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Application and admission

Application and admission

Graphic Design Arnhem is looking for thinkers who make and makers who think; critical global citizens who are open to the world. Are you motivated to experiment and open to theory? Would you like to learn about the rules and boundaries of graphic design and do you consider it a challenge of explore and shifting boundaries in your own way?  If so, come and get to know our course.

Apply now

From 1 October 2025, you can apply for the new 2026-2027 academic year via Studielink. 

Apply directly with Studielink

Nina Sloots

Admission information

Do you want to apply for the bachelor's course Graphic Design in Arnhem (GDA) at ArtEZ? Please read the following conditions:

  • 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 has language requirements as it's an English-language course. 

  • You successfully completed an admission procedure.

If you are in any doubt as to whether you will be able to meet the diploma requirements at the start of the course, please get in touch with Student Affairs before applying. Everyone who applies via Studielink goes through an admission procedure, please read all the information provided carefully. You will be admitted if you complete all the steps with a positive assessment and if there are places available at the course.

Apply now

Starting October 1, 2025, you can apply via Studielink for the Bachelor's program Graphic Design Arnhem (GDA) for the 2026-2027 academic year.

After you have applied, you will receive an email including a link to the online questionnaire. Once you have completed and submitted the questionnaire, you will receive a link to download the home assignment within two working days. Please read this carefully before you start. Compleet all upload as described. 

Admissions, dates, and deadlines

  • Physical admission (location Graphic Design Arnhem) is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026 (EU and non-EU), full day. The deadline for uploading your home assignment and portfolio is February 12, 2026.
  • Online admission (EU and non-EU) upload deadline (home assignment and portfolio) is February 12, 2026. The online admission interviews will take place on various dates starting from March.

Admission invites 

  • Physical admission (location Graphic Design Arnhem) You will receive an invitation from us to come to Arnhem for one day to complete assignments, and we will schedule a physical interview on that day.
  • Online admission. If you live more than ±220 km from Arnhem and are therefore unable to attend a physical admission day on location, we will send you a message informing you whether or not you have been invited for an online interview. If you have been invited, you will receive additional assignments 24 hours before the start of the interview, which you will complete in advance and which we will then discuss during the online interview.

Admission process  

More information about the admission process at GDA can be found here. Download the Applicant guide for prospective students.

Admission procedure

    • visual and textual research that highlight a willingness to explore. 
    • ideas and concepts that inform visual experiments and creative processes.
    • finished (school) works that show consideration for the public.
    • personal work: self initiated, directed and/or extra-curricular.

    A key component is that you show potential as a cultural activist ('agent of change') who uses graphic design as a means of expression in a changing landscape of art and culture, media and technology, politics and philosophy. We would like to see you actively relate to social issues such as diversity, inclusiveness, ecology, etc.

    • Physical admission: If you live in the Netherlands or have the opportunity to come to the Netherlands, Arnhem, and your upload in the GDA application environment is complete, we would like to invite you to one of our two admission days. During this day, you will come to Arnhem with your portfolio containing (graphic) work and the home assignments. You will be given new assignments on the day, which you will carry out in the department. The day takes about 6 hours and includes an interview with tutors and students from the GDA admissions committee.
    • Online admission: Based on a pre-selection, you will be invited for one of our admission interviews (online via MS Teams). At least 24 hours before this interview, you will receive new assignments by e-mail; we will discuss the final results during the online interview of ±30 minutes. 

    During the interview (online and physical), we are extremely curious about:

    • Your motivation and general interest in the subject of Graphic Design
    • Your portfolio, your own work
      Show what you have used. For example drawings, paintings, photo series, animations, websites, furniture, clothes, posters, poetry, doodles and dummies etc. We recommend you don’t only bring final outcomes, but also experiments and sketches that give us insight into your making process. Work that you cannot easily transport you can photograph or film and present it online or using a laptop or tablet. We review all work first without and then together with you. 
    • The result of the home assignments
      During the interview, we discuss with you the results of the home assignments you received from us when you registered.

Result and validity

The admissions committee advises the examination board whether or not you will be admitted. Within three working weeks after the admission procedure, you will be informed of the result.

A positive admission is only valid for the programme you have applied for. If you wish to audition for a programme or specialisation at a different location, you will have to register separately. Admission is valid only for the academic year immediately following the admission procedure. (Only by submitting a request to the examination board and after approval by the course can this be deviated from).

Arrive for the admission procedure properly prepared

Thinking about applying for the Graphic Design HBO programme at ArtEZ in Arnhem? Then we advise you to come to our open day on the first Saturday of November. You are welcome with or without your portfolio. Students and tutors will be there to answer questions, there are workshops to participate in and there is a lot of information.

If you are early in your orientation, a visit to the ArtEZ finals in July is a good opportunity to get a good idea of our study. The Art & Design preparatory course in Arnhem can also prepare you for the entrance examination. If you apply for this, it will include the admission procedure for Graphic Design.