English
In order to be admitted to a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme at the Royal Conservatoire, you need to have sufficient command of the English language, with the exception of the study 'Docent Muziek and Docent Muziek verkort'.
EU/EEA students
If you have the nationality of an EU/EEA country, United Kingdom, Switzerland or Surinam and during the admission procedure it is concluded that your command of the English language is insufficient, an English language course will be mandatory. In that case, you will be required to follow an English language course during the first study year and obtain a certificate of proficiency.
Non-EU/EEA students
If you have the nationality of a country outside the EU/EEA¹ and are admitted to a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme or preparatory year, you must demonstrate in due time that your level of the English language is sufficient. You can demonstrate this with your score on any of the following English language proficiency tests: IELTS (Academic), TOEFL IBT (Traditional & Paper Edition), TOEIC, Cambridge English (FCE/CAE/CPE), LanguageCert (Academic) or Pearson (PTE Academic). The test scores are valid for two years and your score must be valid on 1 September of the academic year in which you start your studies.
We advise you to schedule the test the moment you have been accepted to the programme. Do not wait until the last minute to do this since test locations may not have places left in August and also to avoid disappointing situations in case you do not pass the test the first time and you have to re-take the test.
The Royal Conservatoire can only submit the application for an entry visa (MVV) and/or residence permit (VVR) for you, when we have received the required result of your English language test! It means that you have to submit this result as soon as possible after you have been notified on your admission!
The minimum required score for a Bachelor's or Master's programme is IELTS 6.0.
The minimum required score for a preparatory year is IELTS 5.0.
Certificates from the Institutional TOEFL test, the TOEFL ITP test, the TOEFL ITP Plus for China or other language proficiency tests will not be accepted!
For the minimum required scores of other accepted English language tests than IELTS, the below table is used.
In case candidates cannot use regular language tests as mentioned because the onsite language test centre cannot be reached or is closed because of unsafe situations in that country, they can use the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. Information on this online language test is available from: TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
See the minimum required scores in the table below.
For more details regarding the national requirements with regard to the English language proficiency of international students in the Netherlands, see Code of Conduct International Student Higher Education (article 4.2) (PDF) and Language Test Appendix to the Code of Conduct January 2024 (PDF).
¹ With exception of Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, South Africa, Surinam, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and United States of America.
Dutch
Dutch for international students
Besides a good command of the English language, basics of the Dutch language is also important. International students at the Royal Conservatoire therefore have the option of following a Dutch language course during their first study year. These Dutch language courses are offered during the first and second semester and are also open to exchange students.
Docent Muziek
An Nt2 level of the Dutch language is required for the Bachelor Docent Muziek and Docent Muziek Verkort programmes.
Candidates of non-Dutch nationality who have not completed their secondary education in the Netherlands, must submit the Diploma State Exam Dutch as a Second Language (Program II).