RIYADH: Riyadh University of Arts has opened admissions for its first cohort of students, with classes scheduled to begin in September as Saudi Arabia continues expanding its cultural and creative landscape.
Applications opened on May 14 for eight academic programs across four colleges spanning film, music, theatre, and cultural management.
Programs under the College of Film include a Bachelor of Film and Television Production, a Master of Screenwriting, and an Intermediate Diploma in Film and Television Production.
The College of Music will offer a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Industry, and Bachelor of Music Education.
The university is also introducing a Bachelor of Acting for Theatre and Film through the College of Theatre and Performing Arts, alongside a Master of Arts in Arts Management under the College of Cultural Management.
Students will work on live projects with cultural and creative sector partners, undertake cooperative training as a graduation requirement in selected programs, and benefit from mentorship by professionals already shaping the Kingdom’s creative output, university spokesperson Abdulmajid Al-Assaf told Arab News.
“Through the Ministry of Culture, RUA also sits within a wider ecosystem of commissions, festivals and cultural institutions,” he said.
The university’s admissions process is “holistic,” Al-Assaf added. “Where auditions, portfolios or interviews form part of the assessment, we are looking as much for originality, potential and artistic distinction as for a prior professional track record … What matters most is creative ambition and the drive to grow.”
He said that the university aims to attract international talent and has developed programs in partnership with academies abroad, including USC School of Cinematic Arts, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Royal College of Art, SOAS University of London, and ESSEC Business School.
The launch of the programs comes as the Kingdom increases investment in its cultural industries under Vision 2030, with a growing focus on developing local talent in areas including film production, music, performance, and arts management.
Programs are designed to provide specialized academic pathways that align with the needs of the cultural sector and support the development of a new generation of Saudi creatives and practitioners, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The university plans to expand further in the coming years, with three additional colleges expected to open by 2027, the College of Heritage and Civilization Studies, the College of Design and Architecture, and the College of Visual Arts and Photography.
Admission requirements vary depending on the discipline and may include academic qualifications, assessments, interviews, auditions, and portfolio submissions.
Prospective students can review scholarship information, tuition fees, program details, and admission requirements through the university’s official website.
Riyadh University of Arts aims to support the Kingdom’s growing cultural ecosystem through advanced academic programs and research initiatives.
