Program Overview

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Introduction to the Bachelor's Programme in Arts, Culture and Media

The Bachelor's programme in Arts, Culture and Media at the University of Groningen is a unique and interdisciplinary programme that offers students a deepened analytical, historical, and theoretical understanding of the arts and media. The programme is designed to provide students with a broad spectrum of perspectives from which to situate the role of arts and media in culture and society.

Programme Description

The programme is a full-time, three-year Bachelor's degree that focuses on the study of arts and media in a scholarly way. Students acquire a deepened analytical, historical, and theoretical understanding of two art forms chosen from film, music, theater/performance, visual arts, or literature, and specialized scholarly knowledge in one of two frameworks: 'Arts, Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship' or 'Analysis and Criticism.' The programme is unique in its broad, multi- and interdisciplinary combination, which paves the way for a variety of professional avenues into the field of arts and media.

Programme Structure

The programme is divided into three years, with each year building on the previous one. The first year provides a diverse and grounded foundation for the following two years, with courses in the history of the arts in society, academic skills in writing and research, and arts philosophies relevant to the contemporary arts world. The second year focuses on the student's arts specialization, with courses in the history and theory of the chosen discipline, as well as the study of arts policy and cultural entrepreneurship or arts analysis and criticism. The third year includes a minor, which prepares students for a follow-on Master's degree program or for entering the labor market.

Specializations

The programme offers several specializations, including:

• Music: Studying music in Groningen in the Arts, Culture and Media Department offers students a broad spectrum of perspectives from which to situate music's role in culture and society.
• Film: The Film Studies track offers a specialization in the study of film as an art form, a medium, and a cultural practice.
• Theater and Performance Arts: The theater and performance track offers in-depth study of all forms of theater as historical, cultural, and social practice, as well as the contemporary market and its related interdisciplinarity.
• Arts Analysis and Criticism: The Arts Analysis & Criticism (AAC) specialization is designed to sharpen students' expertise in one or several art disciplines.
• Arts Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship: The Arts Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship (APCE) specialization deals with how arts and culture are organized.

Minors

The fifth semester of the programme is dedicated to a minor, which is a coherent set of future-oriented course units. Students can opt for a Career Minor, a Minor abroad, a University Minor, or a Faculty Minor.

Study Abroad

Study abroad is optional, with a maximum of 40 EC.

Entry Requirements

The programme has specific entry requirements, including:

• A Dutch VWO diploma, a German Abitur, an International Baccalaureate diploma, a European Baccalaureate, or another diploma that is sufficient for acceptance to a Dutch university.
• Language requirement: English, with a minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS 6.5.

Admission Requirements

The programme has specific admission requirements, including:

• Previous education: A Dutch VWO diploma or equivalent.
• Other admission requirements: Language requirement English, with a minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS 6.5.

Registration Procedure

The registration procedure involves applying between 1 October and 28 February and submitting all requested information and documents via the Progress Portal.

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines are:

• Dutch students: 01 May 2026
• EU/EEA students: 01 May 2026
• non-EU/EEA students: 01 May 2026

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees are:

• EU/EEA: € 2601 (2025-2026) and € 2695 (2026-2027)
• non-EU/EEA: € 13500 (2025-2026) and € 14000 (2026-2027)

After Graduation

After graduation, students can continue with a Master's degree program or enter the labor market. The programme provides access to various Master's tracks at the University of Groningen, including Arts, Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Film and Contemporary Audiovisual Media, and Music, Theatre and Performance Studies.

Job Prospects

The programme provides students with a wide range of job prospects, including research positions, criticism and analysis, arts education, arts policy and marketing, and management and policy consultation.

Research

The programme is part of the Research Centre Arts in Society, which examines the transformations of the arts in recent decades and the emerging values surrounding the arts and their role in society. The Research Centre is divided into seven theme groups, including Art History & Visual Material Culture, Arts, Narrative and Cognition, and Music, Sound, and Culture.

Study Associations

The programme has a study association, IK, which organizes various cultural events and provides students with practical experience in the world of arts and culture.

Student Profile

The programme is suitable for students who are curious about the arts and media, enjoy examining how film techniques evoke emotions, and are interested in the organization and management of arts institutions.

Binding Study Advice

The programme has a binding study advice system, which requires students to earn a minimum of 45 EC in the first 12 months.

Study Support

The programme provides study support, including study advisors who can assist students with choosing the right institutions and student desks for their problems.

Related Master's Programmes

The programme provides access to various Master's tracks at the University of Groningen, including Arts, Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Film and Contemporary Audiovisual Media, and Music, Theatre and Performance Studies.