BA Media, Art, Design and Architecture

About the course

An academic (not studio-based) degree that studies media, art, design and architecture together, past and present, from theoretical and historical angles. Everyone takes the same courses in first year, then specialises in Media, Art, Design or Architecture; the whole programme can be taken in English.

Entry requirements for Irish students

• Leaving Certificate (Established programme) with at least 6 exam subjects, including 2 subjects at H5 or higher and 4 subjects at O6 or H7 or higher, plus a minimum of 350 CAO points. The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme is also accepted (at least 6 courses plus the Link Modules, same grade rules and 350 CAO points).
• No fixed subject is required for the English-taught programme. If VU decides you do not fully meet the requirements, it may ask you to pass an entry test in History (VU History test) and/or Mathematics at Dutch VWO Mathematics C level (OMPT-E).
• English: VU exempts applicants who completed English-taught secondary education in Ireland from an English test.

How to apply

1. Apply on StudielinkChoose the English-taught version by 1 May 2027 (EU deadline in the 2026-27 cycle; 1 April for non-EU students).
2. Complete your file in the VU portalUpload your Leaving Cert results (or current results) and pay the €100 application fee; the file must be complete no later than one week after the deadline.
3. Complete the Study Choice CheckA mandatory online questionnaire, plus an optional online or on-campus activity (in 2026 the campus activity was on 4 June).
4. Receive decisionVU issues a (conditional) offer; send your final Leaving Cert results in August.

Costs

• Standard Dutch EU fee: €2,694 (2026/27). The 2027/28 fee is set by the Dutch government each year (expected to be close to €2,800).
• EU students may be eligible for a Dutch tuition-fee loan (DUO).

At a glance