The Gerrit Rietveld Academie has an international network of foreign art academies with which it has agreed bilateral exchange contracts. 

Every year, approximately 20 students depart to study for a semester abroad. The exchange takes place in the first semester of the third year of your course (the second year of your specialization), from September to January. 

Please note the period of exchange may differ according to the different schools, please discuss this with your department.  

A lot has to be arranged in advance of an exchange period, and preparations begin in the second year of your course (the first year of your specialization): 

Step 1.  Exchange Orientation 

We will organize three consultation sessions to explore the different partner institutes in November. ​​​​​​


Please see the Intranet and Teams for when and where these meetings take place.

Step 2.  Discuss your exchange plans with your department during your December assessment. 

Step 3. Prepare your Portfolio 

December – February: compile your portfolio and all relevant appendices. Your portfolio naturally contains a wide range of your work, and included in the appendices are copies of your personal documents (such as your passport), a statement of English-language proficiency, a letter of motivation and if applicable, a letter of recommendation from your department. During this phase, you’ll visit the walk-in consultation hour at least once with your portfolio for assessment and advice on how to improve your portfolio in line with your chosen academy. A good portfolio can improve your chances! 
 
​​​​​​​The locations and dates of the meetings will be announced as soon as possible.

Additionally, think about the following questions when writing your motivation:

  1. Which departments are available for exchange at the partner institute, and do they align with your preferences?

  2. What is the school's and department's artistic philosophy or approach, and how does it contribute to your personal artistic practice?
  3. Why do you want to participate in an exchange program? How will it benefit your development, and how can this particular school and cultural environment support that growth?
  4. If you are considering a non-EU school, have you taken into account the additional costs and practical considerations such as visa requirements?
  5. What facilities and resources are available to exchange students, such as studios, labs, libraries, or special equipment?
  6. What is the student community like at the partner school? Are there active student organizations, clubs, or networks that could enhance your experience?
  7. What is the primary language of instruction, and are there any language barriers that might impact your learning experience? Are there language support services available?
  8. What are the housing options for exchange students, and what is the cost of living in the area? How does the school assist with finding accommodation?
  9. Have you spoken to alumni or current students who have participated in an exchange at this school? What insights did they share about their experience?
  10. How does the school support the social integration of exchange students? Are there orientation programs, social events, or buddy systems in place?

 

 

Deadline for submitting online portfolio: Monday 10 February 10.00 AM. 

Step 4.  Nominations, preselection and applications 

Once your portfolio has been approved, we will nominate you for exchange. However, if there is too much interest in a particular school we will have to make a preselection. After nomination you’ll prepare your portfolio according to the guidelines of the receiving Academy. You can request a transcript of records for your application with the international office. There will be different deadlines and application processes for each academy; the International Office will assist you in these processes after you have submitted your portfolio. If you fail to apply according to the guidelines of the partner institute on time, your application will be cancelled. 

Step 5.  Application Results 

As soon as you receive the outcome of your application you inform the international office and your department. If your application has been accepted, you’ll have one week to inform the receiving Academy and the international Office whether you would like to accept or reject the offer.  

 

Step 6.  Preparing for you stay abroad 

Once you have been accepted, you can turn to the practical considerations of your international exchange: travel and accommodation will need to be arranged, relevant insurance organized, you may need to apply for a visa and perhaps most importantly, you’ll need to think about finances.  
Don’t forget: your tuition fees must be paid to the Gerrit Rietveld Academie before you leave, and by 1 September at the latest! 

In order to make sure you are fully prepared for your exchange; you are required to fill out the Checklist form in OSIRIS. You will be invited to do this after you receive the acceptance letter from the partner institute.  

Step 6a.  Since the academy has stepped out of Erasmus+ you cannot apply for an Erasmus grant. You can only apply for a Holland Scholarship for countries outside the EU. Two to four students will receive this scholarship. For additional information on grants and scholarships, please visit: http://www.wilweg.nl/financiering/beursopener 

 

Requirements to receive ECTS for your exchange: 

  1. You are required to achieve sufficient credits during the first year of your specialization in order to proceed to the second year. If you are required to repeat a class, the exchange will be cancelled, even if all other preparations have been successfully completed. If you switch department you will need to apply for approval of your exchange, this is not guaranteed!  

 

  1. In Preparation for your exchange: You will have to complete the Checklist in OSIRIS. This is to guarantee you understand all necessary steps.  

 

  1. Upon arrival: You will have to upload a Confirmation of Arrival in OSIRIS signed and stamped by the international office of the receiving academy. You will receive an invitation to OSIRIS just before the start of the semester.
     

  2. During your exchange: You will keep in touch with the Gerrit Rietveld Academie during your exchange; we naturally want to know how things are going. 
     

  3. After your exchange period, we’ll ask you to complete an evaluation questionnaire and you will have to upload a transcript of records in OSIRIS signed and stamped by the receiving academy. 

You must meet all  of the requirements mentioned above, to get the ECT’s for your exchange.