The Master's programme in Art and Performance Research Studies is open for application to students with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in the humanities or social sciences with a minimum of 30 ECTS (equivalent to a full-time semester of academic studies) taken in the field of art history, musicology, theatre and performance studies or cultural studies. You are expected to have an awareness of basic theoretical notions in the above fields.

The Artistic Research specialisation is also open for application to students with a Bachelor's degree from an Arts Academy or accredited university with a focus in the Arts/Culture, such as Art History and Curatorial Studies.

The academic specialisation is not open to students with a degree from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (hbo). We do not offer a preparatory programme (schakelprogramma) for this Master's.

English language requirements

New Master's students should be able to speak, read, write and understand English at an advanced academic level. Please check carefully on the page below whether:

• you already meet the English language requirements based on your prior education; or
• you need to arrange to take an official English language test. If you have serious reasons to believe you should be exempted from taking an official English language test, you will need to file a strongly motivated, official exemption request at the Graduate School of Humanities’ Examinations Board. Please note that there is a strict deadline in place for such a request, which is one month prior to the Master's application deadline.

Selection procedure

Because of the limited number of places available, all prospective students are subject to a selection process. We will compare your file to that of other applicants. Distinguish yourself with solid basic academic knowledge in the field of study, sufficient test scores and a convincing and enthusiastic motivation letter.

Grade average

If you wish to apply for a Research Master's programme, you are expected to have an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least an

• A/3.6 (American system)
• 2.1 HONS (an upper second class honours degree in the British system)
• B (ECTS-system), or 
• 7.5 (Dutch system)

Note: admission will not be granted solely on the basis of sufficient grade point average.

All students applying will need to start their application by submitting an enrolment request in Studielink, the Dutch online system for students applying for a degree programme at a Dutch university.

Applicants for Art and Performance Research Studies need to register in Studielink for Arts and Culture - research Master's or Kunst- en cultuurwetenschappen - research master. When asked, select Art and Performance Research Studies as the track you intend to follow. 

It is extremely important that you register in Studielink at least 48 hours before the application deadline (see above). This is to ensure that you receive your login information (UvAnetID) in time to fill in your UvA application in MyInfo (see next step).

All students applying for a Master’s programme with a non-Dutch degree must pay a non-refundable application fee of €100. The UvA cannot start processing your application until this fee has been paid. You can pay the application fee by credit card (Master or Visacard) or iDEAL.

You do not have to pay the application fee:

• If you have obtained or will obtain a Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university or university of applied sciences (HBO);
• If you have the Dutch or Surinamese nationality;
• If you have already applied and paid the application fee for another Master’s programme at the UvA for the academic year 2024-2025;
• If you have already applied and paid the application fee for a Master's programme at the Graduate School of Humanities for the academic year 2023-2024;
• If you have started a UvA Master’s programme in 2021, 2022 or 2023;
• If you are applying through the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF) and/or have an official refugee status in the Netherlands (as stated on your residence permit).

After enrolling in Studielink, you will automatically receive an email with a link to your MyInfo UvA application form. To log in to MyInfo you need your UvAnetID. Please fill out the application form, upload the required documents and submit your MyInfo application form before the application deadline.

Please make sure that in Studielink (step 2) you have selected Art and Performance Research Studies as the track you intend to follow, and it is the selected track in your MyInfo application. Applications for selective programmes that have been selected as a second track will not be processed.

Important: the programme Art and Performance Research Studies has two separate specialisations. Please indicate on the motivation form which specialisation you intend to pursue.

Application documents

Make sure you are well prepared before you start your application, and you have all necessary documents ready. You are asked to upload the following documents:

• curriculum vitae;
• proof of language proficiency (if required, see language requirements);
• transcript of records, up-to-date and issued by your home institution (if you are already a student at the UvA, a screenshot from SIS is sufficient);
• diploma (if already obtained)* or list of courses yet to complete;
• translation of your diploma and transcript of records (if they are not in English, Dutch, German or French);
• motivation form (PDF);
• programme specific documents (see below).

*Please note: If you have not yet obtained your diploma but are in possession of all other application documents, you may proceed with your application - as long as you obtain your Bachelor's degree before 1 September. If you have a non-Dutch prior education, please bear in mind that you must submit your certified documents before 1 August.

Programme-specific documents

In addition to the other application documents, students applying to the research master’s Art and Performance Research Studies have to submit programme-specific documents:

1. For the Art and Performance Studies specialisation, provide a sample of academic writing written in English*. 
2. For the Artistic Research specialisation, provide a sample of academic writing written in English* and a portfolio of realised artwork or art-related projects. Please combine the sample of written work and the portfolio in one file. The portfolio could be a pdf with images or videos or links, or an online portfolio, or a website. It should tell us who you are as an artist and what your practices are. It should have information about your artistic vision for these works and in what context they have been exhibited/performed. Selected students will be invited for a personal interview to discuss their portfolio and the rest of their application dossier. 
3. You must clearly state in your motivation form whether you are applying for Art and Performance Studies or Artistic Research. 

* The sample of writing may, for instance, be an article, a review, an essay or BA or BFA thesis. 

As a student in the Master’s programme in Art and Performance Research Studies you are interested in inter-, intra- and cross-disciplinary themes and propositions, in an active dialogue between art theory and art practice, and in the role of the arts within society. Furthermore, you are expected to have the following knowledge, insight and skills. 

For the Art and Performance Studies specialisation:

• You are able to set up and conduct research and know how to formulate consistent research questions, collect and select material, apply theory, plan, structure and write a thesis.
• You are familiar with contemporary theoretical/methodological debates within your original discipline;
• You are interested in inter-, intra- and cross-disciplinary themes and propositions, in an active dialogue between art theory and art practice, and in the role of the arts within society.

For the Artistic Research specialisation:

• You have an autonomous practice as an artist, and/or you have had a previous education in the arts, and you are acquainted with techniques, methods, processes and practices in your art discipline.

Yes, please clearly state whether you are applying for the Art and Performance Studies or Artistic Research specialisation in your motivation letter.

Yes, this is a regular requirement. You need to evidence that you have developed an independent artistic practice. An art school degree provides such an evidence. Exceptions must be discussed with the coordinator.

Yes, you can apply for up to a maximum of four Master’s programmes. Some Master’s programmes offer different tracks. You may apply for a maximum of two tracks within the same Master's. If you wish to do so, you can select a second track in the MyInfo application form. Note that we will start by processing the track of your first choice. Only if you are not conditionally admitted to your first track will we continue to process your second track. If you are conditionally admitted to your first track, your application to the second track will be cancelled.

Please note that it is not possible to choose a selective track as your second choice option. If you are interested in a selective track or programme, be sure to put that as your first choice.

Many applicants to Master's programmes have not finished their previous education when they apply. If this applies to you, then you can upload a transcript of records with the courses and grades obtained so far. Make sure to also include a list of courses from your Bachelor's that you still need to complete. This applies to the scholarship applications as well.