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 move to the Netherlands.

International students must fulfill 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 fulfill 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, you are required to take one of the following English language tests: IELTS (at level 6.5) or TOEFL (scores needed are 550 {paper-based test} with a 213 {in computer skills} or a 79 -80 for the {internet based} test.) You will have to arrange and pay for the test yourself.

If your first language is English, you will be exempt from providing an English language test score. You are considered to be a native speaker of English if you are from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA, or South Africa and the language in which you gained your BA diploma was English.

We are currently discussing with the Dutch Ministry of Education whether applicants who have already completed their BA studies at an English programme in a Dutch university may also be exempt from taking an English language test.

EU-STUDENTS

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 wich 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, stating 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. The Hogeschool Rotterdam, of which the Piet Zwart Institute is part, has a special agreement with the Immigration Department (IND) for a short procedure of application. If you are accepted as a student at the Piet Zwart Institute, our office for Global Recruitment & Student Support will apply for entry visa on your behalf. This procedure is faster and more secure than applying for visa independently.

Applying for 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 1 May 2010. They need to confirm whether they will be able to fulfill all additional requirements (English proficieny, sufficient financial means) before June 15.

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 ca. 430 euros; renewing the permit for your second year of studies will cost ca. 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 9000 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 the Hogeschool Rotterdam before the school 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 1620 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, stating 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 ca. 430 euros; renewing the permit for your second year of studies will cost ca. 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 9000 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, stating 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 Hogeschool Rotterdam website.