Information for international students
Note: Everything mentioned on this page does not concern your application package. It is only relevant to you if you have been accepted into the study programme and about to move to the Netherlands.

International students must fulfil a number of requirements to be able to study in the Netherlands. The main requirements are proficiency in English and a valid residence permit. Non-EU students, however, have to fulfil a number of additional conditions in order to qualify for a residence permit.

English language test
All international students need to prove their proficiency in English. To do so, they are required to take one of the following English language tests and add the (positive) results to their application:

• IELTS at level 6.5 (academic)
• TOEFL paper based test at level 575
• TOEFL computer based test at level 232
• TOEFL internet-based test at level 90

Students will have to arrange and pay for the test themselves.

Please note: arranging one of these English language tests can take up to several weeks. We strongly advise our students to take the test as early as possible, but at the latest on March 1st 2012. We do not accept applications without the positive results of one of these English tests.

TOEFL and IELTS test scores are valid for two years.

If the student’s first language is English, he/she will be exempt from providing an English language test score. A student is being considered to be a native speaker of English if they are from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa and the language in which they gained their Bachelor diploma was English.

EU-STUDENTS

EU and EEA countries
The current EU (European Union) and EEA (European Economic Area) countries are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxemburg
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

Residence permit
EU nationals do not need to apply for a residence permit in advance, but they do have to register with the Civil Affairs Department (the ‘Dienst Burgerzaken’ at the city hall) of the municipality in which they will live.

Official address in the Netherlands
In order to register with the Civil Affairs Department in Rotterdam, or any other place in the Netherlands which you have chosen as your city of residence, you will need an official tenant’s contract as well as a form, signed by the landlord or organisation that you rent from. it should state that he or she is the owner of the building and legally allowed to rent it to you or let you stay as a guest. This form can be obtained at the local city hall.

NON-EU STUDENTS

Study visa
Students from non-EU countries need to obtain an entry visa (MVV) before they can enter the Netherlands. Rotterdam University, of which the Piet Zwart Institute is a part, has a special agreement with the Immigration Department (IND) for a short procedure of application. If you are accepted to the Piet Zwart Institute, our office for Global Recruitment & Student Support will apply for an entry visa on your behalf. This procedure is faster and more secure than applying for visa independently.

Applying for an entry visa can take several months. In order to leave sufficient time to make all the necessary arrangements, students from non-EU countries are required to apply for the Media Design Master before May 1 2011. They need to confirm whether they will be able to fulfil all additional requirements (English proficiency, sufficient financial means) before June 1st. Once the entry visa has been granted, you will obtain a sticker in your passport through the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of origin. With this sticker, you can travel to the Netherlands. Once you have arrived in your Dutch city of residence, the foreign police will change your visa into the official residence permit for study.

The costs for the residence permit are approximately 430 euros; renewing the permit for your second year of studies will cost approximately 285 euros.

Sufficient financial means
In order for the visa application procedure to be started, you will need to have sufficient financial means to cover the costs of studying and living in the Netherlands. This means that you have to prove that you have 9,000 euros at your disposal. The proof may consist of a confirmed scholarship. In any other case, you will need to deposit the full sum on the bank account of Rotterdam University before the Academy/University can file your visa application. Once the visa has been obtained, and you have arrived in the Netherlands, the deposit will be refunded to you, minus the tuition fee of 1,672 euros.

Official address in the Netherlands
In order to get your residence permit, you will also need to prove that you have an official place to live in the Netherlands. You will need an official tenant’s contract as well as a form, signed by the landlord or organisation that you rent from. It should state that he or she is the owner of the building and legally allowed to rent it to you or let you stay as a guest. This means that you will have to arrange housing before you arrive in the Netherlands.

STUDENTS FROM THE USA, CANADA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND

Residence permit
Students from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the USA or Monaco can travel to the Netherlands without entry visa (MVV) or a residence permit, but they must apply for a residence permit for study within three days following their arrival in the Netherlands.
Please note that you will get a temporary residence permit (a sticker in your passport) first, and that it may take several months before you get your official permit.
The costs for the residence permit are approximately 430 euros; renewing the permit for your second year of studies will cost approximately 285 euros.

Sufficient financial means
In order for the visa application procedure to be started, you will need to have sufficient financial means to cover the costs of studying and living in the Netherlands. This means that you have to prove that you have 9,000 euros at your disposal. The proof may consist of a confirmed scholarship, or a bank statement confirming that money is transferred to your account through regular deposits.

Official address in the Netherlands
In order to get your residence permit, you will need to prove that you have an official place to live in the Netherlands. You will need an official tenant’s contract as well as a form, signed by the landlord or organisation that you rent from. It should state that he or she is the owner of the building and legally allowed to rent it to you or let you stay as a guest. This means that you will have to arrange housing before you arrive in the Netherlands.
Further information about procedures and practical and financial requirements can be found on the Student Support page of the Rotterdam University website.