The application deadline for study year 2025 – 2026 was 1 March, but you can still apply until 1 May.

Admission requirements

As part of the admission and selection procedure for both the full-time and the part-time Bachelor Fine Arts programmes we ask you to demonstrate your artistic talent, intellectual curiosity, and affinity with a wide range of artistic disciplines. You will be asked to show examples of earlier work and explain your motivation to study at the Fine Arts department of the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK).

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to come to the KABK and to participate in an interview with the selection committee. For applicants with larger traveling distance, they will be able to be interviewed online.

Read first about the general eligibility requirements and the specific requirements of the materials you need to prepare before starting your application to the full-time or part-time Fine Arts programme.

PLEASE NOTE:
Non-EU/EEA applicants are only eligible to apply for the full-time programme.

A residence permit for part-time students cannot be arranged by the KABK.

General requirements

  • High school diploma
    High school diploma comparable to a Dutch VWO, HAVO or MBO 4 diploma.
    You can check the equivalent Dutch level of your diploma on the Nuffic website.
  • Proficiency in both spoken and written English
    Non-EU/EEA candidates are required to provide proof of English Language proficiency.
    EU/EEA candidates' English language level will be assessed during their interview/entry examination day.

Portfolio

Your digital portfolio should include a wide selection of your work, for example, dummies, sketches, visuals, and annotations of ideas. It should give a good overview of your past artworks and/or artistic activities. We are interested in all art forms.  Check out this page for tips on putting together a portfolio.

Format: PDF, max 20MB, max. 25 pages.

Motivation letter

In the motivation letter (max. 1.5 A4 pages) we want you to give an overview of your current artistic activities and to describe your artistic ambitions: 

  • Describe the main topics you are interested in concerning art and culture and explain the reasons for your interest.  
  • Explain why you want to study Fine Arts and why at KABK. 
  • Give an outline of what you hope to achieve during your studies.

Resume (curriculum vitae)

This should cover: 

  • your full name, current address, phone number and email address 
  • your nationality, date, and place of birth 
  • your previous education 
  • your (artistic) past  
  • eventual relevant specialisms  
  • your work experiences 
  • your language skills 

Entrance examination/interview

If invited for a physical interview at the KABK, we will already have reviewed your portfolio online, therefore we ask that you bring 1-2 works selected works that you feel are pivotal to your artistic development. We will also share your submitted digital portfolio on a screen during your interview, in case you would like to use it for reference. We are particularly interested in works that you have made on your own initiative (no given assignments). The selection committee will consist of members of teaching staff from the department, a head of the department, a coordinator, and an alum. 

If invited for an online interview due to long distance traveling, we will send you instructions on how to prepare for the online conversation beforehand. 

Portfolio

A digital portfolio including projects and artworks (the portfolio can have any form, for example text, Image, video etc. depending on what you have done and documented). Check out this page for tips on putting together a portfolio.

Format: PDF, max. 20MB.

Motivation letter

In the motivation letter (max. 1.5 A4 pages) we want you to give an overview of your current artistic activities and to describe your artistic ambitions: 

  • Describe the main topics you are interested in concerning art and culture and explain the reasons for your interest.  
  • Explain why you want to study Fine Arts and why at KABK. 
  • Give an outline of what you hope to achieve during your studies.

Resume (curriculum vitae)

This should cover: 

  • your full name, current address, phone number and email address 
  • your nationality, date, and place of birth 
  • your previous education 
  • your (artistic) past (see also portfolio) 
  • eventual relevant specialisms  
  • your work experiences 
  • your language skills 

Entrance examination/interview

If invited for a physical interview at the KABK, we will already have reviewed your portfolio online, therefore we ask that you bring 1-2 works selected works that you feel are pivotal to your artistic development. We will also share your submitted digital portfolio on a screen during your interview, in case you would like to use it for reference. We are particularly interested in works that you have made on your own initiative (no given assignments). The selection committee will consist of members of teaching staff from the department, a head of the department, a coordinator, and an alum. 

If invited for an online interview due to long distance traveling, we will send you instructions on how to prepare for the online conversation beforehand. 

Application/portfolio deadline & admission dates

The application deadline for study year 2025 – 2026 was 1 March, but you can still apply until 1 May.

We will first process all applications submitted before 1 March deadline. If spots remain, we will assess the applications received between 1 March and 1 May because we do understand that the shift of the deadline from 1 May to 1 March was not known to everybody.

In order to apply, you must first register in Studielink (Dutch national database for admission to higher education) and then gain access to our online application system OSIRIS where you will be asked to submit your documents including a portfolio.

How to apply - Check the application steps