Frequently asked questions

Looking for more information? You might find the answers to your questions here. Didn’t find what you were looking for? Feel free to contact us.

Who are the courses for?
What are the registration fees?
Will I receive a diploma?
Is admission required?
Where do the classes take place?
Can I also attend the classes from home?
Where can I go for more information?

Who are the courses intended for?

The Plantin Institute of Typography is aimed at individuals with a background in design and/or a strong connection to graphic communication. It is particularly intended for typographers, graphic designers, editors, publishers, etc. The courses are also open to other interested parties.

What are the registration fees?

Plantin Course Typography & Book: 1.600 euro.
One trimester costs €900.
For individual course components, tiered discounts apply. See below.
Expert Course Type design:  1.950 euro.

A discount is available for the Plantin Program and the Expert Course in Type Design for unemployed individuals, students up to one year after graduating from a university or college, and alumni of the Plantin Institute of Typography. The discount amounts to 20% of the registration fee. For individual course components, only tiered discounts apply. Discounts cannot be combined.

You can find our bank account number on the contact page.

Students are entitled to discounted rates when purchasing Adobe software.

How do the tiered discounts work?

You can take almost all individual course components of the Plantin Program separately. There are a total of sixteen different lessons. The more lessons you combine in the same year, the greater the discount. The discount is calculated based on the number of sessions (half-day classes).

One half-day costs 105 euros.

From 4 half-days onwards, the price drops to 95 euros per half-day.

1 half-day: 105 euros
From 4 half-days onwards: 95 euros
From 8 half-days onwards: 85 euros
From 11 half-days onwards: 77 euros
From 14 half-days onwards: 70 euros

The webshop does not apply these discounts. You pay the full amount, and the difference will be refunded afterwards. The secretariat will send you an invoice and calculate the difference. The refund will be processed automatically within three working days. You do not need to take any action for this.

Will I receive a diploma?

Those who successfully complete the Plantin program Typography & Book will receive the private diploma of “Geaggregeerde” from the Plantin Institute of Typography and the certificate of post-secondary education from AP University College.

This also applies to students of the Expert course in Type Design.

Those who have completed a module will only receive a certificate upon request.

Graduates of the Typography & Book program can continue their studies (Master’s degree from the Plantin Institute of Typography; this does not apply to graduates of the Expert Course in Type Design).

With the acquired competencies, graduates can work in, among others, a graphic design agency, printing house, publishing house, and education. In short, in environments where the efficiency and visual appeal of designed text and imagery play an important role.

Is admission required?

The Plantin CourseTypography & Book is a continuing education program. You can also combine it with a higher education or university program (e.g., starting from the third year of a bachelor’s degree). If you’ve been working for some time and want to further develop your skills, that is also possible. A diploma is desirable, but we are equally interested in your competencies, so you can be admitted with or without a diploma. To assess your existing skills, knowledge, and what you would like to learn, this will be explored through a motivation interview. Based on this conversation, we will decide on your admission to our institute. We will arrange an appointment with you for this interview. The number of students per program is limited to ensure that classes can be followed and taught in an ideal atmosphere.

For the Expert Course in Type Design, registration can be done based on a digital portfolio. Admission is granted after registration, depending on the number of available spots.

No admission is required to follow separate course modules. You can proceed with payment directly in the webshop.

Where do the classes take place?

The lectures at the Plantin Institute of Typography are held in the Christoffel Plantin Auditorium on the first floor, above the museum shop. The museum is located within the historic city center of Antwerp.

Easily accessible by car and public transport. The area within the city ring is a low-emission zone (LEZ) for cars. You can park at a P+R parking lot outside the city ring if needed.

Can I also attend the classes from home?

Many of our programs use a hybrid format, making the course accessible regardless of your location. The classes are live-streamed, with video recordings available to all participants afterward. This gives you the flexibility to learn from the comfort of your own home while still enjoying the interaction and dynamics of live classes.

Where can I go for more information?

Contact the secretariat of the Plantin Institute for any questions. The secretariat is managed by Jan Van der Linden, who can be reached at the phone number 0486 52 52 30 or via email at plantin.instituut@antwerpen.be.

The secretariat is available on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. We also organize several Open Days each year, where you can take a look and learn more about our programs. If the date of the Open Day doesn’t suit you, no problem! You can also schedule an info session by appointment. This way, you can get all the information at a time that works for you. Additionally, we offer the opportunity to get in touch with alumni, who can share their valuable experiences.