Study in Europe › Belgium › Antwerp Royal Academy (AP)

Bachelor of Fashion

AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp (Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Fashion Department) · Antwerp, Belgium

100% taught in EnglishApply direct to the university, not the CAOPortfolio/auditionEntrance examPortfolioPublic fees
Duration3 years
StartsAutumn 2027
EntryPortfolio/audition
Deadline (EU)Late Mar 2027 (TBC)
EU/EEA fee 2026/27 (full-time, 60 credits)€1,181 / yr

About the course

A studio-based fashion design bachelor at the Royal Academy’s Fashion Department, over three years. First year is built around fashion design plus two other artistic subjects. In second year students study fashion design, graphics and tailoring, recreate a historical costume from before 1940 and make an avant-garde collection. Third year ends with a collection of 8 silhouettes based on research into a culture. Most students come from abroad.

Entry requirements for Irish students

  • AP accepts foreign diplomas that give access to university in the country where they were awarded, so a Leaving Cert that meets Irish university entry rules (usually six subjects including at least two H5s at Higher Level) should qualify. Admission, however, is decided by the artistic pre-selection and entrance exam, not by points. Confirm with AP’s student administration how the Leaving Cert is assessed.
  • You must pass a portfolio pre-selection (one PDF, max 50 MB) and then the in-person artistic entrance exam in Antwerp. Leaving Cert Art is not formally required, but a strong portfolio of drawing and design work is essential.
  • English at level B2 (CEFR) is required for English-taught programmes. You are exempt with a diploma from English-language secondary education, so a Leaving Cert taken through English should count; otherwise accepted tests include IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Cambridge B2 First or PTE 59.

How to apply

  1. Build your portfolioFrom fifth year, put together drawings, sketchbooks, design ideas and any garments you have made that show your own creative ideas, ready to submit as a single PDF (max 50 MB).
  2. Register and upload your portfolioRegister online through AP by the late-March deadline (25 March for 2026 entry), pay the EUR 30 fee, then upload your portfolio by early April. Pre-selection results come in early May.
  3. Sit the entrance examIf you pass pre-selection, attend the entrance exam in person in Antwerp in early July (1-3 July in 2026). It includes drawing assignments.
  4. Enrol after your resultsIf you pass, complete your definitive enrolment with AP, send your Leaving Cert results when they come out in August, and arrange accommodation in Antwerp. A pass is valid only for the next academic year.
Deadline for Irish/EU applicants: The admission test runs only once a year. For 2026 entry the timeline was: register by 25 March 2026 (14:00 Belgian time), upload your portfolio by 1 April 2026, pre-selection results in the week of 5 May 2026, and the entrance exam in person in Antwerp on 1-3 July 2026 (there is no online exam for Fashion). AP says students applying for 2027-2028 take the test in 2027. The 2027 dates are not published yet but will probably follow the same pattern, so check the Fashion registration page from early 2027..

Costs

  • For 2026/27 AP charges EU/EEA students a fixed EUR 305.40 plus EUR 14.60 per credit, which comes to about EUR 1,181 a year for a full-time load of 60 credits. Students who qualify for a Flemish study grant pay a reduced EUR 139.40. The 2027/28 fee has not been published yet and will probably be a little higher. There is also a EUR 30 administration fee to register for the entrance exam. Budget separately for materials and for making your collections, which cost a lot.
Admission depends on passing a portfolio pre-selection and a demanding three-day entrance exam, so your portfolio matters more than your points. The exam falls in early July, before Leaving Cert results come out, and a pass is valid only for that year. Tuition is low (about EUR 1,181 in 2026/27), but making collections is expensive.

At a glance

CountryBelgium
CityAntwerp
LanguageEnglish
Apply viaDirectly to the university (AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp online registration for the artistic entrance exam)
PlacesNot published
EntryPortfolio/audition
AP Arts – Fashion programme ↗AP Arts – Fashion registration ↗AP Arts – Fashion bachelor definitive registration ↗AP Arts – Admission ↗Antwerp Fashion Department – Study programme ↗← Back to all European courses

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Checked against official AP Arts and Antwerp Fashion Department pages in September 2026. The fees and dates shown are for 2026/27 entry; the 2027 dates and 2027/28 fees had not been published yet. Always confirm details with the university before applying.