About
The Gerrit Rietveld Academie is a university of applied sciences for Fine Arts and Design. We offer two degree programmes: Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Design. Within these two programmes, there are various specialisations. Following a general first year, called the Foundation Year, the student chooses one of these specialisations. This is followed by three years of in-depth study within the specialisation. The Rietveld Academie also offers a part-time programme, in which the Foundation Year lasts for two years, followed by three years of in-depth study.
If, after earning your diploma, you wish to pursue a Master’s degree, you can apply at the Sandberg Institute. We currently offer four Master’s degrees: Master of Fine Arts, Master of Applied Arts, Master of Design, and Master of Interior Architecture.
We also provide preparatory courses for people who wish to prepare for a study programme at the Rietveld Academie. In the Orientation Year, you spend 30 Saturdays taking classes at the academy. This is sufficient to build up a good portfolio and to establish whether the Rietveld is right for you. There is also a preparatory course, in which you take 3.5 sessions a week. If you pass the Preparatory Year, you will automatically be admitted to the Foundation Year.
Philosophy
The Gerrit Rietveld Academie aims to support talented young people in such a way that they can operate independently in the field of visual arts or design. We want to enable them to sustain their work on their own and become sources of artistic inspiration in their area of specialisation.
The Rietveld Academie wants to optimally develop the capacities and creativity of the individual. We respect the individual and his freedom to develop a personal approach and develop his own future. We value research, experimentation and authorship, and attach great importance to maintaining an open attitude towards the environment while supporting involvement with others and society. We do this on the basis of our own individual vision of what art education should be.
The Rietveld Academie is an international academy. With 45% of our students coming from outside the Netherlands and representing more than 60 countries, we reflect the character of the world of arts & culture today. We regard the bringing together of different cultures in our academy as a strength, challenging students and lecturers to take different perspectives.