How to apply for a Master’s programme

1. Choose your programme

At LUCA School of Arts, we offer the following degree programmes at the Master’s level:

English-taught LUCA Master’s programmes

Visual Arts

Campus Brussels / Sint-Lukas: Fine Arts, Graphic Design: Media & Information Design, Graphic Storytelling, Photography

Campus Ghent / Sint-Lucas: Textile Design

Audiovisual Arts

Campus Brussels / Sint-Lukas: Animation Film, Filmmaking

Music

Campus Leuven / Lemmens: Classical Performance, Composition, Conducting, Jazz Performance

All other LUCA Master's programmes are taught in Dutch.

Joint and Erasmus Mundus Masters

LUCA also partners in five joint Master’s programmes taught in English:

• DocNomadsPlus

• FilmMemory

• REPLAY

• Response_able Futures

• Re:Anima

Each joint Master has its own application platform, deadlines, and procedures.
Always follow the instructions on the programme’s website.

2. Check your eligibility

Diploma requirements

You can apply if you hold an academic Bachelor’s degree (first cycle, EQF level 6) that gives access to Master’s studies (second cycle, EQF level 7) in your home country.

Direct entry

You may be directly admitted if your degree is in the same artistic field as the LUCA Master’s you are applying for.

Preparatory and bridging programmes

If your degree is in a closely related artistic field, the Master Assessment committee may require you to complete a preparatory programme before starting the Master.

LUCA offers several preparatory programmes in English.

Applicants with a Flemish Professional Bachelor may become eligible for a Master’s through a bridging programme (schakelprogramma).
Bridging programmes are not available for holders of non-Flemish professional or vocational Bachelor degrees.

If your Bachelor does not give access

You cannot be directly admitted — nor follow a preparatory programme — if you hold:

• a non-academic Bachelor (professional or vocational)

• a non-artistic Bachelor

• or an artistic Bachelor in a completely different field

You will only become eligible after completing a full Bachelor, a shortened Bachelor in the same artistic field, or a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure.

LUCA currently offers no English-taught Bachelors, except the Joint International Bachelor in Film – Pathfinder.

Applicants without a suitable Bachelor must:

• Complete a Dutch-taught Bachelor at LUCA (B2 level Dutch required), or

• Have their prior learning formally recognised through an RPL procedure (Recognition of Prior Learning, in Dutch: EVC – Erkenning van Verworven Competenties), or

• Obtain a relevant Bachelor’s degree at another institution.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL / EVC)

RPL allows candidates with extensive artistic experience and a strong portfolio, but without a suitable Bachelor’s diploma, to have their competencies formally assessed.

The procedure at LUCA is only available in Dutch (B2 level Dutch required).

It suits candidates who:

• do not hold a Bachelor's degree, or

• hold a non-artistic Bachelor’s degree (for example in Communication Sciences), or

• hold an artistic Bachelor’s degree in a completely different field (for example in Music while applying for a Master in Film),

but can demonstrate significant artistic practice and professional experience in the field of the desired Master.

Applicants without sufficient Dutch proficiency may explore whether another institution offers an English-language RPL procedure leading to an official Bachelor’s diploma.
LUCA only accepts diplomas resulting from an RPL procedure, not standalone RPL/EVC certificates from other institutions.

More information: Exemptions | LUCA

Language Requirements

All applicants must prove English proficiency at minimum CEFR level B2, either through a diploma or an accepted test.

Through your diploma

No language test is required if you hold:

• a Flemish diploma of secondary or higher education, or

• a diploma from Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, or the USA.

Medium of Instruction (MOI) statements are not accepted.

Through an English test

If you do not hold one of the diplomas above, submit one of the tests below (issued within 5 years before the start of your studies):

Only the tests listed above are accepted.
Your English skills will also be assessed during the Master Assessment interview.

Residence Requirements

International students must meet the rules for legal entry into Belgium and for obtaining the correct residence status while studying at LUCA. Your obligations depend on your nationality.

EEA and Swiss nationals

Citizens of the European Economic Area (EU + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco) and Swiss nationals do not need a visa to enter Belgium.
A valid international passport or EU national identity card is sufficient.

After arrival in Belgium, EEA/Swiss students must register at the town or city hall of their place of residence. During this registration, you must confirm that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself.
A blocked account is not required; in most cases, a declaration of sufficient means is accepted.

More information:
https://dofi.ibz.be/en/themes/citizens-european-union/right-entry-and-residence/right-entry-and-residence-belgium-eu-2

Non-EEA nationals (including UK)

If you do not hold the nationality of an EEA country or Switzerland, you must apply for a long-stay visa (Type D) before travelling to Belgium.
Do not enter Belgium on a tourist visa if you intend to study at LUCA.

You must apply for the visa through the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
Find your embassy’s contact details here: https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/embassies-and-consulates

The procedure typically takes 6–8 weeks, so start early.

Chinese students may also need an APS certificate issued by DAAD Beijing. If you are a Chinese applicant you should start your application and visa procedure even earlier, and you must consult the detailed APS instructions on webpage FAQ APS CERTIFICATE | LUCA.

Documents for your visa application

Accepted non-EEA students will receive:

• an official letter of acceptance, and

• a standard form required for the visa procedure.

You will also need to demonstrate financial solvency. LUCA offers a blocked account system: you transfer a required amount to a LUCA bank account, and after you arrive and enrol, LUCA pays out one twelfth (1/12) of that amount each month to cover living costs. More details about this procedure can be found here: Blocked Account | LUCA

Official information about residency requirements for Non-EEA students can be found on the website of the Belgian Immigration Office: https://dofi.ibz.be/en/themes/third-country-nationals/study

All non-EEA students must apply for a Belgian residence permit after arrival and complete the local registration process at their town or city hall.

Learning Account

When you start higher education in Flanders, you receive a learning account of 140 credits, a virtual backpack that tracks your progress.

• Credits are deducted when you enrol.

• Passed credits are added back.

• Failed or tolerated credits are not returned.

A low balance may affect future enrolment or tuition fees.
Most international students receive the full 140 credits when they first enrol.

More info (in Dutch): Flemish Government – Leerkrediet
Need advice? Contact LUCA’s Learning Path Counsellors

3. Prepare your documents and apply

Upload clear digital copies (PDF or JPEG) of the following:

1. Diploma (or proof of expected graduation)

Provide a digital copy of your Bachelor diploma.

If you have not yet graduated:

• upload an official statement from your institution confirming that

  • you are enrolled in your final year,

  • your expected graduation date, and

  • the title of the degree you will obtain.

If you have graduated but your final diploma is not yet available:

• upload a provisional certificate of graduation.

Only applicants who will graduate before 1 October 2026 are eligible to apply for the 2026 intake.

If you no longer have the original diploma document:

• upload a certified copy issued by your institution.

2. Transcript of records / diploma supplement

Upload a digital copy of your transcript or diploma supplement showing:

• the full curriculum you completed,

• all grades obtained, and

• the credits/weight of each course.

3. Proof of English language proficiency

Upload a digital copy of your language certificate.
If your test organisation provides an online verification service, make sure your results can be verified by Admissions.

Language certificates must be issued within 5 years before the start of your studies. (For the academic year starting September 2026: tests dated September 2021 or later).

4. Passport or ID

International passport or EU/EEA identity card.

5. Passport picture

A recent head-shot on a plain light background.

Translation

If the original document is not drafted in English, Dutch, French or German, provide an official translation into one of these languages. The translation can be provided by your institution of by a sworn translator.

Legalisation

Legalisation of your diploma is not required during the initial application stage.
It may be requested later during admissions or at enrolment, if clarification or verification is needed.

Missing and additional documents

If any information is unclear or missing, Admissions may ask for additional documents or verification. At the application stage, the Admissions Office does not need your cv, motivation letter, letters of recommandation or portfolio. These may be required for the Master Assessment, for which you will be invited to register after the initial application.

4. Pay the application fee

The application fee is a flat-rate administrative cost of € 50 that must be paid for the assessment of your application by the Admissions Office.

Who has to pay the application fee?

You are required to pay the application fee when you submit your application as a degree-seeking student for one of the following programmes:

• Bachelor

• Master

• Advanced or Educational Master

• Bridging programme

• Preparatory programme

• LUCA Continue Microcredentials

This applies both if you intend to enrol under:

• a diploma contract, or

• a credit contract.

The fee is charged per applicant and per academic year. If you apply for more than one LUCA programme in the same academic year, you only pay the fee once. If you submit a new application in a later academic year, the application fee is charged again.

The application fee is non-refundable, even if your application is rejected, cancelled and regardless of your decision to enrol.

Programmes without application fee

No application fee is charged for the following study programmes:

• Exchange programmes (Erasmus+)

• Associate Degree programmes (Graduaat)

• Doctoral programmes (PhD)

• Joint International Bachelor in Film: Pathfinder

• (Erasmus Mundus) Joint Master programmes

• FilmEU Academy courses

Who is exempt from paying the application fee?

Exemptions from paying the application fee are only granted to:

• Applicants with a qualifying diploma from Flanders or the Netherlands
  Applicants who apply on the basis of a diploma obtained in the official education system of the Flemish Community or of the Netherlands that gives access to the chosen LUCA study programme.
  This includes LUCA students progressing from a LUCA Bachelor to a LUCA Master.

• Applicants in a vulnerable residence or protection situation in Belgium
  Applicants who, at the time of application, have one of the following statuses in Belgium:

  • recognised refugee or subsidiary protection

  • applicant for international protection (asylum seeker)

  • temporary protection

  • officially recognised victim of human trafficking

If you request an exemption on this basis, you must upload a recent copy of your residence document or official certificate under “Other documents” in the online application. The Admissions Office will verify your documents as part of the admission check.

How can I pay the application fee?

You can pay the application fee by credit or debit card when you submit your online application. You will find a link to the payment platform on your application landing page and you will also receive the link by email.

We do not start processing your application until we have received the application fee. The application fee must be paid within 30 days after submitting your application and before the Master Assessment deadline; otherwise, your application will be cancelled.

Please do not send us separate proof of payment. As soon as you make the payment, you will automatically receive a confirmation email and your application status will be updated.

Need help?

Contact the Admissions Office via admissions@luca-arts.be.

5. Apply for a Master Assessment

Participation in a Master Assessment is required for all LUCA Master’s programmes.
It evaluates whether your artistic background, skills and motivation fit the programme.

You can only apply for a Master Assessment after you have applied for admission. You will receive an email with a link to a form to register for the Master Assessment of your chosen programme.

Assessment rounds

There are three assessment rounds per year, each with its own deadline.
You must register and upload your artistic dossier before the deadline.
We strongly recommend submitting well in advance.

You can register only once per academic year for the same Master specialisation.
Participation is free of charge.

Artistic dossier (first part of the assessment)

The artistic dossier is the first element of the Master Assessment.
Most programmes require at least the following:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)

• Artistic portfolio

• Motivation letter

Some programmes may require additional assignments or documents during the first part of the assessment.
Details are provided on the programme-specific Master Assessment pages.

In a small number of cases, the academic committee may already decide the result based on the dossier alone.
In most cases, candidates proceed to a second assessment step.

Interview or artistic assignment (second part of the assessment)

Most candidates are invited for an interview or artistic assignment. These take place on campus, though some programmes may allow online participation for international candidates.

The assessment is carried out by an academic committee of teachers and learning path counsellors. They evaluate:

• your artistic background and basic competencies

• your artistic vision, motivation and potential

• the match between your profile and the chosen Master programme

• whether another study pathway would be more suitable
  (e.g. a preparatory programme, a shortened bachelor, or a different discipline/campus)

Although passing the Master Assessment is required, it is not an exam. It is an exercise in study orientation, designed to determine whether there is a good fit between you and the programme.

Result and admission

The academic committee’s decision is binding. They may conclude:

• that you are ready to enter the Master’s programme directly,

• that you may enter after completing a preparatory programme,

• or that you must first complete a (shortened) bachelor in a related field,

• or that a different LUCA programme or campus is a better match

• or refer you to a Recognition of Prior Learning procedure.

Passing the Master Assessment is necessary, but not sufficient for admission.
You must also meet all general admission requirements:

• diploma requirements

• language requirements

• a complete and verified admission file

Successful candidates receive a (conditional or final) Letter of Acceptance by email. Only candidates who pass both the Master Assessment and the Admissions check will receive a final Letter of Acceptance.

Admissions are valid for two years. You can use your final Letter of Acceptance to register for the academic year 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. 

Detailed information per programme

All practical details, deadlines, dossier requirements, interview formats and campus-specific procedures are available here: Master Assessments 2026 | LUCA

For questions about the Master Assessment procedure, contact the administrative team of the LUCA campus where your assessment will take place.

Deadlines

There is no fixed application deadline.
You can apply from December 2025 until the start of the 2026–2027 academic year.

Admission, however, requires participation in a Master Assessment, held in three rounds.

• You can only be admitted if you take part in one of these rounds.

• Once the final round has passed, admission for that year is no longer possible.

We strongly encourage early application, even if:

• you have not yet graduated, or

• some documents are still pending.

Master Mind Scholarship

To be considered for the Master Mind Scholarship, you must participate in the first Master Assessment round (usually in March).
Later applications cannot be considered.

Non-EEA applicants (visa required)

If you need a visa, apply as early as possible and take part in the first or second round.
Visa processing normally takes 6–8 weeks.
Chinese applicants needing an APS certificate should plan for even more time.

6. Register

Letter of Acceptance

If you pass the Master Assessment, you will receive a Letter of Acceptance by email.
This can be:

• Conditional, if you still need to submit missing documents (e.g. final diploma, transcript, language certificate), or

• Final, once all academic and artistic requirements are met.

If you received a Conditional Letter of Acceptance, please provide the missing documents to the Admissions Office via admissions@luca-arts.be

You can only complete your enrolment with a Final Letter of Acceptance.

Completing your registration

Your email will include a personal registration link (OLI tool).
You may receive this as early as March.
The Student Administration Office starts processing files in July.

During online registration, upload:

• your Letter of Acceptance

• your passport or ID card

• your visa (Type D) – for non-EEA students

• your original diploma and transcripts

In some cases, an on-campus appointment may be required for verification.

If you deferred your start:
Contact inschrijvingen@luca-arts.be for an updated enrolment link.

After registration

Once your registration is validated, you will receive your LUCA student account, access to the digital learning environment, and the documents needed for residence registration.

Exceptional registration

If your registration is refused (e.g. due to learning account, late application or late assessment), you can request an Exceptional Registration via the Vice Dean of Education.

Use the following form: Admission Exceptional Registration. 

The education administration will first check your file; the Vice Dean will then assess your motivation. You will receive the decision by email.

Questions about your registration?

• For questions about the registration process, contact inschrijvingen@luca-arts.be

• For questions about admission conditions or missing admission documents, contact admissions@luca-arts.be

Tuition fees and additional costs

Tuition fees

Additional costs

CLICK HERE for all information regarding tuition fees and Master mind scholarship.