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. Afterward, you will receive a student number by email within five working days.
With this student number, you can complete the online WdKA application form. Once this request is approved, you can begin the admissions process.
Please note that your application is only complete when you register/apply on both platforms: Studielink and the WdKA online form.
What is the application deadline?
The registration deadlines for both Studielink and the WdKA website are:
- EU applicants: May 1, 2025
- Non-EU applicants: January 1, 2025
Please note: This is the deadline to apply for the entrance exam. After you have applied, you can choose one of the three available admission rounds to participate in
What are the upload deadlines of the remote entrance exam?
WdKA holds three rounds during the first half of the year for admission assessments. After applying to WdKA, you can choose in which of the three rounds you want to participate. You must complete your online entrance exam before one of these deadlines. You will get your results within four to five weeks after the deadline.
Rounds one and two are the main admission rounds. If you choose to apply in the third round, please note that there may be fewer places available in some programmes. This means your chances of getting a place will be lower than in the first two rounds. If there are no more places available in the third round, you can ask to be placed on a waiting list. If a place becomes available, we will let you know as soon as possible.
- Deadline for Round 1: January 19, 2025 - EU & Non-EU applicants
- Deadline for Round 2: March 23, 2025 - EU applicants
- Deadline for Round 3: June 1, 2025 - EU applicants
Please note: Non-EU applicants can only take part in the 1st admission round (January 19).
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 hard copies 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) What is the Student Service Centre (SSC) ?
At Willem de Kooning Academy you can apply as a higher year student, which means year 2. To do this, select "higher year" in the application form on our website. First, the assessors will review your remote entrance exam to see if you are eligible to start in the first year. Then, the exam committee will check your academic documents to confirm if you can be admitted to the second year.
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 at Willem de Kooning Academy. However, you can apply as a higher year student. After that, the exam committee will review your application to see if you can 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.
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.
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 the academic year 2025-2026 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[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 for the results to be announced.
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 Osiris 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 to WdKA for the next admission year. For example, if you participated in the admission process for academic year 2025/2026 and got accepted on the creative level, you can use the acceptance for admission year 2026/2027.
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 begin in September. The introduction activities usually start in the last week of August. The exact dates for the introduction activities vary each year and will be shared with all accepted students in July.
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 2025, 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 through 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: t. + 31 (0)10 794 4631 / t. + 31 (0)10 794 4765