How to Apply

Applications for courses are open starting from three months ahead of each trimester. (The sidebar on the Part-Time Programme page indicates the registration dates for each upcoming trimester.)

When applications are open, visit the Part-Time Programme page and click on a course. Click on the ''Apply Now'' button to navigate to our online application form.

Registration in a course is only possible by submitting a completed online application.

Current students, as well as anyone placed on a waiting list for the previous trimester, have one week to apply for courses early before applications open to the general public. (This is our so-called ''Early Bird'' registration group.)

Personal information requested in the application includes the following:

• Your full legal name
• Date of birth
• Current address
• Telephone number
• E-mail address
• Name and telephone number of your emergency contact
• Previous relevant education or training you completed
• Self-assessment of your skills in traditional drawing and painting media
• Examples of your work
• A brief statement of your motivation to study academic art, and why you feel DARA is the right fit for you
• If you are eligible for DARA's 10% student discount, you will also be asked to provide a copy of your photo ID or student card.
  

 
The application period for a course ends four days before the start of the trimester.

Paying Tuition Fees

If you are accepted into a course, a deposit payment is due within 14 days of receiving an acceptance letter from DARA to secure your place in the class.

A deposit can be paid one of three ways:

• Paying the full cost of tuition upfront (cash, bank transfer, and online payment options accepted);
• Paying half of the tuition fee upfront, and the other half 4 weeks before the start of the trimester (cash, bank transfer, and online payment options accepted);
• Paying in small installments over a period of 3 to 6 months. Tuition fees are increased by 3% when choosing this option. (payments accepted with credit/debit card or SEPA direct debit only; installment plans are not offered when there are fewer than 4 weeks from the start of the trimester).

If there are fewer than 4 weeks from the start of the trimester at the time the student is accepted to a course, all tuition fees are due to be paid upfront within 5 working days.

Upon acceptance, a quote is provided which details our accepted payment methods, payment deadlines, and provides a link for students to pay online. DARA processes all online payments through Stripe.

If a deposit is not paid within the deadline: DARA will consider this a cancellation. The student’s registration in the class is voided, and the space in the class is immediately offered to someone else if there is a waiting list.

If a deposit has been paid, but any outstanding balance of tuition fees are not paid on time: DARA sends a notice by email that tuition fees are overdue. If there is a waiting list for the class, and overdue fees are not settled within 5 days, DARA reserves the right to void and refund the student's registration and offer the space to someone on the waiting list. If the course does not have a waiting list, and the student wishes to maintain a place in the class, a €40 late fee is charged. An added 10% interest charge on the late fee is accrued for each week that the payment is overdue.

Missed installment payments: If an installment payment is missed, a new attempt to process the payment will be made every 3 days. Installments which are over 7 days late are subject to a €40 late fee. An added 10% interest charge on the late fee is accrued for each week that the payment is overdue. If overdue payments have not been settled within 30 days, DARA reserves the right to refer the student's account to a collection agency in order to demand full payment of the unpaid balance and late fees.

Transferring to a Different Class

If you were accepted to a trimester course, but would like to switch to something else -- and credit any tuition fees you paid towards this alternative course -- this is considered a transfer.

Transfers are only considered if all the following circumstances are met:

• The trimester has not started yet;
• You are not asking to keep your place on hold for a future trimester (DARA does not allow this), but simply transfer to another class within the same trimester;
• The course you would like to switch to has places available;
• You meet any necessary requirements for enrollment set by the instructor of the alternate course.

If these conditions are not met, and you are no longer able to attend the course for which you were originally accepted, then DARA's standard cancellation policy applies.

Student Cancellations

To cancel your registration in a course, send a written notice to [email protected]

It is not possible to cancel your place for the upcoming trimester and keep a place on hold in a future trimester instead. Applications are only open for one trimester at a time. This policy is because DARA gives our current students who continue from one trimester to the next the first priority to secure their place in class. It is therefore not allowed to book places in a trimester months before the application period is open, as this would unfairly limit the classroom availability for continuing students.

• “Cool-Off” Period:

​​If your cancellation is made within 14 days of your initial payment, DARA will refund you in full. By ''initial payment,'' this means the first payment you have made towards the cost of tuition. This could refer to a partial installment, or the full cost of tuition if the course was paid in full up front.

If the trimester has already began, and your cancellation falls within the Cool-Off Period, you are still required to pay the total cost of services rendered. This is calculated by the number of lessons which transpired by the date of your cancellation, regardless of whether you attended those lessons or not. The remaining balance is refunded to you.

• Full Refund:

​Cancellations made when there are more than 8 weeks before the start of the Trimester are fully refunded.

• Partial Refund*:

​For cancellations made when there are more than 4 weeks before the start of the Trimester, you are entitled to a refund of up to 50% of the total cost of tuition, excluding the initial deposit payment.

• Cancelling when there are fewer than 4 weeks from the start of the Trimester*:

Cancellations made at this time are not entitled to any refund.

* Policy Exemptions: DARA will waive the standard policy and refund you in full if we are able to find another student to take your place in the course before the trimester starts. We will do our best to fill your space, however, we make no guarantees that this will always be possible. In the event that we cannot fill your cancelled space, then the aforementioned policies apply.

• Withdrawing your enrollment at any time after the Trimester starts, for any reason:

​No refunds are given in this case. Further, no credits to take the course again at a future date are awarded.

• Processing of Refunds:

​All refunds are processed within 5 working days of the cancellation date. Please note that DARA is only responsible for refunding the cost of tuition, and is not responsible for any of your other associated expenses, such as travel fare or purchase of art supplies. If you paid by credit card, the amount of time it takes for the refunded payment to be visible on your account may exceed 7 working days if your bank is located outside of the Netherlands. While DARA can provide an estimate of when your refund will be processed by your bank, actual processing times are outside of DARA’s control.​

Absences

It is expected that students will maintain an attendance rate of minimum 80% during the trimester.

For courses which are scheduled twice per week, this means missing no more than 4 lessons during the term. For courses which are scheduled once per week, this means missing no more than 2 lessons during the term.

Do not apply if you know in advance that it will not be possible for you to attend classes on this basis. It is not possible to benefit from the skills taught at DARA, or advance within the programme, unless you are able to commit to regular attendance and participation in class.

Absences are not refunded, and it is not possible to make up missed lessons in a private session with the instructor later. DARA reserves the right to refuse to re-admit students who consistently show poor attendance to any further courses.

Studio cancellations

In the event that DARA cancels a course (for example, due to lack of sufficient enrollment), students are immediately notified by phone and / or email. Except in the case of emergencies or other exceptional circumstances, any cancellations made by the studio are announced 30 days in advance of the start of the trimester.

In this circumstance, students can opt to:

• Keep a space reserved to attend the course at a postponed date;
  
• Transfer enrolment to another available course;
  
• Receive a full refund of tuition fees.
  

If a single class is cancelled (for example, due to the instructor falling ill), every effort will be made to schedule a make-up session at a time convenient for the majority of students. A refund for the lesson is offered to any students who cannot attend the make-up session. DARA reserves the right to substitute in another qualified instructor or model in a class if necessary.

Waiting List

Once a course fills, a waiting list is established for any subsequent applications.

In case a vacancy opens in the class before the start of the trimester, DARA will contact students on the waiting list, starting with the strongest/most qualified application first. The applicant has two days to reserve the available space in the class by paying a course deposit. Otherwise, the space is offered to the next person on the waiting list.

To be considered for the waiting list, it is necessary to complete an application form online.

Model Etiquette

There are certain rules in place for classes in which students work from live models.

Clothed & Nude Poses

• No chatting while the model is in pose. Keep the conversation to the breaks, or take the conversation out of the classroom.
• If you arrive late and the pose is already in session, prepare your materials outside the classroom. Enter quietly and do not disrupt others.
• Easels around the model are chosen by random lottery.
• If the pose needs to be corrected, this will be done by group consensus at the direction of the instructor. Models should be given instructions to adjust the pose in a respectful, clear manner.
• There is a no tolerance policy regarding any behavior towards models which is demeaning, discriminatory, intimidating, or otherwise inflammatory.

Clothed Poses

• Taking pictures of models is generally discouraged, but if you are so inclined, you must always ask the model for permission before taking a photo. Do not just assume it's OK. If the model says no, respect that. Do not interrupt the pose to ask - ask before the pose starts.
• Wait for a break in the pose to photograph your own work.
• Ask your classmates for permission before taking photos of their work.

Nude Poses

• It is strictly forbidden to take photos or videos of models posing nude. There are no exceptions to this. Do not ask.
• Wait for a break in the pose to photograph your work.
• If you are in the studio building while a model is posing nude, and you are not part of the class, you may not enter the classroom while the pose is in session.
• Students under age 18 need permission from a parent or legal guardian to attend life model sessions.
• Ask your classmates for permission before taking photos of their work.​

Materials Storage

During the trimester, DARA provides each student with two personal storage spaces: a cubby to store personal belongings and art supplies, and a shelf to store drawings and paintings in progress. You are welcome to keep these items stored at the studio for the duration of the trimester.

At the end of the trimester, all of your personal belongings must be taken home. DARA only agrees to provide storage spaces during the period in which a student is enrolled in a course. We do not agree to store any belongings after your course has ended, and we accept no liability for anything left in the studio after that time. This rule applies even if you plan to take another course at some point in the future.

Studio Rules & Code of Conduct

It is expected that students will maintain a professional working environment at DARA by respecting themselves, fellow classmates, instructors, and models in accordance with the following policies:

• Arrive to class on time and with the correct materials.
• ​Classes are only open to registered students. Outside guests such as friends are not permitted to join the lessons.
• Cell phones should be switched off or silent during class.
• Clean up after yourself, and leave the studio in the same condition that you found it.
• There is a small kitchen available for students to use. Please clean any utensils or appliances that you use. Food kept in the refrigerator past its expiration date will be tossed.
• Please be respectful of DARA’s schedule. The building is not open to students before opening hours. After class, please clean up promptly and be ready to leave at closing time.
• If you find any broken equipment (such as an easel, etc.) advise your instructor.
• Items borrowed from DARA (drawing boards, etc.) must be returned by the end of the trimester.
• Ask permission before taking a photo of someone else’s work.
• Absolutely no photos are allowed of models posing nude. No exceptions, do not ask.
• Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits is the only solvent permitted for use inside the building. No exceptions.
• Any use of materials which creates dust/powder (sharpening charcoal, pencils, etc.) needs to be done over a trash bin. Do not sand palettes or canvas indoors.
• Working with powdered pigment is not permitted indoors.
• The use of spray fixative is not allowed indoors.
• It is strongly recommended to wear gloves if you are painting with lead white or other toxic pigments.
• All painting waste must be disposed in a metal waste bin sealed with a lid.
• Paintbrushes must be washed in the designated brush-washing sink.
• Clean any paint or solvent spills with soap and warm water.
• Disruptive conduct, including (but not limited to)
  • discrimination, harassment, verbal abuse, or physical violence directed towards another student or staff member;
  • destruction or theft of another student or staff member’s property;
  • ​refusal to follow safety guidelines;

​will result in dismissal from class and / or permanent expulsion from DARA. 
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