Media, Art, Design and Architecture

Check whether you meet the admission requirements and apply

• Admission requirements with non-Dutch previous education for Media, Art, Design and Architecture (EN)

  Note that for diplomas obtained outside of the Netherlands an application fee of €100 applies.
  Application fee payment options and possible exemptions

  Admission requirements

  Applicants holding a non-Dutch pre-university diploma apply via the International Office. We check if your previous education meets a number of requirements*. If you do not yet meet the requirements but expect to do so in the future (such as obtaining your diploma), you can already apply. We will evaluate your application and inform you of our admission decision.
  
  Requirements that apply:
  
  1. A diploma equivalent to the Dutch pre-university VWO-diploma
  See the Diploma Requirement List for examples of accepted diplomas per country.
  Please note: this list is meant to give you an indication of admissibility; no rights can be derived from it.
  
  2. Proof of sufficient proficiency in English
  You can find all accepted tests and scores on our Language Requirements webpage. Although complete applications are preferred, you can begin your application before you have completed the test and then submit your passing score once you have been conditionally admitted.

  Application documents

  • Scan of your passport or national ID card (ID for EEA students only) valid at the start date of the programme
  • VU Application Form - Bachelor; please download the correct format from this page. In the document you are asked to provide further details about your previous education level.
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if already obtained): upload your proof of English language proficiency or English language test results.
    VU English language requirements

  Application deadline:

  The final application deadline for non-EU/EEA students is 1 April  and for Dutch and EU students the final deadline is 1 May. Do you have a non-Dutch nationality? Then you may be eligible for housing via the International Office Accommodation Services. An early application is then strongly recommended.

  Ready to apply?
  Great! Click here for the application procedure.
  
  By selecting Media, Art, Design and Architecture in Studielink you can start you application – in your VU dashboard, the next application step, you can confirm your choice for the English-taught track. If you have your Studielink set to Dutch you can find the programme under Media, Kunst, Design en Architectuur.

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  *Not directly eligible for admission?
  Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements may in some cases be asked to sit (an) entry exam(s) to prove they are eligible for admission. The required tests may include one or more of the following subjects at 6 VWO level:

  • History (VU History test)
  • Mathematics C (OMPT-E) 

  A positive result for the mathematics examination is 5,5/10 in the VWO mathematics C exam or 60% in the OMPT-E online exam. Mathematics A/B or VWO state exams in German, French or Dutch can also be accepted in lieu of the above mentioned mathematics exam.

  You can obtain your certificates to resolve these deficiencies at various institutions.

  To ensure that your application is processed in time in order to study and register for the exams we ask applicants to apply for their bachelor's programme of choice before:

  • 15 December if you are applying via the 21+ Entrance exam route
  • 1 April for all other students

  Note that in addition to these tests, all applicants will need to submit proof of sufficient proficiency in English. You can find all accepted tests and scores on our Language Requirements webpage.

• Admission requirements with Dutch previous education for Media, Art, Design and Architecture (EN)

  VWO diploma
  Applicants who obtained a VWO diploma (all profiles) from a Dutch secondary educational institution are eligible for admission to the Bachelor programme Media, Art, Design and Architecture at VU Amsterdam.

  Higher professional education (HBO) propaedeutic year 
  The following certificates must be obtained additionally at 6 VWO level:

  • English 
  • History

  Higher professional education (HBO) completed programme 
  The following certificate must be obtained additionally at 6 VWO level:

  • English*

  *Applies only to a completed Dutch programme HBO bachelor 

  21+ applicants with a valid Dutch home address and residence permit
  Do you not meet any of the above program requirements and are 21 years of age or older? Then there is the possibility of admission to the program based on the entrance examination. Please visit the "entrance examination" page for more information on the application deadline and fees.

  The following certificates must be obtained at 6 VWO level:

  • English
  • Two courses of choice out of: History, German, French, Dutch, Mathematics A ór B ór C

  Deficiencies at 6 VWO level
  You can obtain your certificates at various institutions.
  
  Ready to apply?
  Great! You can apply via Studielink, please keep in mind the application deadlines. Complete immediately your application until 100% in your personal dashboard on VU.nl.

• Admission requirements with Dutch previous education for Media, Kunst, Design en Architectuur (NL)

  VWO diploma
  Applicants who obtained a VWO diploma (all profiles) from a Dutch secondary educational institution are eligible for admission to the Bachelor programme Media, Kunst, Design en Architectuur at VU Amsterdam.

  Higher professional education (HBO) propaedeutic year 
  The following certificates must be obtained additionally at 6 VWO level:

  • Dutch 
  • English  

  Higher professional education (HBO) completed programme 
  The following certificates must be obtained additionally at 6 VWO level:

  • Dutch: applies only to a completed English programme HBO bachelor 
  • English: applies only to a completed Dutch programme HBO bachelor 

  21+ applicants with a valid Dutch home address and residence permit
  Do you not meet any of the above program requirements and are 21 years of age or older? Then there is the possibility of admission to the program based on the entrance examination. Please visit the "entrance examination" page for more information on the application deadline and fees.

  The following certificates must be obtained at 6 VWO level:

  • Dutch
  • English
  • A course of choice out of: German, French, History, Dutch or Mathematics A or B or C

  Deficiencies at 6 VWO level
  You can obtain your certificates at various institutions.
  
  Ready to apply?
  Great! You can apply via Studielink, please keep in mind the application deadlines. Complete immediately your application until 100% in your personal dashboard on VU.nl.

• Admission requirements with non-Dutch previous education for Media, Kunst, Design en Architectuur (NL)

  A foreign diploma gives admission to this bachelor's programme if this diploma is equivalent to the Dutch vwo diploma. The admissions committee will assess the admission request only after receiving your application in Studielink and completing your student portal on VU.nl. The admissions committee will notify you of the admission decision by e-mail.

  Additional admission requirements may apply:

  1. A diploma equivalent to the Dutch vwo diploma.
  See the List of Diploma Requirements for examples of accepted diplomas per country. Please note: this list is intended as an indication of admissibility; no rights can be derived from it.

  2. Proof of sufficient command of the English language
  You can find all accepted tests and scores on our webpage Meeting language requirements.

  3. Proof of sufficient command of the Dutch language
  You can find all accepted tests and scores on our webpage Meeting language requirements.

  4. Passed certificate Mathematics A or B or C
  You can obtain your vwo certificates at various institutions.

  5. Passed certificate in history
  You can obtain your vwo certificates from various institutions.

  The final admission requirements that apply to you will be communicated by the admissions committee when assessing your application.

  Ready to apply?
  Great! You can apply via Studielink, please keep in mind the application deadlines. Complete immediately your application until 100% in your personal dashboard on VU.nl.

• VU Study Choice Check

  Check your study choice

  As a prospective student at VU Amsterdam you will take part in the VU Study Choice Check. The VU Study Choice check is part of the application procedure of this bachelor programme and consists of two parts: 

  • a mandatory digital questionnaire 
  • an activity (participation is optional) 

  The Study Choice Check activity is organized both online and on campus. The activity on campus takes place on 4 June 2024. The online activity is offered on an ongoing basis through Canvas, our digital learning platform. You can choose which activity you'd like to attend. It is not compulsory to participate in the Study Choice Check activity for this study programme, but we highly do recommend it. The invitations for the activity (both online and on campus) will be sent out from mid-April 2024. 

  For general information about Study Choice Check, please check the website VU Studiekeuzecheck (in Dutch) or VU Study Choice Check (in English). Do you have a specific question about the study choice check activity of this study programme? Please contact studiekeuzecheck.fgw@vu.nl. 

• Binding Study Advice (BSA)

  The BSA is an advice given to all Bachelor’s students on four occasions during their first year of studies concerning their study progress. The fourth recommendation, issued at the end of the first year, is binding in nature. To continue to the second year you must have obtained a certain number of credits.

  To receive a positive BSA for this study programme you must have obtained a minimum of 42 EC (credits) at the end of the first year of enrolment. Every student has access to an overview of the obtained study results and assessments are available for inspection after registration of the test result.