Admission procedure for 2023-2024 for international candidates
The admission procedure for the bachelor's programme of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie consists of two rounds:
- regular 1st round: consultation interview (for all EU/EEA applicants); alternative 1st round: submitting portfolio application online (for all non-EU/EEA applicants);
- 2nd round: entrance examination.
For all information regarding our admission rounds, dates, deadlines, etc., scroll down in the text below.
Questions? Contact: apply[at]rietveldacademie.nl
Regular first admission round: consultation interview
Our regular online consultations run from November 2022 till mid-February 2023, and appointments can be booked from November 2022, maximally 3-4 weeks in advance only.
NOTE: We strongly advise to not wait until last-minute, but book your appointment before X-mas, as this gives you more time to prepare for the 2nd admission round and reduces the risk that all consultations are already fully booked.
Which candidates should book a consultation appointment?
All Dutch and other EU/EEA candidates applying for the 1st bachelor Basicyear full-time or for DOGtime (part-time all years) have to book a consultation appointment!
NOTE: all 2nd/3rd year applicants full-time, and all non-EU/EEA applicants (for both Basicyear and 2nd/3rd year full-time), have to participate in our alternative 1st round SO NOT BOOK a consultation appointment, but instead submit a portfolio application through our online portfolio machine (scroll down below, to alternative 1st round: submitting your portfolio for info).
Book you consultation appointment
From 1 November, you can book your appointment through the links that will be published below (maximally 3-4 weeks in advance only):
- For all Dutch and other EU/EEA Basicyear 2023-2024 full-time candidates - NOTE: from 1 November, the link to book an appointment will be available here;
- For all Dutch and other EU/EEA DOGtime (1st & higher year) 2023-2024 candidates - NOTE: from 1 November, the link to book an appointment will be available here.
NOTE: DOGtime is only open to EU/EEA candidates (and in some cases to non-EU/EEA candidates who already have a valid residence permit for the Netherlands on certain other grounds than full-time studies!)
Scroll down for info on how to prepare for your consultation appointment.
Non-EU/EEA applicants for the Basicyear have to submit a portfolio application for the 1st round before mid-December 2022, scroll down to Alternative 1st round: submitting your portfolio for info below.
Residence permit
Students from all non-EU/EEA countries are OBLIGED to apply for a residence permit through the International Office of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie to study in the full-time bachelor program. They cannot study in our part-time programme, unless they already have a valid residence permit for the Netherlands which allows for studying.
Non-EU/EEA students applying for 2022-2023 had to have a provable amount of more than €17,000.- on their bank account to apply for their residence permit!
Proof of English proficiency
Candidates need to provide proof of English proficiency during the application process. We accept:
- a copy of your European high school/secondary diploma, with English as exam subject (before July 2023), or
- your Academic IELTS certificate, with minimum overall band score of 6.0, with at least 6.0 for Speaking (IELTS score before mid-December 2022 at the latest in your portfolio application! (NOTE: we DO NOT accept TOEFL), or
- proof that English is your mother tongue (high school diploma of native-speaking country), before your participation in the entrance exam.
NOTE: applicants who have to provide an Academic IELTS certificate, really have to submit the certificate with the portfolio application (alternative 1st round) by mid-December 2022 at the latest, as portfolio applications from non-EU/EEA applicants without a valid and sufficient IELTS score, will not be taken into consideration!
What can you expect from the consultation interview?
During an interview with a teacher, your possible suitability for our academy will be assessed and discussed. You can show as much of your work as possible on camera (make sure you collected your work in the room with you before the interview), and in Teams you can also share files to show digital work.
If your work receives a positive assessment, you pass on to the second admission round: the entranc examination, and you will be sent the application form to apply for the entrance exam. NOTE: we strongly advise you to study our complete website and at least take note of our academy philosophy (wich can be found at menu option About) before participation in our first admission round.
NOTE: all non-EU/EEA canddiates have to submit a portfolio application for the 1st round, instead of doing the consultation interview. And we also ask EU/EEA candidates for the 2nd/3rd year full-time to submit a portfolio in our portfolio machine for assessment by the department (scroll down for info below).
Selection of works for the 1st admission round
For the 1st admission round (for both consultation and portfolio machine), show a wide variety of visual work, as diverse as possible, preferably no older than three years. Do not just show final results: initial sketches, ideas and plans can also provide insight. Be sure to show plenty of works, at least 20 pieces (but hopefully more!). These can be drawings, sketches, design sketches, sketch books, paintings, photographs, collages, graphics, textiles, garments, ceramics, items of jewellery, floor plans, models and, if applicable, texts. NOTE: when applying for the basicyear, it is important to show work that is not too one-sided, so not only photography or only graphic work, not only assignment-based work, but also 'free work' based on your own ideas.
Alternative 1st round : submitting your portfolio
All non-EU/EEA candidates, and EU/EEA candidates applying for the 2nd/3rd year full-time, have to submit a portfolio application for assessment in our online 'portfolio machine'. On the basis of the submitted portfolio application, the admissions committee will determine whether the candidate will be invited to participate in the entrance examination.
Portfolios for the Basicyear can be submitted in our online portfolio machine from mid-November until the deadline mentioned below. 2nd/3rd year candidates can submit their portfolios from mid-January onwards until the deadline mentioned below. The guidelines for the selection of works that are outlined above, under 'Selection of works for the 1st admission round', also apply here. To submit your portfolio, you have to first create a login for our portfolio machine.
Login for the portfolio machine
To create a login for our portfolio machine through the link below:
- to submit portfolio for 1st bachelor Basicyear 2023-2024 NOTE: link will be available in November;
- to submit portfolio for 2nd/3rd year fulltime 2023-2024. NOTE: link will be available from December.
You can only apply for the 2nd year, if you completed at least 1 bachelor year of studies in fine arts/design (by July 2023 at the latest).
DEADLINES PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION (alternative 1st round) for 2023-2024
Only for all non-EU/EEA applicants, and EU/EEA applicants for 2nd/3rd year full-time:
- for 1st full-time bachelor Basicyear, DEADLINE = 16 December 2022;
- for application full-time 2nd/3rd year, DEADLINE = 1 March 2023.
We urge you to submit your portfolio application a.s.a.p., well before the deadline! Definitely do not wait until last-minute, to prevent you from missing the deadline due to unexpected technical problems. Only applications submitted before the deadline will be taken into consideration!
2nd round: entrance exam (for all candidates)
If you receive a positive assessment of your portfolio, pass on to the second admission round; the entrance examination. You have to apply for the entrance exam by submitting the application form issued after completing the 1st round.
Entrance exams will be scheduled in:
- March 2022 (& extra round in April) - for candidates full-time Basicyear:
- April, 2022 for candidates DOGtime (extra round in May);
- May, 2022 for 2nd/3rd programme year candidates full-time.
Two to three weeks before the exam week, registered canddiates will receive all relevant information by e-mail. Candidates for the first bachelor year of studies will then also receive the home assignments.
Information about Entrance Exam
Due to Covid-19, in the past 2 years, the entrance exams were adapted and online, in the form of a submitted questionnaire through our online portfolio machine, including a pdf with an elaborate and varied selection of visual work of the last 3 years, and work process and outcome of the home assignments (if applicable). NOTE: at this stage, we have not determined exactly how the entrance exams will be organized coming year. As soon as we can, more specific details will be published here.
In any case, with your input during the entrance exam, the admissions committee hopes to gather enough information about your visual work, the home assignments, your motivation, your background, your sources of inspiration, your expectations of the study programme, and the quality of your English communication, so we can get an idea of your possible suitability for our programme.
The result of the assessments will be sent by e-mail, within one month after the exam week.
Application for a higher year
In principle, all candidates who have studied at an art academy at bachelor level for at least 1 year, can apply for a higher programme year. If you have completed at least 1 bachelor programme year at an art academy (before your possible studies here), you can apply for a higher programme year (instead of the 1st bachelor Basicyear).
Option of skipping the 1st admission round
If you have completed at least one bachelor year at an art academy in one of the following countries, you also have the option of skipping the 1st admission round:
Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, United Kingdom, Austria or Ireland.
Send request to skip first admission round
To become eligible for skipping our 1st admission round, fill out the request form here and submit it. You will have to upload doucmentation/transcripts of studies in this form to prove that you meet our requirements for skipping our 1st admission round. NOTE: the link to the request form is only available from November 2022 till mid-March 2023. Requests will only be processed in the period of December 2022 till - 30 maart 2023.
When are you not eligible for skipping 1st round?
If you are still studying in the first bachelor programme year at your art academy, or have studied at an art academy in a country that is not on the above mentioned list, you can still apply for a higher year (assuming that you will complete the 1st bachelor year of studies before starting your studies at our academy), but you cannot skip the first admission round and are obliged to participate in the first admission round. As 2nd/3rd year candidate, DO NOT book a consultation appointment, but instead submit your portfolio for assessment in our online portfolio machine first. After a positive assessment by the department you chose, you pass on to the 2nd admission round: the entrance exam.
Login for portfolio machine
Candidates for 2nd/3rd year full-time can create a login for the portfolio machine through the link that will be available here from December 2022.
Deadline for 2nd/3rd year candidates to submit portfolio
Deadline = 1 March 2023.
Do not wait until last-minute! We urge you do submit your portfolio a.s.a.p., and well before the deadline, so you don't run the risk of being too late due to unforeseen technical problems.
Holland Scholarship
The Holland Scholarship is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences. The scholarship is meant for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to do their bachelor’s or master’s in Holland.
Scholarship amount
The scholarship amounts to € 5,000. You will receive this only in the first year of your studies.
Application criteria
- Your nationality is non-EEA.
- You are applying for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s at Gerrit Rietveld Academie
- You meet the specific requirements of Gerrit Rietveld Academie
- You have never before studied at an education institution in the Netherlands.
Code of conduct
The Code of Conduct guarantees the quality of higher education provided to international students.
Only students who enrol at an education institution which has signed the 'Code of Conduct with respect to international students in Dutch higher education' are eligible for a study visa. The Code of Conduct puts the institutions under a number of obligations in their dealings with international students.