Program requirements:
  • 18 Years of Age
  • In good standing at your home school
  • 3.0 GPA or Better on a 4.0 Scale
  • Junior or Senior standing when program begins
  • Final admissions decision rests with the Gerrit Rietveld Academie
  • Applicants for the Gerrit Rietveld Academic should have a strong background in art or design
  • Applicants whose GPAs are below 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis (additional application materials below are required).
Required application materials:
  • IES Abroad Application for Admission
  • Authorization and Evaluation.  Your on-campus study abroad advisor will instruct you on approval for this program
  • Official Transcript.  Submit one official transcript for each college/university you have attended since high school
  • Portfolio. The portfolio should be on slides or on CD-Rom (and should also be printed out in hard copy). Sketches, concepts, and ideas which have not been fully developed may also be submitted.
  • Academic Statement of Purpose. This must including a discussion of the content of the work submitted, the reasons for choosing to study at the Rietveld Academie and to which department they are applying (including a possible alternate choice).
  • Resume. Please include past study, personal interests, and other activities.
  • Passport-Quality Headshot Photo. Submit one passport photo. This photo must be 2 inches by 2 inches and have a completely white background with nothing else in the photo but your head and shoulders.
  • Passport photocopy.  Please photocopy the information/photo page and the (signed) signature page of your current, valid passport. If you do not yet have a passport that will be valid for six months past the end date of your IES Abroad program, please submit this as soon as you receive your new passport.
  • Optional but encouraged: A Brief DVD or Video (in PAL format). This replaces the required face-to-face interview required of all other applicants. Students should take this opportunity to briefly and creatively introduce themselves (1-2 minutes ONLY), highlighting their personality and giving any information that is not already in the portfolio, resume or statement of purpose.
  • If cumulative GPA is below 3.0, the following additional components are required:
    • Professor Recommendation Form or Letter
    • Personal Academic Essay.  Although there is no length requirement the essay must address GPA, any particular academic challenges faced, and goals for studying abroad in your selected location.