Arts and Culture: Design Cultures at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Are you fascinated by the world of art and culture? Then follow the master's programme in Arts and Culture.

You will learn about the developments in art, architecture, media, heritage, creative industry and design. The programme has five specialisations. Some specialisations place current affairs in a historical perspective, while others deal with the contemporary context of art, culture and media. Amsterdam offers a rich environment for connecting your academic development to the expertise of professionals.

Specialisations:

• Comparative Arts and Media Studies (English)
• Contemporary Art History (English)
• Design Cultures (English)

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Arts and Culture: Design Cultures

The master's programme in Arts and Culture offers high-quality education by nationally and internationally renowned professors and lecturers. You will take courses related to developments in art, architecture, media, heritage, creative industry and design.

The programme has five specialisations. Some specialisations place current affairs in a historical perspective, while others deal with the contemporary context of art, culture and media.

Three of the specialisations are taught entirely in English. The other two are taught in Dutch, with some lectures given in English.

Each specialisation is 60 EC, of which you have room to customise 6 to 12 EC. A number of courses are compulsory, but you will be given the opportunity to develop your own specialisation. You will do this through your choice of electives, the topics of your papers and, of course, the topic of your master’s thesis.

You will follow the course 'Trending Topics' together with the students of the other specialisations.

Facts and Figures

Summary

The critical study of design and fashion

As part of the master's programme in Arts and Culture, the specialisation in Design Cultures focuses on how our world has been designed. Interiors, fashion, artefacts, graphics and digital design coexist in our society. They affect nearly every area of our lives and therefore require adequate analysis. Design Cultures takes a humanities perspective and explores design history and theory in connection with contemporary issues such as identity, sustainability and multiculturalism.

Amsterdam

Studying in the city of Amsterdam is a unique experience. The urban setting and the multicultural mindset of the people of Amsterdam, combined with the energy of a thriving cultural city life give your education a special dimension. 

Cultural collaboration

The opportunities for collaboration between the design sector and cultural institutions in Amsterdam are endless. In our wide-ranging academic courses, you can explore the dimensions of these contexts and combine them in unique and exciting ways.

Alternative approaches

You will have plenty of opportunities to develop your own personal interests, for example, in fashion, industrial design or graphic design. The specialisation in Design Cultures will deepen your insights into 20th- and 21st-century developments in design as a practice, a product, a discourse and a cultural environment. You will learn to identify and analyse crossovers within and between the different design disciplines in a wider social context. You will also learn to put theory into practice as a writer and researcher, as well as during your internship at a cultural institution. 

Taught by experts

Our academic staff are actively involved in numerous local, national and international networks. Their knowledge and expertise stretch across the entire spectrum, from the theory and history of design and fashion to art and architecture, from culture and media to material studies, and from film and television to digital media and a host of crossovers along the way.

Professional skills

During the Design Cultures specialisation, you will not only develop an eye for all kinds of design, but you will also learn to analyse design and place it in the proper context. Moreover, you will develop professional skills such as critical thinking, research, presentation and writing skills. When you graduate, you will be well-qualified to work in the fields of media editing, teaching, academic research, brand development and many more.

The programme is built around five core courses (30EC) and a master’s thesis (18EC). You will also choose to take elective courses or conduct an internship (12EC).

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Arts and Culture: Design Cultures

When you graduate from this master’s programme, you will be well-qualified for a variety of jobs. Many of our alumni have ended up in prestigious positions in the world of art and culture, or have gone on to complete the research master’s programme.

You will develop specific skills within in your specialisation, but there are also general research skills that you will learn. This combination of skills is a strong asset when entering the job market.

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Arts and Culture: Design Cultures

I have an international degree

Admission is based on a strict selection procedure. The Faculty’s Admissions Board will decide on your admission after evaluating your complete online application. In order to gain admission to any specialisation of the Arts and Culture Master’s programme, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university. Your degree should include at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or the equivalent.

Comparative Arts and Media Studies

The Master’s programme in Arts and Culture with a specialisation in Comparative Arts and Media Studies is designed for students with an academic Bachelor’s degree in either art, film, TV, digital media, or (visual) cultural studies. You may also be accepted if you have an academic Bachelor’s degree in another discipline within the Humanities (history, journalism, communication studies, comparative literature), if you have completed a major or specialisation in art, film, television, digital media, or visual culture that is equivalent to a minimum of 30 ECTS.

Design Cultures

The Master’s programme in Arts and Culture with a specialisation in Design Cultures is designed for students with an academic Bachelor’s degree in design, fashion, art or (visual) cultural studies. You may also be accepted if you have an academic Bachelor’s degree in other disciplines of the Humanities (history, journalism, communication studies) or in anthropology or sociology, with a major or specialisation in design, fashion, art or visual culture (equal to a minimum of 30 ECTS). Students with a historical and theoretical interest in the broad field of design are particularly welcome.

Contemporary Art History

Direct admission to the Master's programme in Arts and Culture, with a specialisation in Contemporary Art History, is possible with an academic Bachelor's degree (WO) in MKDA, art history or an equivalent degree. If you have an academic Bachelor’s degree in the Humanities (history, media studies, philosophy, cultural studies), you must have completed a minimum of 60 ECTS in art history/theory. You must also submit a complete application for review by the Admissions Board. 

Due to a lack of distinction between applied and academic universities abroad, the level of academic theory that you have studied will be determined based on your course descriptions, literature lists and sample of academic writing.

English language requirements

You must always present official test results proving your proficiency in English. You can apply online without having the test results, but in case you haven’t taken a test yet we advise you to plan a test date as soon as possible. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. Below you will find the minimum English test scores for the English taught programmes at the Faculty of Humanities:

• TOEFL score 600 paper based with a minimum of 55 in each of the subtests plus 4.0 in TWE, score 250 computer based or score 100 internet based with a minimum of 20-23 in each of the subtests).
• IELTS score of 7.0 overall band score (with none of the separate section scores dropping below a minimum score of 6.5).
• Cambridge English: Cambridge Proficiency Exam with score A, B, or C; or Cambridge Advanced Exam with score A, B, or C.

Exemptions from providing the English test scores are applicable to students, who:

• have completed an English-taught secondary or higher education degree in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia; or
• have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an English-taught programme accredited by NVAO in the Netherlands, or
• have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an accredited English-taught programme in another member state of the European Union

The required evidence should, if possible, be included with the complete application. If either unsatisfactory or no evidence of English language proficiency has been provided with the application, admission will be conditional upon the provision of such evidence. This condition will be clearly indicated on the offer letter and must be fulfilled before enrolment at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

See the Admission and language requirements page for further information on the general requirements.

I have a Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university (Bachelor's degree from VU Amsterdam, VU pre-master’s certificate or a Bachelor’s degree from another university)

Comparative Arts and Media Studies

Admission to the master's programme in Arts & Culture, with a specialisation in Comparative Arts and Media Studies, is possible with a bachelor's degree in art, film, television, digital media or (visual) cultural studies.

If you have an academic bachelor’s degree in the Humanities (history, journalism, communication studies, comparative literature), you need to have a minimum of 30 ECTS in either art, film, television, digital media or (visual) cultural studies. Students with a theoretical interest are particularly welcome.

If you have an academic bachelor’s degree in the Humanities but have not obtained the required 30 ECTS in art, etc., you can apply for a premaster’s programme.

Design Cultures
Direct admission to the master’s programme in Arts and Culture, with a specialisation in Design Cultures, is possible with an academic bachelor’s degree (WO) in MKDA, art history, art, industrial design, graphic design, architectural design or fashion.

If you have an academic bachelor’s degree in history, (visual) cultural studies, anthropology or sociology, you must have completed a minimum of 30 ECTS in the history and/or theory of the decorative arts, dress, design or fashion. Students with an interest in history and theory are particularly welcome.

Contemporary Art History
Direct admission to the master's programme in Arts and Culture, with a specialisation in Contemporary Art History, is possible with an academic bachelor's degree (WO) in MKDA, art history or an equivalent degree.

If you have an academic bachelor’s degree in the Humanities (history, media studies, philosophy, cultural studies), you must have completed a minimum of 60 ECTS in art history/theory. You must submit application to the Admissions Board, who will decide if you are directly admissible or if you qualify for a premaster's programme. 

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