Arts, Culture and Media

The Bachelor's degree in Arts, Culture and Media at the University of Groningen offers students an interdisciplinary and comprehensive education in understanding the complex interactions between arts, culture, and media in contemporary society. This programme aims to equip students with critical analytical skills, insightful understanding of cultural phenomena, and the ability to evaluate media practices and artistic expressions from multiple perspectives. Throughout the course, students explore various disciplines including cultural studies, media studies, art history, and communication, fostering a well-rounded knowledge of the cultural sector's dynamics. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical skills, enabling students to analyze cultural trends, produce media content, and develop innovative ideas related to arts and culture industries. Students have the opportunity to learn in a multicultural environment, benefiting from expert lecturers and visiting scholars renowned in their fields. The programme encourages active participation through internships, research projects, and collaborations with cultural organizations, providing real-world experience and networking opportunities. Graduates of this degree are prepared for diverse careers in arts administration, media production, cultural consultancy, event management, and digital media. They also acquire essential skills for continuing their academic journey at master's level, specializing further in areas such as cultural management, media studies, or arts education. The University of Groningen’s Arts, Culture and Media programme fosters critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness, opening pathways to meaningful engagement with the cultural sector locally, nationally, and internationally. By combining academic excellence with practical application, students are positioned to become influential professionals who can contribute creatively and thoughtfully to society’s cultural landscape.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline Dutch students - May 01, 2015; EU/EEA students - May 01, 2015; non-EU/EEA students - April 01, 2015 Tuition fee

• EUR 1951 Year (EEA)
• EUR 7800 Year (Non-EEA)

Start date September 2015 Credits (ECTS) 180 ECTS
Duration full-time 36 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Full-time Intensity Flexible More information Go To The Course Website

Course Content

Programme

• 1st year

  The first semester offers an overview of the history of the arts in society and an introudction to the audiovisual arts. You are introduced to the arts in their socio-cultural context, while also developing your academic skills in writing and research. In the second semester you follow the two arts discipline courses (film and music). You also engage with arts philosophies relevant for the contemporary arts world. In short, the first year offers a foundational basis for the rest of the program.

• 2nd year

  The second year focuses intently upon your arts specialization of film and music. You study the history and theory of these disciplines while also choosing one of two frameworks related to contemporary professional arts worlds:

  1. Arts Policy and Management

  2. Arts Analysis and Criticism

  Both tracks offer arts education as a focus. You also receive an introduction to the philosophical background of your arts specialization, acquiring a more theoretical understanding of your chosen discipline.

• 3rd year

  In the third year, you write your bachelors thesis, combining a topic related to your chosen arts discipline and professional framework. You design your plan in September, but the bulk of your research occurs during the second semester. In the second semester, you follow three courses: one in your arts specialization, one related to your framework and a BA thesis course. During the year, you can also do an internship or a semester abroad.

Specialisations / Tracks

• Music(track)

  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.

  Within core modules, students learn to identify the aesthetic, historical and formal qualities connected to various music genres from baroque to jazz and from musique concrète to EDM. The programme provides an overview of relevant theoretical models, drawing in particular from the disciplines of cultural studies, ethnomusicology, musicology, media studies, and theories of race, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity. Individually and in groups, students engage in research projects that expose them to local, national, and international music cultures and phenomena. Here, they investigate the changing processes guiding music's mediation and institutionalization in the twenty first century.

  Coordinator music: k.a.mcgee@rug.nlFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicStudiesRUG

• Arts Analysis and Criticism(track)

  The Arts Analysis and Criticism Framework offers students intensive study into the three fundamental facets surrounding criticism of the arts in the contemporary arts worlds:

  (1) an aesthetic understanding of arts practices as inherently mediated phenomena; (2) a recognition and conceptualization of the interdependence of the arts across disciplines and across media and finally (3) an examination of new and creative forms for evaluating the arts, motivated in particular, by digital media.

  Differentiating between these various critical aesthetic debates - such as those offered in the fields of arts ethics, performance theory, film theory, and arts and emotions - is an important aspect of this framework. For this framework, students enroll in courses in order to acquire a firm grounding in those three facets of arts media theory (mediation, intermediation, digitalization), while also developing the written and evaluative skills to undertake their own unique forms of arts criticism and analysis. In short, the arts criticism and analysis framework provides students further grounding into the important debates reflective of contemporary arts criticism practices, which cross disciplines and media, while further cultivating greater understanding of the specific debates and concepts surrounding particular art forms.

• Film(track)

  The film concentration offers a specialization in the study of film as an art form, as a medium saturated with technological hardware, and as historical and cultural practice.

  Within this concentration, students study a broad corpus of genres and styles from early to avant-garde film, and from contemporary Hollywood and Indie cinema to European art cinema and (Dutch) documentary. They also acquire a broad range of theoretical concepts, from film and media theory, to film philosophy, cultural psychology, cognition and aesthetics. These perspectives enable students to examine how our shared experiences in the cinema differ from individual experiences and to understand trends like techno aesthetics, transmedial storytelling and complex narration.

  Film students have full access to devoted staff supervision and hands-on education; a national high-profile network of professional internships; a distinguished international network of associated academic partners for research and education; an on-location, up-to-date video- and DVD collection as well as a unique historic film archive, consisting of over two thousand films, film equipment, film posters, and film journals, available for hands-on research.

  Coordinator Master Film: A.M.A.van.den.Oever@rug.nlQuestions in German can be addressed to: J.Hanich@rug.nlFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmmediaRUG

• Arts Policy and Marketing(track)

  The Arts Policy and Marketing Framework offers students an in-depth perspective on how the arts are organized in society.

  In this track, students examine how the production and mediation of the arts are marketed in a larger societal context. Further, this frame investigates how the experience of the arts becomes meaningful for arts participants, including audience members, music fans, and arts professionals while also examining how these players impact the broader culture. Thus the framework devotes particular attention to examining to what extent local authorities value (or fear) the arts and their broader impact upon culture. The seminars introduce students to various core methods for studying the arts as a social activity, drawing heavily from social science methodologies. Further, the grounding concepts for arts management and arts marketing as well as more broadly conceived cultural perspectives on the value of the arts within the domain of arts education and policy are also discussed. Thus the seminars incorporate concepts and methodologies from a variety of disciplines, especially from the social sciences, management sciences, cognitive sciences and public policy theory.Coordinator Arts Policy and Marketing: Quirijn Lennert van den Hoogen (q.l.van.den.hoogen@rug.nl)

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5 TOEFL iBT® test : 92

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test.

Requirements

This program will be offered integrally in English. German students can also enter the Dutch program next year through the option of an intensive course in Dutch level 1+2 at the University of Groningen during the summer.

Minimum language requirement for BA:

• internet based (itb) TOEFL: 92 (with a minimum of 21 on all items)
• IELTS Academic Module: 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 for all components)

Admissible Dutch diploma profiles

• CM
• EM
• NG
• NT
• HBO-p

  As of 1 September 2015, students will no longer be automatically granted admission to this degree programme on the basis of a Dutch HBO propaedeutic certificate (in combination with a Dutch HAVO diploma). The degree programme may set additional requirements. Please contact the study advisor for more information.

Admission requirements

Specific requirements / More information

matching procedure

• Are you a Dutch student planning to start a Bachelor's degree programme at the University of Groningen in September 2015? If so, you need to register with Studielink before 1 May 2015. The Faculty will then invite you to take part in a matching activity to find out whether the degree programme is the right one for you. The precise nature of the matching activity differs according to degree programme. After the activity you will be advised as to whether the degree programme is a good match for you. Registration before 1 May and participation in the matching activity are both mandatory.If you have any questions about matching, go to www.rug.nl/matching.

other admission requirements

• This program will be offered in two tracks: one English language and one Dutch language. German students can enter the Dutch or English program next year. An intensive course in Dutch level 1+2 is provided at the University of Groningen in August.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Groningen.

The Bachelor’s degree programme in Arts, Culture and Media at the University of Groningen offers students a comprehensive understanding of the complex and dynamic fields of arts, culture, and media. The programme is designed to develop critical thinking, cultural awareness, and analytical skills, equipping students with the ability to interpret and analyze various cultural phenomena and media forms. Throughout the programme, students examine the historical, social, and theoretical contexts of arts and culture, gaining insights into how media influence and shape societal perceptions and practices. The curriculum includes a diverse range of subjects, such as visual arts, performing arts, cultural history, media studies, and communication theories, providing a broad interdisciplinary perspective. Students also have opportunities to engage in practical projects, internships, and co-creations, enhancing their hands-on experience and preparing them for careers in cultural institutions, media organizations, arts management, or further academic research. Moreover, the programme emphasizes intercultural competence, digital literacy, and creative skills, vital in today’s global and digitally connected world. The academic staff comprises specialists from various disciplines who guide students through lectures, seminars, and research projects. The university’s strong connections with cultural sectors and media industries facilitate internships and real-world exposure. Graduates of Arts, Culture and Media typically pursue careers as cultural policymakers, media analysts, arts administrators, or continue their education through master’s programmes. The programme encourages independent thinking, innovative approaches, and active participation in cultural debates, making it a stimulating environment for students passionate about arts, culture, and media. The University of Groningen’s international orientation also attracts students from all over the world, fostering a diverse learning community and providing a truly global perspective on cultural and media issues.