New Design University (NDU) is a state-recognised private university of the creative economy in St. Pölten, Austria, founded in 2004 by the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce (Wirtschaftskammer NÖ) and its business-development institute WIFI NÖ. With roughly 500–600 students and an explicit commitment to small-group teaching and individualised faculty mentoring, NDU couples disciplinary depth with an unusually high instructor-to-student ratio. The institution holds AQ Austria accreditation and operates as a non-profit under the Chamber’s umbrella. Within the CCI Network the university is represented by Stefan Moritsch and Erik Eltner.
The university trains “creative thinkers who advance social change and explore tomorrow’s work and design practice today,” combining theory and practice, reflection with construction, future with tradition. Its signature Design, Handwerk & Materielle Kultur (Design, Craft & Material Culture) Bachelor programme is built explicitly around craft competency — applicants who already hold a craft apprenticeship gain a design-thinking layer, while school-leavers acquire wood or ceramic processing skills through a foundational course. Applied research runs through initiatives such as Materiautech®, design-driven value creation, and EU-funded collaborative projects on sustainability and innovation. In 2025 NDU was ranked first in reputation among Austrian private universities by the IMWF study.
Programmes
- Bachelor — Design, Craft & Material Culture; Graphic & Information Design; Interior Architecture & 3D Design; Event Engineering; Management by Design
- Master — advanced design and management programmes
- PhD / Doctoral Studies — research-oriented doctoral pathways
- University Courses (Lehrgänge) — continuing-education formats
- Research — Materiautech®, design-driven value creation, EU collaborative projects
Contact info
- Address: New Design University St. Pölten, Mariazeller Straße 97a, 3100 St. Pölten, Austria
- Website: ndu.ac.at
- Founded: 2004
- Founding bodies: Wirtschaftskammer Niederösterreich and WIFI NÖ
- Accreditation: AQ Austria (state-recognised private university)
- Student body: ~500–600