Admission requirements

For the 2023-2024 academic year we are not accepting applications in the part-time programme

Application and portfolio deadline

Applications for the Bachelor Fine Arts open on October 1.
In order to apply, you must first register via Studielink and then gain access to our application system where you will be asked to submit your documents including a portfolio.

Please note that we receive a large number of applications each year and we work with two deadlines in order to spread the workload. We encourage you to upload your portfolio as soon as possible.
The deadlines for submitting your portfolio & required documents for all candidates are 1 February or 1 May.

Read about the general eligibility requirements, the specific requirements regarding your portfolio and other necessary documents further below.

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 requirements

As part of the admission and selection procedure for the Bachelor Fine Arts programme 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 to present their portfolio to a selection committee and to participate in an interview. For applicants with larger traveling distance, they will be able to present their portfolio and be interviewed online.

Your digital portfolio should include a wide selection of your work, e.g., 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.
Format: PDF (max 20MB), max. 40 pages.

In the motivation letter (max. 2 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. Illustrate your description by using works and concepts of others. (This can include specific art forms, subcultures, genres, styles, artists that inspire you, philosophical ideas, scientific research topics, developments in society etc.)
  • explain why you want to study Fine Arts
  • give an outline of what you hope to achieve during your studies
  • describe the kind of art that you want to develop during your studies and describe what you imagine yourself doing after finishing your study

    Format: PDF (max 2 pages)

    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)
    • evt. relevant specialisms
    • your work experience
    • your language skills

    If invited for a physical interview at the KABK, you will be asked to take with you an extensive collection of work: many paintings, drawings, sketches, dummies, but also (documentation of) sculptures, videos, photos, etcetera. We are particularly interested in works that you have made from your own initiative. The selection committee will consist of members of teaching staff from the department, the head of the department, the coordinator, evt. an alumnus.

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

    Deadline

    The deadline for submitting your portfolio & required documents for all candidates is 1 February or 1 May.

    How to apply - Check the steps