The Art Research Programme offers courses in art and research, to which students can apply by submitting a letter of motivation. Generally, the courses are taught by PhDArts doctoral candidates and sometimes by guest teachers. Also, some courses organised by the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA) of Leiden University are open to Bachelor students of the Royal Academy of Art through the Art Research Programme.

While the courses vary widely in thematic focus, they all share an emphasis on research in relation to art practice. All courses in the Art Research Programme are interdisciplinary and not connected to one specific department of the academy. In each course, students from different departments work together, and in some cases they collaborate with students from the Royal Conservatoire and Leiden University.

Application deadlines and new courses are announced on the website of the lectorate and through additional communication channels of the Royal Academy of Art, the academy’s website, and mailings. The courses can be taken within the framework of the Individual Study Track (IST), in consultation with the IST coach.