Areas of study – description of the entrance examination

This year Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow celebrates its 190th anniversary, which is an opportunity for me not only to reflect on our long tradition, but take a closer look at our present time and our future. However, those three dimensions are related to each other as Polish Romantic poet Cyprian Kamil Norwid says in one of his poems the past is the present day, only a bit further. So, the future is a day to come.

During last decades our Academy has undergone the process of reforms in terms of structure, curricula, and internationalization. Not only have new areas of study, departments, levels and forms of education emerged during recent years, but more and more students from Poland and abroad are interested in coming to study at our university. They are interested mainly in the creative atmosphere existing in our studios and tradition which smoothly merges with avant-garde trends which are the object of fascination among young artists and constitute an integral part of our educational offer.

Our courses are directed to artists in a variety of artistic and design domains. They are described in this admission guide. So, overseas candidates may apply for 1st-cycle studies, 2nd-cycle studies, 3rd-cycle studies (doctoral) both part-time and full-time. Our educational offer is supplemented by the, so called, Open Studies for art fans and artistic internship, which enable overseas students and artists to undergo professional artistic/design training in a flexible and adapted to personal needs way.

Our students are encouraged to participate in the Life-long learning/Erasmus programme, CEEPUS programme (Central Europe Exchange Programme for University Studies) an the mobility exchange studies with many partner universities. The level of internationalization of our Academy is still improving. Many conferences and lectures delivered by foreign professors add to our efforts aiming at competing successfully on the international market of education. In the close future we are going to enable overseas students to study in English, which is an appropriate response to globalization challenges we face in the modern times.

Our mission is to prepare young artists for active participation in artistic life and develop both their artistic skills and intellectual power so that they could be independent and responsible persons prepared for realizing and expressing their ideas in the modern world.
All our teaching staff, consisting of many prominent personalities, serve these goals.

We wish our modern Academy to be worth its dignified tradition.

Candidates submit:
 Certificate of secondary education (in original) for 1st-cycle studies and single-cycle studies –deadline 7 July 2009
 Diploma of completing higher education studies (1st-cycle studies – Bachelor) – for 2nd-cycle studies (in similar area of studies) with diploma supplement
 A photocopy of an ID card or passport
 The proof of payment for the entrance examination (bank account: Kredyt Bank S.A. II Oddział w Krakowie 45 1500 1487 1214 8005 4502 0000, title of payment should include the candidate's name, the area of study and type of study).

Within the following deadlines:

8-10 June, 2009 (full-time studies) , 6-8 August, 2009 (part-time studies)

persons admitted
- receive a referral for a medical check-up

and submit
- a health certificate,
- four photos  35×45 mm (each signed),

- a declaration of his/her willingness to take up studies,

Diplomas of secondary artistic schools are recognized  by the Ministry of Culture in Warsaw, Artistic Education Department, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 15/17.

Polish is the language of instruction.

A. FULL-TIME studies
Painting, Stage Design, Art Education in Plastic Arts, Sculpture, Graphics, Interior Design

- stage I:  15-16-17 June,
- stage II: 22-23-24 June,
- stage III 27 and 29 June,

B. Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art, Intermedia

- 15-19 June, 2009 or 22-26 June, 2009

C. Qualification proceedings for 1st- and 2nd-cycle PART-TIME studies:
Painting, Graphics, Design  Studies, Interior Design
 –  13-17 July, 2008

The list of admitted persons to part-time studies will be published 31 July,2009.

The entrance examination includes 3 stages:

Stage I – overview and evaluation of candidate’s artistic works
Candidates show their portfolios of artistic works including paintings and drawings executed in any technique, their number may amount up to 25 pieces (e.g. 10 paintings and 15 drawings) as well as drawing and painting sketches and, additionally, documentation of other artistic activities. The works should be signed and indicating a date of their execution.
 
Stage II – practical examination:
a)  live painting study (still life) – the candidate executes one piece of painting work (longer side – up to 1 m) and one colour sketch in A3 format,
b) two live drawing studies (including a figure study) – the candidate executes a piece of work in B2 format, i.e. 70×50 cm,
c) painting composition on prescribed topic – the candidate executes a piece of work on a painting support with the longer length of up to do 1 m, working in any technique, i.e. in oil, acrylic, Indian ink, gouache or water colour. 

Stage III – during the theoretical part of the examination the candidate is required to prove his/her skills in analyzing the painting work of art and knowledge of problems related with culture, art and history referring to the selected area of study.

Area of study: Stage Design, 1st-cycle full-time studies, 6 semesters

The entrance examination includes 3 stages:

Stage I – overview and evaluation of candidate’s artistic works
Candidates show their portfolios of artistic works comprising drawing and painting works, photos, documentation of other artistic works amounting to 20 pieces and documentation of their own design works proving their interests in the selected area of study. The pieces should be signed and have information indicating the time of their execution.

Stage II – specialized practical examination:
a) live painting study,
b) drawing study,
c) spatial composition,
d) design tasks with oral presentation before the Admission Commission.
 
Stage III – theoretical examination verifying the candidate’s knowledge of material culture, literature, film, theatre, film and current cultural events.

The entrance examination includes:

Stage I – review and evaluation of artistic works:

Stage II – practical examination:

Stage III – theoretical examination:

Area of study: Art Education in the scope of plastic arts, 1st-cycle full-time studies, 6 semesters

Stage I – review and evaluation of artistic works:

Candidates show their own drawing and painting works, executed in selected technique, up to 25 pieces, sketches and additional documentation of their artistic activities.

Area of study: Painting, 1st-cycle part-time studies, 8-semesters

The entrance examination includes:

Area of study: Painting, 2nd cycle part-time studies, 4 semesters

The entrance examination includes:
Stage I – overview and evaluation of candidate’s artistic works
Candidates show their photos of their sculptural works or pieces of sculpture, drawings, sketches and, additionally, paintings and documentation of other artistic activities.
The Faculty Examination Commission does not limit the number of presented works by candidates, however it has defined their minimal number: not less than 5 photos of sculptures (at least 3 portraits) and 10 drawings (at least 7 drawings of figures, size 100 x 70 cm).
The works should be signed and indicate the date of their execution.

Stage II – practical examination:
a) head study in clay,
b) live drawing,
c) sculptural composition on a prescribed topic.

Stage III – theoretical examination verifying the candidate’s knowledge of culture, art, history and sculpture.
 
Area of study: Intermedia, 1st-cycle full-time studies, 6 semesters

The entrance examination includes:

Task I - overview and evaluation of candidate’s artistic works:

The candidate presents documentation of his/her artistic works - portfolio: at least 20 pieces of candidates own works related with the area of study (photographs. print-outs and/or a CD/DVD, formats available:.jpg, .avi Microsoft DV, .mov QuickTime, .txt, .doc, CD-audio, CD-ROM, DVD-video, DVD-ROM) and original artistic works (drawings, paintings, prints, objects) or their reproductions (amounting up to 20 pieces), proving his/her interests in the area of study. The works should be signed and indicate the date of their execution.The Commission interviews the candidate on the topics relared with his interests - the theoretical examination verifying the candidae's general and specialized knowledge in the area of intermedia art.

- video registration (digital camera operating skills required). 
 

The entrance examination includes:

Stage I – overview and evaluation of candidate’s artistic works
Candidates show their photos of their own works, which should prove their potential, preparation and interests. Their set of pieces of art may include any number of small drawing and painting forms, a sketchbook, documentation of other artistic activities. In the case of major formats (over 50×70 cm), there are limits: up to 20 drawings, and 5 paintings. The nude study is excluded.
The works should be signed and indicate the date of their execution.

Stage II – specialized practical examination:
a) painting task: live painting study,
b) drawing task: live and imaginary drawing 
c) specialized task including composition.

Stage III – theoretical examination verifying the candidate’s knowledge of culture, art, and history referring to the area of study.

Area of study: Graphics, 1st-cycle part-time studies, 6 semesters

The qualification proceedings include:
a) overview and evaluation of candidate’s artistic works: not less than 20 candidate’s own artistic works related with the area of study (drawing and painting works, photos, documentation of other artistic works, e.g. sketch-books). The pieces should be signed and have information indicating the time of their execution.

b) interview relating with presented pieces of art. and verifying specialized knowledge of problems related with culture, art and history referring to the selected area of study.

Area of study: Graphics, 2nd-cycle part-time studies, 4 semesters

The qualification proceedings include:
a) presentation of the candidate’s own artistic pieces of art. relating with the area of study and documentation of other artistic activities. The pieces should be signed and have information indicating the time of their execution.

b) interview verifying the candidate’s predispositions and interests referring with the area of study.

The entrance examination includes:

Stage I – overview and evaluation of candidate’s artistic works
Candidates show their own works, which should be signed and indicate the date of their execution. The portfolio should include at least 6 pieces in colour executed in any technique, at least 20 drawings (drawing studies) and 10 pieces in any technique proving the candidate’s interests in the selected area of studies (paintings, drawings, sketches).

Stage II – practical examination:
a) painting and drawing tasks
c) specialized tasks verifying the candidate’s imagination, his/her ability to perceive and solve spatial problems, constructing, technical inventiveness and creating a message skills.

Stage III – theoretical examination verifying the candidate’s knowledge of culture, art, and history referring to the area of study. The candidate’s responses should be illustrated by examples of pieces of art (painting, printmaking, graphic design etc.)

- theoretical examination in history of interior design and current issues related with it, verifying candidate's knowledge referring to the selected area of studies. 
 

The competitive and multi-task entrance examination includes:

Task I – overview and evaluation of candidate’s artistic/design works
Candidates show their drawings and paintings works and documentation of other artistic/design activities which prove their interests in the area of study.

Task II – practical examination:
It consists of drawing and construction tasks and an interview on the fundamentals of techniques, function and technology of the object. The objective of this part of the entrance examination is to verify the candidate’s creative potential, his/her technical and manual skills and professional interests.

Stage III – theoretical examination
It includes questions on history of design and social issues.

Area of study: Design, 2nd-cycle full-time studies, 4 semesters

Task I – overview and evaluation of candidate’s works:

Task II – interview:

Task III – theoretical examination:

Area of study: Design, 1st-cycle part-time studies, 7 semesters

The entrance examination includes:

Faculty	Single-cycle studies	1st and 2nd-cycle studies
Faculty of Painting	4 200 EUR	3 350 EUR
Faculty of Sculpture	6 650 EUR	­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­________
Faculty of Graphic Arts	5 300 EUR	4 250 EUR
Faculty of Interior Design	5 550 EUR	4 440 EUR
Faculty of Industrial Design	4 850 EUR	3 900 EUR
Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art	11 240 EUR	_________

For doctoral studies – 3000 EUR.
For postgraduate studies (continuous education after BFA degree) on the Faculties of Painting , Interior Design, and on the Teacher Training Department  – 3000 EUR

Additionally, foreigners admitted to studies and postgraduate studies are required to pay the equivalent of 200 EUR on the 1st year.

Foreigners of Polish origin who pay for their studies have 30% discount.

B. - EU residents are required to pay for 1st year of 1st-cycle part-time studies as follows: 6 100.00 PLN

- EU residents are required to pay for 1st year of 2nd-cycle part-time studies as follows: 5 400.00 PLN