Entrance requirements
Language proficiency
Deadline of application
General consultation hour
Application
Entrance examination
Registration
Studielink
Tuition fee
Entering in a higher year
Preparatory courses
Entry visa and Residence permit for non-EU/EEA students
Why KABK?

Entrance requirements
Bachelor programme

Should you wish to be accepted to a bachelor’s programme at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) you should have a high school diploma comparable to Dutch vwo, havo or mbo 4 diploma.

Generally the focus area at the high school level is on art and culture, but other focus areas will also be accepted. If you do not have the required diplomas, but are able to prove - on the basis of an assessment authorized by KABK - that you actually function at the desired level (at least Dutch havo), you can also apply for admission. You must arrange this assessment yourself, and pay for it. KABK can advice on reliable organizations for such assessments.

The academy does have several requirements concerning the suitability of the candidates. For this reason there is an admission examination, which is different for each of the study domains.

Master programme
You should have a bachelor’s degree in the field of study of your choice and your bachelor’s degree should be equivalent to the Dutch bachelor’s.

Language proficiency
Good communication between teacher and students is of great importance in order to discuss the work and the developments in it. Therefore, sufficient command of either Dutch and/or English is essential. All international students will have to take an interview during the admission examination in order to prove the sufficient level of English (IELTS 6 or TOEFL 83 internet based).  
Students who are not proficient in the English language might have to take a IELTS or TOEFL and fulfill the requirement in order to be accepted.

Deadline of application
All non-EU/EEA applicants requiring an entry visa (MVV) should apply before 1 May.

General consultation hour
For those candidates who wish to know more about the possibilities of studying at the KABK and for those wishing to know more about the admissions procedure, there is a general consultation hour for which an appointment can be made with the Student Administration – studentenadministration@kabk.nl

Application
Should you wish to study at the KABK, the first thing to do is fill out the online application form. After submission of the form you receive an automatic reply of the particular programme you want to study. The automatic reply of the Department explains the procedure to be followed and assignments to be made for the entrance examination.

Entrance examination
The entrance examination helps the KABK determine the candidates’ artistic possibilities and motivation for the course they wish to follow. Besides presenting a portfolio and an interview, candidates may be asked to complete additional assignments at home or to work at the Academy for a day. The entrance examination is done by an admissions committee and takes place at the KABK. They give a preliminary advice to the director who eventually makes the final decision concerning the admission.

International students who cannot be present at the entrance examination will have to send their portfolio together with all the other necessary documents. An interview (through Skype) will take place with the student to discuss the portfolio and judge the English language skill.
Please note that for certain Departments all students have to be present for the entrance examination. Please read the auto-replies carefully.

Registration
You will receive an official admission letter signed by the Director if you have passed the entrance examination. This letter contains the procedures to be followed in order to get registered as a student, because you need to register yourserlf through Studielink. Registration takes place once the conditions described in the letter have been met and the tuition fee or the authorization for it has been received by the Financial Administration. The KABK has limited capacity for accepting students. If more applicants register than there is place for, those who were first will be accepted first.

Tuition Fee
The Board of Governors has determined three categories of rates for lecture and tuition fees for the academic year 2012-2013. The rates are determined under the proviso that, based on the legal situation (e.g. for extended study duration) the level of tuition fees may change.   
The complete overview about the lecture and tuition fees 2012-2013 is available under the link.

Entering in a higher year
When a student has done a year or part of a year at another academy and has decided to continue the rest of the education at the Royal Academy, he or she should make an appointment with the head of the Department of the particular field in which they wish to graduate. The rest of the application procedure will be discussed then.

Preparatory courses
It might be that the admissions committee does not yet find you suitable for education at the KABK. You might then be referred to one of the different preparatory courses at the KABK, in order to further develop yourself and gain a sufficient level to be accepted into one of the bachelor studies.

Entry visa and Residence permit for non-EU residents
Candidates from non-EU/EEA countries should have an entry visa and a residence permit. The Student Administration at the KABK will help with the application of the necessary visa when they have received all the required documents. A list of the documents will be attached with the official acceptance letter.
Students are advised NOT to apply for the entry visa by themselves.

Why KABK?
1.    Tradition and innovation
2.    Internationally oriented
3.    Use of English
4.    Professional career oriented programmes
5.    Teachers with prominent positions and practices
6.    Research oriented post-graduate programmes
7.    Situated in the diplomatic and political capital

1.    Tradition and innovation
The Royal Academy of Art, The Hague was founded in 1682 and is the oldest in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in Europe. The key words of our Academy are: creativity, content, involved and future oriented. Exceptionally broad, high quality and from traditional to the most advanced of today’s media we help students to innovated their own work of art.
The Hague is a vital breeding place for new ideas concerning Fine Art/Design, Music and Dance. The Royal Academy of Art (and the Royal Conservatoire) takes a central place in this whole and works in close cooperation with other Art Academies and museums. An important partner is also the close network of artists, studios and initiatives that have a strong international orientation. There is a active municipal policy for the creation and distribution of ateliers and laboratory-like situations for the production of art and design and research thereafter.

2.    Internationally oriented
We are an inspiring community (offer an inspiring environment) where students, fine arts teachers and designers from different parts of the world (Europe, America and Asia) meet each other, cooperate and discuss about Art and society. This makes the Royal Academy an inspiring melting pot of ideas and cultures.
The curriculum of the programmes are drawn up to fit in international experience as an essential part of the study at the Royal Academy of Art. The KABK has many exchange programmes and international projects and excursions.

3.    Use of English
Bachelors programmes are taught either completely in English or a combination of English and Dutch. All Dutch courses are either translated or summarized in English. Buddies are assigned to help the international students.
Masters, research and PhD programmes are taught in English.

4.    Professional career oriented programmes
Most importantly Royal Academy of Art let its students discover their talents and work from there to become artists expressing their own personal interests, insights and perceptions. Students work independently and are given complex assignments which prepare them for working individually or collectively as a fine artist or designer when they finish their studies. The Royal Academy of Art offers ample opportunity do to internships in order to get a hands on experience.

5.    Teachers with prominent positions and practices
Our teachers are all prominent practitioners in the field of Fine Arts. They are active as artists, designers, photographers, architects, curators or art critics. Most of them have their own gallery and work in collaboration with other successful artist. Most teachers are actively involved in international projects. Together with the students they give form to the education. The Royal Academy of Art receives (inter)national guests lecture on a regular and frequent basis.

6.    Research oriented post-graduate programmes
The Royal Academy of Fine Art emphasizes and recognizes the importance of research in Art. We have masters programme dedicated to artistic research. Art students and teachers can do a PhD programme at our school. The Royal Academy of Art and the University of Leiden have a cooperation and offers PhD-Arts.

7.    Situated in the diplomatic and political capital
The Royal Academy of Art is situated opposite the central station of The Hague. This city is the  centre of Dutch politics and international diplomacy. The International Court of Justice, the Peace Palace are situated in The Hague. It is also hosts the Royal working palace of the Dutch Queen. It is a dynamic, multicultural city with museums, galleries and most importantly the beach.
The Hague is situated in close proximity to other big cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Leiden and Utrecht. Leiden is 16 km and takes 12 minutes by train; Rotterdam is 21 km from the Hague at a train ride takes 20 minutes. A train ride to Amsterdam from The Hague (52 km) takes 40 minutes.