Click here for the Dutch version (Toelatingsvragen FAQ).
How do I apply?
You start your application by sending a request for enrolment through Studielink (www.studielink.nl). When you start your application in Studielink, please select ‘Hogeschool Rotterdam’ or ‘Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences’ in order to submit your enrolment request for Willem de Kooning Academy (WDKA). Willem de Kooning Academy is part of Hogeschool Rotterdam/ Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, hence the selection. Afterwards you will receive a student number within five working days by e-mail.
With this student number you fill in the online WdKA application form at WdKA Admission. After this request has been approved, you will be able to start with the admissions process.
Please note that the application request is only final when you register/apply at both platforms; Studielink and the WdKA online form.
What is the application deadline?
The registration deadline is for Studielink and for the application through the WdKA website:
EU applicants: May 1st 2024
Non-EU applicants: February 1st 2024
Please note: This is the deadline to apply for the entrance (exam). After you have applied for the entrance exam you can choose in which of the three admission time-slotted rounds you wish to participate in.
What are the upload deadlines of the remote entrance exam?
WdKA organises three rounds throughout the first half of the year during which we carry out the admission assessments. After applying to WdKA, you can choose in which of the three rounds you wish to participate in. It is up to you to finish your online admission exam before one of these three deadlines. The results of the assessments will be communicated within four to five weeks after the deadline.
Rounds one and two are the main admission rounds. If you wish to apply to the third round please note that we might have a limited number of places available for certain programmes. The chances of placement will be lower than in the first two rounds. Should you apply to the third round and there are no more places available, you can choose to be placed on a waiting list. Should a place become available, you will be notified as soon as possible.
- Deadline Round 1: February 18, 2024 - EU & Non-EU applicants
- Deadline Round 2: April 28, 2024 - EU applicants
- Deadline Round 3: June 9, 2024 - EU applicants
Please note: non-EU applicants can only participate in the 1st admission round (February 18).
Other application processes
Docent Beeldende Kunst en Vormgeving has a different admission process, see here.
Leisure & Event Management applicants can consult this page for the deadlines and admission process.
What is the Student Service Centre (SSC) ?
The Student Service Centre is the central department of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and WdKA where all matters related to the student registration/administration are handled. The Student Service Centre has the final say when it comes to the assessment of the hard copies of the diploma, grade list and English proficiency.
After submitting your registration request through Studielink, our Student Service Centre will be the first to contact you about the following registration steps.
Can I apply as a 2nd year student (or higher) What is the Student Service Centre (SSC) ?
At Willem de Kooning Academy you can apply as a higher year student, which means year 2. You can select "higher year" in the application form on our website. The assessors will first determine, based on your remote entrance exam, if you are eligible to start in year 1. Thereafter, it is up to the exam committee to assess your academic documents and confirm a higher year admission.
What is a WdKA remote admission exam?
The WdKA remote admission exam consists of 2 home assignments, a questionnaire, and a portfolio and link of a personal introduction video, max length 1 min.
What should my portfolio consist of?
See our portfolio checklist here.
How and to whom do I send in my portfolio?
After your WdKA application form is approved, you will be able to upload all the required documents for the remote entrance exam through the application portal, including your portfolio.
Please do not email your portfolio to WdKA (more info about the portfolio). In case you encounter any difficulties uploading the portfolio, please email wdka.admission@hr.nl for further guidance.
Can my eligibility be assessed before I officially apply for admission?
Unfortunately, we are not able to pre-screen diplomas of applicants via phone or email before taking in the WdKA remote entrance exam. If you hold or will hold a Dutch diploma, your diploma will be verified through Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs. Non-Dutch diplomas or diploma statements will be pre-screened once you have been admitted on an artistic level by the COIA Admission (Centre of International Affairs).
How do I know my diploma is eligible to study at Willem de Kooning Academy?
In order to be eligible for any course you must have at least a secondary school diploma that is equivalent to a Dutch HAVO, VWO or MBO Level 4 diploma. If you want to know in advance if your diploma is sufficient, please take a look at the Nuffic site. After you are accepted on a creative level, our pre-screening team will evaluate your diploma (non-Dutch diplomas). Dutch diplomas are verified through Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs
Can I transfer my credits to Willem de Kooning Academy?
We do not transfer credits. You can apply as a higher year
Thereafter the exam committee will assess the possibilities to start in year 2.
Do I need to pay a registration fee?
No.
Can I apply without uploading a copy of my diploma, transcript and English proficiency test?
It is possible to send in your application without uploading these documents. However, please make sure you eventually upload these documents before:
February 1 (Non-EU applicants)
May 27 (EU applicants)
What are the documents I need to upload with my WdKA application?
If you hold or will hold a non-Dutch diploma you will be asked to upload the following:
- Original certified copy of your high school diploma, your final transcript[1] and a certified translation if your original documents are not in Dutch, English, French, Spanish or German.
- English test results (IELTS academic: 6.0 / TOEFL: 80 / Cambridge FCE, CAE or CPE: minimum score of 169)[2]
- Copy of your valid passport[3]. If your birthplace is not mentioned on your ID or passport, we will need a birth certificate as well.
Please note that the TOEFL Home edition is not accepted. We only accept the following tests that are taken at a test centre of the English language test provider [any version of online tests is not accepted]:
- IELTS academic
- TOEFL iBT
- Cambridge
[1] If you are still in your final year at the time of applying, we can also determine your eligibility based on your current transcript plus a statement from your school stating your expected date of graduation and the official name of the diploma (in original language) you are expected to obtain.
[2] Check this list to see if you can get exemption for the English test based on your diploma. If your previous education was fully taught in English, you might also have exemption from the English language test. In that case upload your diploma and grade list as proof, stating the languages of instruction is English. Our Screening department will assess if you indeed are exempted to submit English test results.
[3] If you have submitted two nationalities on Studielink please send copies of both passports.
Does a Dual Degree application have a different admission process?
As a Dual degree applicant, you will have to select one dual degree assignment and one regular assignment. Also, you have one additional question to answer from the questionnaire. Besides these two aspects the admission exam is no different from the regular. However, it is your own responsibility to register at both universities.
Please know that the level of your diploma needs to be an equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma. If you want to know in advance if your diploma is sufficient, please take a look at the Nuffic site.
Do I need to take an English proficiency test?
Please check this list to see if you can get exemption for the English test based on your diploma. If your previous education was fully taught in English you might also have exemption from the English language test. In that case upload your diploma and grade list as proof, stating the languages of instruction is English. Our Screening department will assess if you indeed are exempted to submit English test results.
Please note that the TOEFL Home edition is not accepted. We only accept the following tests that are taken at the test centre of the English language test provider [any version of online tests is not accepted]:
- IELTS academic
- TOEFL iBT
- Cambridge
How much is the tuition fee?
The tuition fee for academic year 2023-2024 is not available at this moment. You can do a check this link to get a rough indication for now. We offer a few Bachelor scholarships for non-EU students (Holland scholarships), see more information here and here. Please keep in mind that this scholarship is just a small amount of the total costs. You can also look for scholarships at www.studyinholland.nl or in your home country.
What is the language of instruction of the programmes?
All our courses are officially taught in Dutch. However, we have international classrooms, which means that whenever there are international students present the teachers will speak English[1]. We still advise you to learn some Dutch for personal use, as it will make your stay in the Netherlands more comfortable (for a Dutch course you could look here for example: www.albeda.nl).
[1] It’s not possible to study “Fine Art & Design Teacher Training” or “Leisure and Events Management” without a Dutch diploma or being able to speak Dutch.
How long does it take to hear back whether I am accepted to the programme?
After each upload deadline, it takes four to five weeks before the result is known.
I passed the Willem de Kooning Academy remote entrance exam. What next?
If you hold a non-Dutch diploma please make sure to upload the academic documents in the WdKA admission portal for the pre-screening before:
February 1 (Non-EU applicants)
May 27 (EU applicants)
Make sure to finalise the registration at the university. You can consult the following page to check what is still on your to-do list for the registration;
Dutch: Mijn.hr.nl
English: My.rotterdamuas.com
For question concerning the registration, please contact the Student Service Centre.
How long is my acceptance valid?
You can use your acceptance to WdKA for the next admission year. For example, if you participated in the admission process for academic year 2023/2024 and got accepted on the creative level, you can use the acceptance for admission year 2024/2025.
How can I get proof of enrollment?
You can only request proof of enrolment once your registration is finalised. Please send your request to the Student Service Centre.
Where can I see if I have met all the registration conditions?
Please consult your personal registration page to consult the status of the registration
Dutch applicants: mijn.hr.nl
International applicants: my.rotterdamuas.com
I already emailed my academic documents to WdKA for the pre-screening. Do I still need to send them via post?
Yes. Afterwards, it is also required you send in certified copies (signed and stamped) of your diploma and grade list (translation from a sworn translator if originals are not in Dutch, English, French, Spanish or German) via post to our Student Service Centre (SSC) before August 31.
Mailing address:
Rotterdam University
Attn. Studenten Service Center
P.O. Box 25035
3001 HA Rotterdam
When does the programme start?
All programmes start in September. The introduction activities begin around the last week of August. The exact dates of the introduction activities differ each year and will be communicated in July to all accepted students.
What are certified hard copies of my diploma and grade list?
A certified photocopy is a photocopy of your original diploma and transcript. This copy is stamped and signed by the school or the institute which awarded your diploma/propaedeutic certificate. Alternatively you can bring your original diploma and transcript so that the SSC can make a certified photocopy for you.
If you finish your education before August 31 2024, you must send a certified copy of your diploma and transcript as soon as you have obtained your diploma. Deadline August 31.
Please do not post your original diploma.
Mailing address:
Rotterdam University
Attn. Student Service Centre
P.O. Box 25035
3001 HA Rotterdam
I cannot send certified hard copies of my diploma and grade list via post. What should I do?
You can stop by the SSC with the original documents in order for them to make certified copies. You will have to make an appointment first through the contact form.
In case you did not find your answer on this page, feel free to send an email to: wdka.admission@hr.nl
You can also consult our Information Desk about further general questions concerning studying at WdKA.
Email: wdka.informationdesk@hr.nl
Telephone: 0031 (0)10 7944631