Application and admission

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You can apply for the course via Studielink. Before you do so, please read the admission requirements and application procedure below.

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Admission requirements

Do you want to apply for the Bachelor in Fashion Design? If so, you must meet the following conditions:

• You must have a diploma from intermediate vocational education (level 4), senior general secondary education (HAVO), pre-university education (VWO or gymnasium) or an equivalent foreign diploma. You can be submitted with an international diploma, provided that the diploma is equivalent to a Dutch diploma. The Student Administration evaluates this before you are admissible

• This course is in English and is subject to language requirements (more info below)
• You must successfully complete an admission procedure

Are you in any doubt as to whether you will be able to meet the diploma requirements at the start of the course? If so, please get in touch before you apply.

Entrance examination 

To be admitted to the bachelor's course Fashion Design of ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design Arnhem, you must take an entrance exam. During the entrance exam, we will examine your chances of successfully completing the course. After conducting online admissions for several years due to the Covid pandemic, the course will return to the physical entrance exams on site at the fashion department in Arnhem in 2025, as was customary until 2020. The advantage of a live admission at the institute is that you get a much better picture of the institution, the overall atmosphere, speaking to teachers and students, and get an impression of the city where you will study for several years.

During the entrance exam, visual creative talent, originality and (manual) drawing skills will be assessed. The entrance exam starts with an interview of approximately twenty to twenty-five minutes with the admission committee, consisting of two teachers and two graduate students. This interview consists of:

• A conversation about motivation and general interest.
• Assessment of the portfolio. This does not only consist of results but should mainly contain sketches and designs that provide insight into the thinking and creation process.
• Assessment of the results of the home assignment. This is a design assignment that you receive after registering in Studielink, to be made at home and bring along to the entrance exam.

During the entrance exam, you will be tested on visual creative talent, originality and drawing skills. These are classified in the following competencies:

• Creative ability. This is the ability to express yourself visually, to work from observation and conceptually. You have insight into and a feeling for color, shape and material. Your work shows originality and creativity.
• Communicative ability. You are skilled in communication, share your fascination and inspiration and you demonstrate decisiveness and discipline.
• Critical reflection. You have an investigative and experimental attitude, an interest in art and culture and a focused interest in the field.

Depending on the outcome of this interview, you will receive an invitation to participate in the practical part of the exam the following day from 09:30 until 16:30. A design assignment will be handed out that you will complete on-site within the given timeframe. The admissions committee with whom you have the interview will advise the examination committee whether you can be admitted.

Dates

In principle, there are two admission rounds:

• Round 1: on March 14 and 15
• Round 2: on April 11 and 12

For non-EU candidates who wish to apply for a scholarship, it is important to register for Round 1. All information regarding the admission procedure is available from the Education Office of Art & Design Arnhem: toelatingenartdesign.arnhem@artez.nl.

Result

You will be notified within three working weeks whether you have been admitted. If you are not invited to participate in the practical part of the exam after the interview on the first day, you will be informed immediately why you cannot continue, and you will receive advice for alternative studies if necessary. The final selection after the second day will not be communicated.

Validity

A positive admission is only valid for the course for which you have registered. If you want to apply for admission for a program or specialization at another location, you must register for this separately. The admission is only valid for the academic year that immediately follows the entrance exam.

Language requirements

Starting in the 2016-2017 academic year, English will be the official language within the faculty of Art & Design; this means that the department will be offering bilingual education, in both English and Dutch. As of the 2016-2017 academic year, all students (both Dutch and international) must fulfil the English requirements of IELTS level 5.5. Dutch students with a HAVO (Higher General Secondary Education), VWO or Gymnasium level diploma automatically fulfil this requirement, but this does not apply to students with an MBO-4 level. International students whose native language is English, or those whose entire secondary education was in English also meet the language requirement automatically, as well as other international students whose diploma indicates that they have achieved the IELTS 5.5 level. Further information concerning the language requirements is available at the Department of Student Affairs of ArtEZ at studentenzaken@artez.nl, or the Educational Office of Art & Design Arnhem admissionsartdesign.arnhem@artez.nl.

Arrive for the entrance examination properly prepared

Are you considering applying for the Fashion Design course? The preparatory Art & Design course prepares you thoroughly for the entrance examination.