Application
Application for the Preparatory Course is only available to Dutch and other EU/EEA applicants (with maximum age of 25).
You can apply for the Preparatory Course 2026-2027 by filling out the application form here on our application portal.
The admission interviews are scheduled on:
- Wednesday, 27 May 2026, between 9.30 AM and 4.00 PM;
- Wednesday, 17 June 2026, between 9.30 AM and 4.00 PM (this date may be subject to change) .
Application DEADLINE is: 1 May 2026.
After submitting the application form, you'll receive an automatic e-mail confirmation with the home assignments and other relevant info.
NOTE: applications from non-EEA candidates will not be considered. The Gerrit Rietveld Academie cannot arrange a visa application for non-EEA candidates for the Preparatory Course. This means non-EEA candidates can only apply for the Preparatory Course if they already have a valid residence permit for the Netherlands on other grounds than studies.
Proof of English proficiency
A copy of your European high school diploma, with English as exam subject, is considered sufficient proof of English proficiency. If you are a native speaker and currently in your graduation year of high school you can submit your high school diploma as soon as you obtain it (but before the start of the course).
Attending admission interview at the academy
The Preparatory Course is preceded by a selection. After submitting your application form, you will receive home assignments that have to be completed in preparation for the selection day.
Besides these home assignments, candidates are invited to attend an admission interview in person at our academy in Amsterdam, and to bring a selection of works to the interview.
The portfolio/work you show may consist of sketches, doodles, photographs, videos or three-dimensional work – in short, visual information in order to see if you are going to benefit from our programme, anything that provides information on your visual capacities. We would also like to know about your views on studying with us!
Course fee
The course fee for 2025-2026 was € 2,750.-. The 2026-2027 course fee will be published here as soon as possible.
NOTE: the course fee has to be paid in full before the start of the course, and cannot be paid in instalments.
Attending the Preparatory Course does not give you the right to apply for Dutch student support (Studiefinanciering).
Information about the applicable Course Participant Charter can be found on this link (where you can also download the charter).
Start of the course
The Preparatory Course 2025-2026 started with an introduction on: Friday afternoon 19 September 2025.
The first class was on: Monday 22 September 2025.
More information
For more information on the application process, contact: apply[at]rietveldacademie.nl .
For information about the curriculum of the course, kindly contact the head teacher of the course, Tarja Szaraniec, at tarja.szaraniec[at]rietveldacademie.nl .