Additional requirements international applicants

The WdKA remote admission process merely focusses on your artistic eligibility. However, to be able to study at WdKA (part of the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences), you also need to demonstrate sufficient academic competencies. Therefore, if you hold a non-Dutch diploma, please read through the below information carefully.

Dutch diplomas can be verified through DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs). Therefore, the following information is not applicable to applicants who hold or will hold a Dutch diploma.


Uploading academic documents

To be eligible for any course you must at least hold 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.

The WdKA online application form will request you to upload the following academic documents for the pre-screening:

  • Original certified copy of your high school diploma, your final transcript[1], and a certified translation from a sworn translator if your original documents are not in Dutch, English, French, Spanish or German.
  • English test results (IELTS Academic: 6.0 / TOEFL iBT: 80 / Cambridge FCE, CAE or CPE: minimum score of 169)[2]
  • Copy of your valid passport.[3] If your passport or ID does not mention your birthplace, please upload 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

In case you do not have all academic documents ready, you can still submit your application. Just make sure to upload the documents yourself afterwards.

[1] If at the time of application, you are still in your final year we can also determine your eligibility based on your current transcript plus a statement from your school indicating when and for which diploma you are expected to graduate.

[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 both passports.

Pre-screening

Once you have been accepted to WdKA on an artistic level and submitted all requested academic documents, your details will be forwarded by the WdKA Admission team to the pre-screening department (CoIA Admission). If everything is deemed sufficient, you will receive a “conditional admission” email from CoIA Admission within six weeks.

The next step is to finalise your registration at the Student Service Centre.

If not deemed sufficient, you will receive a rejection email from CoIA Admission via email, within six weeks.

Besides digital copies, please know that our Student Service Centre will also need:

  • Certified hard copies of your diploma and grade list before August 31, 2025
  • 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).

If you already have certified copies of your diploma, you do not have to await the outcome of pre-screening. You can post the documents to SSC directly.

Mailing address:
Rotterdam University
Attn. Student Service Centre
P.O. Box 25035
3001 HA Rotterdam

Contact form 

Visa procedure

Students from all countries except EU/EEA countries and Switzerland who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s degree at Rotterdam University at Applied Sciences for more than three months are obliged to obtain a Dutch study residence permit.

If you have received the conditional admission email from CoIA Admission (pre-screening), CoIA will then direct all applicants in need of a residence permit to CoIA Student Support. CoIA Student Support will contact you and email all the necessary information to start the visa procedure. In preparation for this process please consult this link.