• About the academy
  • Organisation
  • Mission
  • History
  • Facts and figures
  • Projects
  • Contact
• Bachelor's programmes
  • Directing
  • Production
  • Screenwriting
  • Cinematography
  • Production design
  • Sound design
  • Editing
  • Interactive media / Visual effects
• Master's programmes
  • Master of Film
• Practical matters
  • Admission and enrolment
  • Visa procedures
  • Curriculum
  • Internships and employment
  • Evaluation
  • Internationalisation

Exchange
The Nederlandse Film en Televisie Academie (NFTA) is of course aware of the importance of internationalising the curriculum, the students and the teaching staff. After all, the Academy is preparing students for a professional practice that is becoming increasingly internationally oriented. In practice it has been found that practical considerations in particular hamper the promotion of international aspects of the curriculum. One of the most obvious is the fact that the official language of the NFTA is Dutch.

The NFTA opted for a Dutch programme for three reasons. In the first place this is because of the fact that the NFTA is the only film academy in this country that trains people for the Dutch film market. Research among former students shows that 84% of them are able to earn their own income within three months after graduation. Only a very small percentage of these former students go abroad. Secondly, it is preferable for screenwriting students to write in their native language. This is found to promote the quality of the screenwriting and communication with fellow students. And thirdly, a bilingual curriculum is expensive.

Foreign candidates are assessed in the same way as Dutch candidates. They are informed in advance that the admission examination and the teaching at the academy are in Dutch. In a number of cases a supplementary admission examination is required. Candidates are tested on their knowledge of Dutch, English and subjects such as mathematics and physics. This supplementary admission examination must be taken by foreign as well as Dutch students whose prior education does not meet the requirements, if there is any doubt about the student's knowledge of Dutch and/or the necessary scientific knowledge in the case of some disciplines. About 5% of the students at the NFTA come from abroad. They all passed their supplementary admission examination.

It is only possible to apply for the four-year course, with the exception of students who have an exemption for the first year thanks to qualifications obtained in previous studies. With the exception of the courses production assistant and light assistant, the NFTA does not offer any shorter courses or modules.