Click here for the Dutch version (Toelatingsvragen FAQ).
How do I apply?
You start your application by sending an enrolment request through Studielink (www.studielink.nl). When doing this, please select 'Hogeschool Rotterdam' or 'Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences' to submit your enrolment request for Willem de Kooning Academy (WdKA). WdKA is part of Hogeschool Rotterdam/Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, which is why you need to select it. Once you have registered with Studielink, you will receive a confirmation email containing your login details. (Please check your SPAM folder!) When you use these to log in to your personal online environment, your application to the WdKA will begin.
What is the application deadline?
The registration deadlines for Studielink are:
- EU applicants: 1 May 2027
- NON-EU applicants: 10 January 2027
Please note: *These deadlines differ from the upload deadlines (uploading of your admission exam).
What are the upload deadlines of the admission exam?
WdKA holds three rounds of admisisons during the first half of the year. After applying via Studielink, you can choose in which one of the three admission rounds you would like to participate. You must complete your uploads for the online admission exam before one of these deadlines.
- Deadline for Round 1: January 17, 2027 - EU & NON-EU applicants
- Deadline for Round 2: March 14, 2027 - EU applicants
- Deadline for Round 3: June 6, 2027- EU applicants
The admission exam consists of two stages. The first stage involves uploading your work (portfolio and your personal motivation). See above mentioned deadlines.
Within 3 weeks after the upload deadline you will receive the results from stage 1 of the admisison exam. If the result is positive, you will be invited to a matching interview. This is the second stage. The final decision on your admission on an artistic level will be made afterwards. You will be informed of this decision approximately 3-4 weeks after the matching interview. Please bear in mind that this is an estimate and that the actual time may vary.
Please note: NON-EU applicants can only take part in the 1st admission round (January 17, 2027).
If you want to apply for (de) Fine Art, please look at the Admission page for deadlines.
For more detailed information on the procedures for Bachelor Programmes in Art and Design, visit the Admission page.
What is the Student Service Centre (SSC)?
The Student Service Centre is the main department at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and WdKA that handles all student registration and administration matters. The Student Service Centre makes the final decision on the approval of your diploma, grade list, and English proficiency.
After you submit your registration request through Studielink, the Student Service Centre will contact you with the next steps for your registration.
Can I apply as a 2nd year student (or higher)?
Yes, this is possible. When you register via Studielink you can select ‘higher year’. Note that you will receive an automatic rejection. Instruction on to submit your higher year request will be sent to you from 1 January 2027.
What is a WdKA admission exam?
The WdKA admission exam consists of two stages. The first stage involves uploading your portfolio and your personal motivation.
If the assessment is positive, you will be invited to a matching interview. This is the second stage. During this interview, we will discuss your portfolio, your expectations, your ideas and your ambitions.
The final decision will be made afterwards.
What should my portfolio consist of?
See our portfolio page here.
How and to whom do I send in my portfolio?
After your registration via Studielink (www.studielink.nl) you will be able to upload all the required documents for the admission exam through your online personal intake page, 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 participating and receiving a positive result in the WdKA admission 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 CoIA Admission (Centre of International Affairs Admission).
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 at Willem de Kooning Academy. However, you can apply as a higher year student. After that, the Examination Board will review your application to see if you are eligible to start in the second year.
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 upload these documents the moment you receive a postive outcome of your assessment.
What are the documents I need to upload with my WdKA application?
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.
Once registered via Studielink you will receive an email with login details for your personal online environment (Osiris Application) where you can 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
[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 upload copies of both passports.
Does a Dual Degree application have a different admission exam?
As a Dual Degree applicant, you have one additional question to answer with your peronsal motivation questionnaire. Besides this, the admission exam is no different from the regular admisino exam. However, it is your own responsibility to register with both universities.
Important note: Make sure to register first for WdKA via www.studielink.nl and afterwards for Esphil, IBACS or EUC.
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 be exempt from the English language test. In that case upload your diploma and grade list as proof, stating the languages of instruction is English. Our Pre 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 the academic year 2027-2028 is not yet available. You can check this link to get an estimate for now. We offer a few Bachelor scholarships for NON-EU students (Holland Scholarships). You can find more information here and here. Please note that this scholarship only covers a small part 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. 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).
How long does it take to hear back whether I am accepted to the programme?
The admission exam consists of two stages. The first stage involves uploading your work (portfolio and your personal motivation).
Within 3 weeks after the upload deadline you will receive the results from stage 1 of the admisison exam. If the result is positive, you will be invited to a matching interview. This is the second stage. The final decision on your admission on an artistic level will be made afterwards. You will be informed of this decision approximately 3-4 weeks after the matching interview.
Please bear in mind that this is an estimate and that the actual time may vary.
I passed the Willem de Kooning Academy admission exam. What next?
If you hold a NON-Dutch diploma please make sure to upload the academic documents via Osiris Application for the pre-screening.
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 on an artistic level to WdKA for the next admission year. For example, if you participated in the admission process for academic year 2027/2028 and got accepted on an artistic level, you can use the acceptance for admission year 2028/2029.
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 for the status of your registration.
Dutch applicants: mijn.hr.nl
International applicants: my.rotterdamuas.com
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.
I cannot send certified hard copies of my diploma and grade list through post. What should I do?
You can stop by Centre of International Affairs with the original documents in order for them to make certified copies. The front desk is open Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00 hrs.
Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
Centre of International Affairs – Admissions
Kralingse Zoom 91
3063 ND Rotterdam
The Netherlands
When does the programme start?
All programmes begin in the first week of September. The exact dates for the introduction activities vary each year and will be shared with all accepted students in July.
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: t. + 31 (0)10 794 4631