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Education Bachelor's degree programmes Arts, Culture and Media
Header image Arts, Culture and Media

Arts, Culture and Media

Are you fascinated by films, music or theater? Do you love to discuss what art is, or how to interpret a particular movie, popular song or performance? Are you interested in studying the effects of arts and media on society?

In our Bachelor’s programme students acquire a deepened analytical, historical and theoretical understanding of (a) two art forms chosen from film, music, theater/performance, visual arts or literature; and (b) specialized scholarly knowledge in one of two frameworks: ‘Arts, Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship’ or ‘Analysis and Criticism.’ This broad multi- and interdisciplinary combination is unique to the programme.

The programme will train you to study artworks, from novels and music videos to films and computer games, in a scholarly way – examining how they are produced, distributed, used, perceived, appreciated and socially embedded. It thereby paves the way for a variety of professional avenues into the field of arts and media.

In our programme students enroll in one or two of the arts disciplines offered by our own department: Film, Theater, Music. Literature and Visual Arts can be chosen as secondary arts discipline only.

Please see our blog on recent topics concerning the arts in society.

Arts Culture and Media Teaching and Research Faculty.

Facts & Figures
Degree
BA in Arts, Culture and Media
Course type
Bachelor
Duration
36 months (180 ECTS)
Croho code
50629
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Arts
Studie in Cijfers
Why study this programme in Groningen?

The Arts Culture and Media programme is unique because it offers

  • An interdisciplinary study with various modules examining the mutual interdependence of the arts
  • The possibility to study one art form (film, music, theatre) in-depth
  • Socially relevant perspectives examining the social, ethical, and ideological dimensions of contemporary art worlds in order to build bridges between academic institutions and living artists, communities, and arts organizations for their mutual and healthy proliferation in society.
Programme

The first semester surveys the history of the arts in society, from prehistoric times to today. You are introduced to the social function of the arts, while also developing your academic skills in writing and research.

In the second semester you follow courses in two of the following art disciplines: film, music and theater/performance. You also engage with arts philosophies relevant for the contemporary arts world. In short, the first year offers a diverse and grounded foundation for the following two years of the programme.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Introduction to Audiovisual Arts A and B (10 EC)
Life Imagined: The Arts in Culture A and B (10 EC)
Sociology of Arts I and II (10 EC)
Reality Contested: Visual Arts 1800-1914 (5 EC, optional)
Thinking about Art I: Philosophy of Art (5 EC)
Film I a/b (10 EC, optional)
Literature I (10 EC, optional)
Music I a/b (10 EC, optional)
Theatre I a/b (10 EC, optional)
Arts and Cognition (5 EC)
Blurring Boundaries in Arts 1914-now (5 EC, optional)

The second year focuses intently upon your arts specialisation of film, music or theater. You study this discipline's history and theory while also choosing one of two frameworks related to contemporary professional arts worlds:

1. Arts Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship (APCE) 2. Arts Analysis and Criticism (AAC)

Both tracks offer art education as a focus. You also receive an introduction to the philosophical background of your specialisation, acquiring a more theoretical understanding of your chosen discipline.
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Culture and Literature Plus 1: Empirical Approaches (5 EC, optional)
Culture and Literature Plus 1: Empirical Approaches (5 EC, optional)
Modern East Asian Art & Visual Culture (5 EC, optional)
Empirical Methods: Arts Policy Education (Specialisation APCE) (10 EC)
Film II: Film History (10 EC, optional)
Mediality to Intermediality (Specialisation AAC) (10 EC)
Music II: History and Theory; Classics (10 EC, optional)
Theatre II: History and Theory (10 EC, optional)
Art Now (5 EC, optional)
Culture and Literature 2: Otherness, Strangeness, Abnormality (5 EC, optional)
Culture and Literature Plus 2: Gendering Culture (5 EC, optional)
Art & Architecture's Global Potentials (5 EC, optional)
Culture and Literature 3: Racism, Discrimination, Inequality (5 EC, optional)
Culture and Literature Plus 3: Imagining Europe's Tomorrow (5 EC, optional)
Film III: Film Theory (10 EC, optional)
Management and Entrepreneurship (Specialisation APCE) (10 EC)
Music III: Popular Music Theory and Analysis (10 EC, optional)
Narrativity Across Media (Specialisation AAC) (10 EC)
Theatre III: Theory and Analysis (10 EC, optional)
Art & Environment (5 EC, optional)
Literature II: Advanced Critical Theory (5 EC, optional)

In the first semester of the third year you follow the Minor of your choice. There are several options for this Minor, for example an exchange or career MKinor. In the second semester you follow three courses in your arts specialisation and related to your framework. In this semester you also write your Bachelor's thesis, combining a topic related to your chosen arts discipline and professional framework.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Minor (30 EC)
Evaluating the Arts (Specialisation AAC) (5 EC)
Film/Music/Theatre Advanced Seminar (Specialisation AAC) (5 EC, optional)
Organising and communicating in the Arts (Specialisation APCE) (10 EC)
Arts in Practice: Film, Music, Theatre or Dutch Infrastructure (10 EC)
Thesis (10 EC)

Curriculum

Please note that individual courses may possibly still change in the event of a programme change. The first semester of Year 3 focuses on the Minor. These 'future-oriented' Minors should help you prepare for choosing a follow-on degree programme or a career. You can opt for a pre-Master's Minor, a Minor abroad, a career-oriented Minor, a teacher-training Minor, a Faculty Minor or a University Minor.

Programme options
Music (specialization)

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 institutionalisation in the twenty first century.

Coordinator Music: k.a.mcgee rug.nl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicStudiesRUG

More information about this option

Film (specialization)

The Film Studies track offers a specialization in the study of film as an art form, a medium, and a cultural practice.

Students following this track become acquainted with a wide range of film genres and styles. They learn theoretical concepts from film and media theory to film philosophy, emotion studies, cognition and aesthetics. These perspectives enable students to examine the various shades of the film experience 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. Groningen is a lively city with multiple (art house) cinemas. We offer great possibilities for ERASMUS exchanges to partner universities like the Freie Universität Berlin, Paris-Sorbonne, and many others. Last but not least, we regularly feature renowned guest lectures by outstanding artists, scholars and cultural critics.

Course Coordinator: Dr. Annie van den Oever, a.m.a.van.den.oever rug.nl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groningenfilmstudies

More information about this option

Theater and Performance Arts (specialization)

The theater and performance track offers in-depth study of all forms of theater as historical, cultural and social practice, as well as the contemporary market and its related interdisciplinarity.

Within this specialisation, students study the rich and diverse history and theory of theater from ancient drama to dramatic, post-dramatic theater, and experimental performance, acquiring insights into a number of perspectives and research methods. Through individual research and group projects, students focus upon the creation and perception of theater; the goals and intentions of theater makers; and the public's experiences and interpretations.

During their studies, students of theater and performance remain in constant contact with the contemporary theater market by visiting a number of local and international productions and festivals, participating and organizing pre- and post-show discussions with theater makers and contributing dramaturgically to the creative process of artists. Additionally, they are also asked to create a theater project of their own and present it publicly in a theater venue in Groningen. This way they also have the opportunity to come in contact with the practical side of the artistic process.

Coordinator Theater: l.d.m.e.van.heteren rug.nl

More information about this option

Arts Analysis and Criticism (specialization)

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 conceptualisation 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, digitalisation), 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.

Arts Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship (specialization)

The Arts Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship Framework offers students an in-depth perspective on how the arts are organised in society.

In this track, students examine how the production and mediation of the arts are marketed in a larger societal context. Furthermore, 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. Furthermore, 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 Cultural Entrepreneurship: Quirijn Lennert van den Hoogen (q.l.van.den.hoogen rug.nl)

Minors (minor)

The fifth semester of your studies is dedicated to your Minor: a coherent set of future-oriented course units. It prepares you for a follow-on Master's degree program or for entering the labour market. You can opt for a Career Minor, a Minor abroad, a University Minor or a Faculty Minor.

More information about this option

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional
  • Maximum of 40 EC
Entry requirements

Admissible Dutch diploma profiles

  • VWO Natuur & Techniek

    If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.

  • VWO Natuur & Gezondheid

    If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.

  • VWO Economie & Maatschappij

    If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.

  • VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij

    If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.

  • HBO propedeuse

    Language requirement English: Minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. For more information, see: https://www.rug.nl/let/studeren-bij-ons/bachelor/aanmelding-en-inschrijving/language-requirements-ba

Choice of degree programme check

The degree programme will organize a matching procedure. Attendance is optional. The advice is not binding.

Explanatory notes

The Faculty of Arts believes students can decide for themselves whether they match with their chosen programme based on the available bachelor programme information, by visiting the Open Days, and by participating in a Webclass and/ or Student for a Day. If you are unable to attend one of these activities, a final opportunity for matching is to contact one of the students of the programme in June.

If you have any further questions about matching, check out: https://www.rug.nl/matching

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025

Choice of degree programme check

The Faculty of Arts believes students can decide for themselves whether they match with their chosen programme based on the available bachelor programme information, by visiting the Open Days, and by participating in a Webclass and/ or Student for a Day. If you are unable to attend one of these activities, a final opportunity for matching is to contact one of the students of the programme in June.

If you have any further questions about matching, check out: https://www.rug.nl/matching

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

A Dutch VWO diploma, a German Abitur, an International Baccalaureate diploma, a European Baccalaureate or another diploma that is sufficient for acceptance to a Dutch university. For other VWO-equivalent qualifications, see: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/application-informatie/with-non-dutch-diploma/entry-requirements/bachelor-entry-requirements/vwo-equivalent-qualifications. Students with Dutch 'hbo-propedeuse' diploma also need to meet the language requirements as mentioned below.

other admission requirements

Language requirement English: Minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 13100full-time
EU/EEA2025-2026€ 2601full-time
non-EU/EEA2025-2026€ 13500full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

If you want to continue with a Master's degree programme after your graduation, as most students do, you will have a wide range of programmes to choose from. With a Bachelor's degree in Arts, Culture and Media, you have access to the following Master's tracks at the University of Groningen:

Job prospects

Once you have graduated, you will be qualified to work within organizations related to the arts.

You can work within organizations such as theatres, arts companies, concert halls, popular music venues, orchestras and museums. You could also work for a publishing firm, within government institutions, for research companies, or within public media organizations (radio, TV or internet). Your employment tasks will range from arts curatorship and arts research and evaluation to management and policy consultation.

Job examples

  • Research Positions
  • Criticism and Analysis
  • Arts Education (as MA specialisation)
  • Arts Policy and Marketing
Research

Arts in Society

Foto: Jeroen Dekker
Foto: Jeroen Dekker

In recent decades, the arts have undergone radical transformations and rapidly adapted to late-capitalist phenomena such as globalisation, digitisation and the democratisation of creative channels. Due to the increasing influence of culture and the creative industry within the world's expanding urban metropolises, notions of artistic autonomy, forcefully promoted in the 19th century, have re-emerged in philosophical and ideological discourse.

In light of this, the position of the arts in society demands new form of conceptualisation, definition and legitimatisation.

The Research Centre Arts in Society examines these transformations as well as the emerging values surrounding the arts and their role in society. The Research Centre is divided into seven theme groups:

For more information visit our Research Centre Arts in Society page.

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Contact

  • Ask Your Question Here (please fill in this contact form, we will answer you as soon as possible.)
  • Drs. Lucia van Heteren (Study Advisor)
    Email: studyadvice.ac rug.nl
  • Judie Bogers MA (Study Advisor)
    Email: studyadvice.ac rug.nl
  • Tessa Hummel (Study Advisor)
    Email: studyadvice.ac rug.nl
  • Pierre Bentz (Studentambassadeur)
  • Faculty And Staff (On this page you can find an overview of our faculty and staff.)
  • Admission Office (Contact form) (Contact the admissions office with any questions on your previous education and language tests.)

Enjoying what you study is the most important factor in choosing a potential programme

Hi, my name is Pierre Bentz and I am 21 years old. I have been studying Arts, Culture and Media at the University of Groningen since 2022, this is my fourth year in the city. I moved directly to Groningen after completing highschool in Strasbourg, France. I love working on many projects at the same time and getting involved in everything that sparks an interest in me!

Why Arts, Culture and Media?

I have always been more of an ‘arts person’. At first, I preferred to keep the arts as a hobby but I soon realized that studying something you love is *the way to go*. Enjoying what you study is the most important factor in choosing a potential programme: it will make your life as a student way easier. Arts, Culture and Media, is a theoretical programme that encompasses a very large range of topics regarding the arts and the society that engages with them. Starting off with courses that set the foundation for the knowledge you will use during your bachelor, you are quickly able to specialise in two disciplines to focus on: I chose Music and Visual Arts. You do not need to produce art yourself for this Bachelor which is an important point to note. I myself play music but someone with no knowledge on the topic could excel at the course as much as someone who has been playing an instrument for years.

Read more about Pierre and why he chose to studie Arts, Media and Culture in Groningen!
Questions? Send Pierre an e-mail!
Read more

I have an appreciation for all different types of art, so being able to focus on the disciplines I have the most interest in really stood out to me!

Hello! My name is Max van der Kooi and I am an Arts, Culture and Media (ACM) student. I am currently in my second year, specializing in Music and Visual Arts. Outside of my studies, I work part-time and I am a member of the Study Association IK. When I am not busy with work or studies, I game with friends or sometimes work on music at home.

Why Arts, Culture and Media?

Arts, Culture and Media spoke to me because of its variety of topics. I have an appreciation for all different types of art, but some interest me more than others do, so being able to focus on the disciplines I have the most interest in really stood out to me. The programme also lets you choose a specialization in the second year: Arts, Analysis and Criticism, or Arts, Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship. I chose for Arts, Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship, because of my interest in event management and the community aspects of art. The programme does not ask you to be ‘’good’’ at producing art, which I also like. I have tried making my own music, but I would not dare to send it to someone.

Read more

The programme allowed me to choose two art disciplines to delve deeper without letting go of the others. It was the perfect opportunity to investigate the world of art in a broader context and still get into specifics on my preferred topics.

Hi there! My name is Giulia Cristofoli and I am an Arts, Culture and Media (ACM) student specializing in Theatre and Literature. I am from Brazil and this is my 3rd year living in Groningen. Asides from my studies, I work part-time, but I have also started an art magazine. My favourite hobby is taking dance lessons. I also enjoy reading, spending my days in the sun and hanging out with my friends.

Why Arts, Culture and Media?

What attracted me to ACM was the variety of topics covered by the course. I love art in general and I found it difficult to only focus on one discipline. The programme allowed me to choose two art disciplines to delve deeper without letting go of the others. It was the perfect opportunity to investigate the world of art in a broader context and still get into specifics on my preferred topics. The way the course was organized enabled me to first get a taste of the options and then choose within my range of interests. Not to mention that ACM was a way for me to stay close to what I love – art – without necessarily having to produce art (let us just say that I am not a gifted artistic genius).

Read more

I chose to study Arts, Culture and Media because I have always been interested in art although I was never the best at creating it

About Andreea

Hello! My name is Andreea and I am from Romania. I study Arts, Culture and Media with a specialization in Music and Film. If I am not studying, you will probably see me enjoying an artistic event or volunteering at a cultural or student organization. I am interested in a variety of topics, from law to religion to fashion, so if you need a conversation partner, do not hesitate to contact me!

Why Arts, Culture and Media?

I chose to study Arts, Culture and Media because I have always been interested in art although I was never the best at creating it. I could spend hours on end at an art gallery even if my painting skills were never above average and I wholeheartedly appreciate early rock music despite the fact that I cannot play an instrument. Consequently, this degree represented the perfect way for me to establish a relationship with art and to be able to approach it from a theoretical standpoint, inevitably deepening my passion for it.


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Web Class

Are you at secondary school and want to know what studying at university is like? The Arts, Culture and Media programme is offering a web class! This online course from the University of Groningen is specially designed for secondary school students.

If you are interested in an Arts, Culture and media web class, register here.

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Study associations

IK

IK is the study association of Arts, Culture and Media and Art History at the University of Groningen. IK organises various cultural events and allows students a chance to gain practical experience in the world of arts and culture, such as making a movie or organising a concert. Activities organised by IK include an introduction week, a career event and a trip abroad.
https://studyassociationik.com/
Read more
Student profile

If you are thinking about a career in the field of the arts, then this programme is for you. If you are curious about how arts institutions such as festival organizations, theaters or record companies run their programmes, then you will be well suited in our Arts Policy and Marketing track. If you enjoy examining how film techniques evoke emotions or recognizing the relevance of song forms or narrative structures then the Arts Analysis and Criticism Framework suits you.

(Binding) study advice
  • A minimum of 45 EC in the first 12 months (binding)

You will be offered study advice after the first year of study. You can expect a positive result if you have earned more than 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative result, you will not be allowed to continue with your degree programme.

You will receive preliminary study advice in December to make sure that you know where you stand. Please contact your study advisor as soon as possible if you have any questions about the BSA system. N.B. Some degree programmes use a tutoring system; please check with your study advisor.

Study support

If you have any questions or doubts about your studies, you can always contact the study advisor. They know the ins and outs of the programme, the Minors, the study abroad options and yearly planning options. Study advisors are impartial and everything that is discussed is treated confidentially. They can also assist you in choosing the right institutions and student desks for your problems.

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