ARTISTIC ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
All candidates that want to study at the Academy must pass the entrance examination, and are allowed to take both periods in July or September, for fashion design or a different discipline. A certificate of general secondary education (high school degree (US), diplôme du baccalauréat (F), zeugnis der allgemeine hogschulreife (D),…) is a prerequisite for subscribing to the entrance examination. Through an interview and artistic exercises several competences will be tested. Basic skills, communication, knowledge of and interest in history, art, design, culture and socio-political matters. Interest and knowledge in Fashion with a general curiousity and openness to new experiences and ideas and an individual critical attitude. The entrance examination will be completed by the practical tests like drawing from observation, colour studies related to the course.
This compromises drawings and sketches from plaster casts in pencil or charcoal, and watercolour paintings of a still life of fabrics and garments. All applicants have to present a portfolio containing a selection of drawings sketches, photographs, etc. The result of the test will be notified after the staff deliberation following the examination period on the second day. The entrance examinations are held on the 2nd & 3rd of July, and on the 2nd & 3rd of September 2003.
An average of 150 candidates apply every year of which approximately 60 are admitted to start as a student in first year. In first year, 75% are foreign students coming from all over the world.( Spain, Italy, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Canada, U.S., Poland, Japan, Korea, Australia, China, Finland, Yugoslavia, Russia, Israel, Syria, Turkey, etc.)Bringing together this young artistic people from all over the world creates unique surroundings in the fashion department, the inexhaustible source of Belgian fashion talent.

FOUR YEARS
The freshman year of the training in fashion design is composed around three main artistic subjects. The most important course is the one on fashion design. The other two main courses are graphics, and tailoring/pattern design. In addition to the three main subjects, the curriculum also contains two specific subjects. One of these is the history of dress, starting with the earliest civilisations. Parallel to the historical periods treated in this course, the students are given a number of assignments in the graphics and design courses. The course on fashion and textiles forecasting familiarizes the students with various forms of communication in the fashion industry: professional jargon, material and colour sample charts and descriptions of general trends and impressions. Typography and computer imaging are introduced in the first year and applied in several courses. The students are expected to work to a very high rhythm using as much creativity as possible and with an emphasis on experiment and innovation. Drawing teachers tutor the students in drawing from a model, a unique discipline which is taught in all departments and years. Drawing for all intents and purposes is still the basis of all plastic arts. Drawing involves conscious observation, feeling sensing and imagination. Everyone draws from his/her own temperament. The classic adage, that life drawing forms the backbone of any visual arts discipline and a nude compromises all other models still stands. The curriculum further contains theoretical courses with the emphasis on art history and contemporary issues in art. Literature, art philosophy, psychology and sociology help to develop the cultural level and critical attitude that are a characteristic of any artist.

The same three main artistic subjects are taught in the second year. Fashion design, graphics,and tailoring/pattern design. From the rich history of dress each student has to choose a historical figure with a costume typical for the period. Then, he has to do thorough research,