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Composition for Film and Theatre
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Application and admission

Application and admission

If you want to enrol in the bachelor's course Composition for Film and Theatre, the first step is to apply for auditions. Learn about the process step by step and what to expect. You'll also find important dates, deadlines, and useful tips to prepare yourself.

Applying for admission

It is no longer possible to apply for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Important dates and deadlines

The auditions for admission to the 2025/2026 academic year have now closed.

Preparing for an audition

There are several options which might help you prepare for your entrance exam. 

“You don’t have to know where you’re going already. Let us join you in your journey to become the composer you want to be.” 
Vanessa Lann, Head of Composition for Film and Theatre

Admission requirements

To be eligible to be admitted to the ArtEZ CFT bachelor's programme you must meet the following criteria:

  • have a VWO (pre-university education), HAVO (senior general secondary education), MBO level 4 (senior secondary vocational education and training) or foreign equivalent level of education;
  • meet the language requirements for an English-language bachelor's course;
  • have passed the entrance examination (audition and theory exam).

General Music Theory

See the list of

Start training your auditory and notation skills, your ability to sing from sheet music and read/write rhythms, and your harmonic ear well ahead of time. Also train your knowledge of general music theory.

Did you know that ArtEZ offers a crash course in music theory? Click here to learn more.

Entrance examination

During the entrance exam your chances of successfully completing the course are evaluated. The exam consists of three parts, which are administered separately:

  • a pre-selection,
  • an audition and
  • a general theory exam.

  • Portfolio & pre-selection

    After you have registered through Studielink you will receive a link to our admissions portal by e-mail, where you must fill in the admission form containing portfolio. Your portfolio should give us a general idea of the level of your craft and artistic skills and the potential for their development.

    Your portfolio should include:

    • A picture of you
    • A short personal introduction
    • 5 recent compositions, consisting of at least 3 scores
      Note: Carefully read the requirements for these compositions below

    Compositions
    Submit 5 works that are representative of your development. These can include autonomous compositions as well as original pieces of film music. Your portfolio may include a maximum of 3 pieces of film music. With film music is meant: work composed to accompany digital visual media.

    You must submit these compositions as follows:

    − Autonomous compositions: submit in score form, preferably accompanied by an audio recording.
    − Film music: submit up to 3 pieces of film music, accompanied by at least one of these pieces in score form.
    − File types that are accepted:
    Scores: Finale, Sibelius, or other PDF (handwritten scores are also permissible)
    Audio: MP3, WAV, MIDI, etc.
    Video: Vimeo or YouTube link, or similar platform

    Personal introduction
    Briefly introduce yourself, providing an overview of your relevant experiences and opinions regarding the composition of music and what you hope to learn during the programme.

    To give you an idea what your portfolio could look like, we have compiled two examples:

    Example CFT portfolio 1 | Example CFT portfolio 2

    Pre-selection
    After submitting your application form containing your portfolio, two teachers of the CFT programme will assess your portfolio and determine whether you may do an entrance exam. You will get an automatic e-mail informing you on the results of the assessment. If you pass the pre-selection, you move on to the audition.

  • Procedure
    During the audition you will discuss your portfolio (you'll talk about the choices you've made, and why), and you'll discuss your vision and identity as a composer and an artist.

    Please bring with you: a laptop with your works downloaded onto it, as well as three copies of each of your printed scores (preferably on A3 paper).
     
    The examination committee will consist of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 ArtEZ teachers. The audition will last a maximum of 45 minutes. 
     
    ResultDirectly after your audition, the committee will confer briefly, after which they will inform you of their decision. If you have passed the audition, you will be scheduled for a theory exam.

  • An oral/written theory exam of a maximum of 30 minutes will be administered after you have passed the audition. In most cases this exam will take place on the same day; if this is not the case you will be informed about this in a timely fashion.

    See also the requirements for general music theory and aural criteria.

  • The examination committee advises the Academy of Music’s Board of Examiners on the admission. The board checks whether the procedure has been followed properly and definitively decides whether you are admissible as a candidate. You will be informed in writing.

    An admission is only valid for the course you applied for. If you wish to be admitted to a course or specialisation at a different location, you must apply for this separately. The admission is only valid for the academic year immediately following the entrance examination. If you wish to start one year later, you can submit a written request to the Board of Examiners to prolong the validity of the results for a period of one year.

    If you do not agree with the negative result because of the procedure followed, you can lodge a complaint as a candidate with the Board of Examiners.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, you can still apply. However, we can only offer you an entrance exam if there are still study places available.

  • That depends on whether you want to take the course on campus or online.

    In case you plan on studying on campus, your audition will be scheduled in April, due to you needing to meet visa application deadlines. Therefore, the deadline for applying and submitting your portfolio is the 1st of February.

    If you are planning to take the course online; the deadline for applying and submitting your portfolio is the 1st of May, due you not needing to meet the visa application deadlines.

  • Yes, you can do your entrance exam online. You can request this in your application via Studielink or via e-mail if you have already applied.

    Click here for technical requirements for online entrance exams.

  • Yes, all CFT students need to have access to a personal laptop (Mac or Windows). You are personally responsible for both hardware and DAW software (Logic, Cubase, or freeware such as Studio One).

  • The Student Affairs department can help you with all the above. You can reach them via studentaffairs@artez.nl.

  • Don’t hesitate to send us an e-mail via conservatorium.arnhem@artez.nl.