After graduating, alumni of the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK) move and work around the world. We are proud to count more than 14,000 graduated artists and designers in our network.

We offer our alumni a number of services including extended access to the KABK Portal and the use of the academy’s workshops one year after graduation. We regularly organise activities for alumni and invite them back as guest lecturers or to be involved in KABK publications and events.

Extension of residence permit for non-EU/EEA students (zoekjaar)

Non-EU/EEA students who complete their studies and earn a diploma from a higher education institute in the Netherlands have the opportunity to extend their stay for the purpose of work by applying for the so-called Orientation year residence permit (also known as Search Year, Zoekjaar or Orientation year highly educated persons).

Find related information, eligibility criteria and what applies to your situation on the websites of IND and Nuffic.

Calls & opportunities

We frequently receive requests from external parties seeking artists or designers for paid assignments, workshops, and/or calls for participation in competitions. We will be sharing selected calls on the KABK social media channels.

Post-graduate and master programmes abroad

Are you interested in studying abroad after graduating from the KABK? There are many continuing education programmes around the world. You do need to prepare for these well in advance as selections to these foreign postgraduate programmes usually take place in January. We recommend starting with your preparations at the beginning of your final year. Find out more:

Funds and scholarships for financing post-graduate studies

International postgraduate programmes can be expensive. Some programmes require students to put aside around €30,000 to cover tuition fees and travel and accommodation expenses for one academic year. Numerous funds are offering scholarships for covering (part of) these costs, including:

Please note that it is possible to submit applications to more than one fund at the same time.

Visit www.grantopener.nl for more funds and stop by the International Office for more information about criteria and application procedures.

VSBFonds Scholarship

Bachelor's or Master's graduates who have a Dutch nationality or can prove that they are permanent citizens of the Netherlands, are invited to apply for a VSBFonds scholarship. This scholarship is specifically meant for following a master or carrying out research abroad. One of the most important selection criteria is, “How will the Dutch society benefit from your study abroad? What are you giving back to the society?”

For further information, please contact Aparajita Dutta, Head of International Affairs, University of the Arts The Hague.

Grants for talent & project development

There are also funds that finance special and innovative projects, research and activities by designers and makers through grants. For more information, see: