real-world briefs with international clients.&nbsp;<span data-state="closed"><span data-testid="webpage-citation-pill"></span></span></p> </li> <li data-start="6083" data-end="6206"> <p data-start="6085" data-end="6206"><strong data-start="6085" data-end="6107">Portfolio-oriented</strong>: The combination of technical and creative gives students a strong base for diverse digital roles.</p> </li> </ul>

Career Opportunities

  • Career outcomes: Due to the program's strong industry reputation, graduates are highly sought after. 96% of students find a job immediately after graduation, and 100% of alumni work within the creative digital sector.
  • Job roles: Graduates are prepared for a variety of roles, including:
    • Experience/UX Designer
    • Front-end or Full-stack Developer
    • Motion Designer
    • Creative Coder
    • Mobile Developer

Program Curriculum

The DEVINE program is structured around three core pillars, which are integrated into intensive projects over three years: 

  • Design: Covers visual design topics like branding, iconography, typography, and motion graphics.
  • Development: Focuses on the technical skills needed to build and code digital ideas from start to finish. In the final year, students choosing a "Creative Development" minor track work with Arduinos, WebGL, and machine learning.
  • UX Research: Emphasizes user-centric design to create digital products that are valuable to the end-user. 

Structure:

  • First year: foundational courses across design (visual, motion), development (web, creative code), and experience design/UX. For example: “WEB 1”, “CREATIVE CODE 1”, “INTEGRATION 1” modules. 

  • Second year: deeper into responsive design, team-projects, motion/3D, UX research. 

  • Third year: specialisation (you choose one pillar), a major project, integration weeks with real clients, possibly international exchange.

Key module examples:

  • Visual Design: typography, iconography, motion graphics, 3D modelling. 

  • Development: HTML/CSS/JS, creative coding, WebGL, installations, databases, responsive & mobile. 

  • Experience Design / UX Research: user-journeys, content matrix, prototypes, data gathering, behaviour analysis.

  • Integration projects: Real-world briefs with clients, multidisciplinary team work, international exchange (for example with Hogeschool Rotterdam).

Admission Requirements

  • Secondary school diploma (or equivalent) required. 

  • For English-taught track: Proof of English proficiency (e.g., IELTS/TOEFL) may be required. 

  • For the Dutch-taught programme: proof of Dutch language proficiency (e.g., CEFR B2 or equivalent) if your prior education was not in Dutch. Howest University

  • Application steps: Online application form, submission of certified copies of diplomas/transcripts, pay an application fee (≈ €50) for some cases.

Start date: The programme typically starts in September. For example the Dutch-taught track lists a start 22 Sept

International students must meet the following criteria: 

  • Diploma: A secondary education diploma that grants access to university-level studies in the country where it was issued. Final-year students can apply with a transcript and expected graduation date.
  • English proficiency: Proof of proficiency at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference. Accepted certificates include IELTS (minimum score 6.5), TOEFL (minimum 79), and Duolingo (minimum 110).
  • Motivation letter: Applicants must write a motivation letter in English.
  • Apple MacBook: Students are required to have an Apple MacBook for the program. The university provides student discounts. 

Tuition & Financial Information

Tuition Fee

8,280 USD / year

  • Tuition fees: For non-EEA citizens, tuition is a combination of a fixed fee and a variable fee per ECTS. The exact amount is specified on the official Howest website.
  • Living expenses (non-EEA): Non-EEA students must demonstrate they have an additional €11,000 per year for living expenses. This is managed through a blocked bank account set up with Howest and is required for the visa application.
  • Financial aid: Financial aid may be available, but prospective students should review the latest information on the Howest website and contact their STUVO (student facilities department) for specific options. 

About Howest Institute of Applied Science

Howest Institute of Applied Science logo

Howest Institute of Applied Science

Kortrijk, Belgium

<p>Howest Institute of Applied Sciences is<span>&nbsp;</span>a public university in Belgium known for its innovative, entrepreneurial, and practice-oriented approach to education and...

University Profile

Application Information

  • Application Deadline June
  • Start Date September
  • Language English
  • Duration 3
  • Credits 180
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