UTRECHT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (HKU) the art of HKU new directions, surprising solutions www.hku.nl
The Netherlands
The City of Utrecht
The Netherlands, also known as Holland, has a population of more than 16 m illion. Despite, or perhaps because of its limitedgeographical size (41,000 km2) the Netherlands has developed into an internationally oriented country with a high industrial and cultural status. The Netherlands manages to combine historyand tradition with innovation and modernity. The country has one of the largest seaports in the world and Schiphol is one of Europe’s major airports. The D utch are used to dealing, working and s tudying with foreigners and for many of them English is a second language. The Netherlands has a long tradition in the arts. Dutch architecture, fashion and design are currently attracting a great deal of international attention.
The City of Utrecht is the country’s fourth largest city. It is located within 30 minutes of Amsterdam and just a few hours from major European cities such as Paris, Berlin and London. Utrecht has a rich history and is home to a great variety of buildings and monuments – ranging from Roman times through the Middle Ages to 21th-century architecture. Utrecht’s canals are lined with characteristic wharf cellars and inviting terraces. Old churches and the impressive Dom tower add to the city’s unique ambience. Students make up a large part of the population of Utrecht and it offers all the facilities you can expect of a true student city. Culture features prominently in Utrecht. Each year, more than 650,000 people visit the renowned museums and even more attend annual events such as the Netherlands Film Festival, the Festival of Early Music, the Festival a/d Werf and the monthly Cultural Sundays. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls are well frequented.Furthermore, of all Dutch cities, Utrecht is the city with most people working in a creative profession.
Studying at HKU
Research at HKU
The Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU) is at the heart of Utrecht’s cultural and student life. With over 3,900 students, the HKU is one of the largest schools of art in Europe. We offer preparatory courses, bachelor and master programmes and research degrees in fine art, design, media, games and i nteraction, music, theatre and arts management. The Netherlands offers a first-class education and a student-friendly environment at an affordable price.
HKU is in the midst of society. We deploy applied research to enable us to focus on developing creative and technological solutions for, for example, healthcare, education, the cultural sector and the design of public spaces. The aim of these research projects is to contribute to the further development of the fields of work for which we are training students. Many of our research projects are on the cutting edge of various disciplines. We encourage future designers, creators and producers to develop research skills to help them see past the borders of their own disciplines. We conduct various research projects in collaboration with international institutions for art education.
Courage is something we appreciate and foster. The courage to keep your critical eye for the content and boundaries of your own discipline. What we ask of our students is an explorative attitude, an enterprising spirit and the will to opt for your own individual passion. We offer you the chance to discover and develop your talent.
As an HKU student, during your course you will be working on commissions for customers in the working field. These may be commercial companies or n on-profit organisations and cultural initiatives. That way, you learn hands on where your strengths lie and what you can offer the world as a designer, lecturer, producer or performer. The HKU produces creative professionals and entrepreneurs with initiative who know where their chances lie, both nationally and internationally. We work with renowned art and cultural educational institutions in Europe, Africa, Japan and the US, so you have a wide choice of opportunities for exploring international developments in your discipline. We consider it important for you to learn to present your work in a professional setting. HKU has its own Academy Theatre, concert halls and an Academy Gallery in Utrecht’s city centre. Experimenting in presenting your work in these venues during your course gives you the opportunity to evolve step by step into a professional.
Lectoraten (Professorships) Research within HKU is classified under ten professorships: Art and Technology, Artistic Research, Communicating Music, Design, Colour in Context, Art and Economy, Art Education, Music Design, Play Design & Development and Theatre-Making Processes
Practical information for students Foreign students can attend the HKU as a regular bachelor student, as an MA, MPhil or PhD student or as an exchange student in the framework of programmes such as Erasmus, Mid-American Universities International or the Australian-European Network. See http://sscweb.hku.nl/exchange for more information.
Once you have been accepted on a bachelor or master course at the Utrecht School of the Arts, there are various things you need to organise. You can find all the information you need regarding visa, residence permits, tuition fees, accommodation, finances, insurance etc. at our website http://sscweb.hku.nl/english.
Student Service Centre (SSC)
International collaboration The Netherlands will be increasingly dependent on international trade and internationally-oriented companies for employment in the future. International collaboration is therefore high priority for the creative industry and for HKU. In recent years, HKU has entered into alliances with educational and research establishments, companies and governments in v arious parts of the world: Asia (Japan, India, Cambodia, Vietnam), Africa (Benin, Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania, Zambia), South America (Costa Rica) and Europe (Macedonia). These alliances entail student exchanges, internships, lecturer exchanges, research collaborations, education and research, for example. Other forms of collaboration are also possible. The school is also an active member of multiple international networks such as the European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA), the art education network Cumulus and the European Association of Conservatoires (AEC).
Language The official language of instruction in most bachelor courses is primarily Dutch. Most master courses are taught in English.
The academic year The academic year starts on 1 September and ends in June. Some master courses last a few months longer. The academic year is divided in two semesters: September - January and February - June.
Application and admission For most courses the HKU has a r estricted intake. Admission to the various programmes is based on a selection procedure (portfolio, audition, tape or video), intended to offer the school insight into the student’s artistic qualities and level. For the Art and Economics courses at bachelorlevel, intake is determined by a lottery system. See www.hku.nl/english for more information.
The Utrecht School of the Arts has a Student Service Centre (SSC). The SSC is the main helpdesk for all (international) students and handles all practical and administrative matters concerning your study. The SSC is open on working days between 10.00 am. and 17.00 pm. (CET).
Utrecht School of the Arts Student Service Centre P.O. Box 1520 NL-3500 BM Utrecht The Netherlands t: +31 30 2349440 f: +31 30 2349484 info@ssc.hku.nl http://www.hku.nl/english http://sscweb.hku.nl/english
Further information For further information on studying in the Netherlands, see the website of the Nuffic (Netherlands organization for international cooperation in higher education) www.nuffic.nl.
Professional courses Bachelor of Fine Art Bachelor of Design • Product Design • Fashion Design • Graphic Design • Spatial Design • Photography • Illustration • Theatre Design • Image and Media Technology • Audiovisual Media • Animation Bachelor of Music • Classical Music • Historical Instruments • Jazz & Pop • Carillon Music • Musician 3.0: Creating, Performing, Communicating • Composition for the Media • Composition Electronic Music • Composition and Music Production • Composition and Music Technology • Music Production and Performance • Music Technology and Performance • Composition and Sound Design for Adaptive Systems
Bachelor of Art and Economics • Arts and Media Management • Event Management • Music Management • Theatre Management • Visual Art and Design Management Bachelor of Fine art and Design in Education Bachelor of Music in Education Bachelor of Theatre in Education
Master of Arts (MA) in: • Fine Art • Design: - pathway Editorial Design - pathway Fashion Design - pathway Interior Design - pathway Public Space Design • Arts Management • Performance Design • Creative Design for Digital Cultures - pathway Film, Animation and Media Design - pathway Games and Interaction Design - pathway Music and Sound Design Master Interior Architecture (MIA)
Bachelor of Theatre • Acting • Writing for Performance • Theatre and Education
Master of Music (MMus) • Pathway Performance • Pathway Music Design
Bachelor of Art and Technology • Game Design and Development • Game Art • Interactive Performance Design and Games • Interaction Design • Interactive Toy Design • Digital Media Design • Audio Design • Sound Design
Master of Education in Arts (MEd) MPhil and PhD research programmes
www.hku.nl/english
August 2012 Photography: Ed van Rijswijk, Anna van Kooij Daisy Komen, Engelbert Fellinger, Jouk Oosterhof