Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola is a university school that forms part of the University of the Basque Country - UPV/EHU. It offers postgraduate degree courses in a context characterised by interpersonal commitment and total immersion in film.
EQZE is the perfect place for those wishing to explore film and new professions from both an experienced-based and intellectual perspective. As a centre of cinematographic ideas and innovation, it is vital that all those participating in the project be fully committed and engaged, with a mature outlook. The profile of both the faculty and the student body is international.
The Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola syllabus is designed for students with or in the process of earning a university degree (undergraduate degree), or those who have graduated from film school. Under exceptional circumstances, the school will consider accepting candidates who, while not meeting the aforementioned criteria, can nevertheless provide proof of sufficient experience in the world of film.
The deadline to apply for the 2024-2025 Academic Year is now closed.
Registration can only be made through the form that will be available at the beginning of the registration period.
To apply for a place at the school, please proceed as follows:
1. In addition to providing all their personal and academic details, candidates should indicate which specialist course they wish to apply for, in order of preference. The Admissions Board will take this information into account, but reserves the right to invite candidates to join a specialist course that may not coincide with their first choice.
It is recommended to check that the data is correct, especially the contact methods (email and telephone number).
2. Candidates should submit the following documents along with the application form:
- Brief biography (see examples).
- Motivational letter.
- Curriculum vitae and/or portfolio. In the case of audiovisual files, the accepted format for reception is the link.
- A report outlining the project they wish to develop during the course. All formats and project types are admissible (see projects developed in EQZE).
- Degree certificate and/or academic transcripts.
Candidates may also submit any other materials they deem relevant.
It is recommended to check that the files or links included in the documentation are operative.
Letters of recommendation are not accepted.
Documentation sent after the formalization of the application will not be accepted.
The intake for each specialist course is limited to 15 students.
The applications received during the application period will be assessed by the Admissions Committee and the school's Academic Board.
Following an initial assessment of applications, candidates may be called for an interview (either face-to-face or online).
The center will notify the candidates of the response to their application, which could be admission, waiting list or non-admission, and the itinerary they are invited to join. This notification will take place during the first week of June.
Candidates assigned to the waiting list must confirm their wish to remain on said list. It is possible that the status of their application may not be resolved until the end of August, once the selection process has been definitively completed.
EQZE reserves the right to notify applicants of the status of their application at any moment during the process. All communications shall be carried out using the email provided on the application form.
Depending on the development of the process, EQZE could extend the admission period.
After the admission communication, applicants will have five days to confirm their acceptance of the place proposed by the center.
Once acceptance has been confirmed, these applicants will receive all the necessary information about the documentation to be provided, and the deadlines and methods of payment for the formalization and payment of the registration fee.
Admission to EQZE will only be effective once the reservation deposit (20% of the registration fee) has been paid within the indicated period.
In the event that any of the selected candidates should withdraw after paying the reservation fee, she/he will not be able to recover the amount paid.
The Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, the Ibermedia Latin American Scholarship Fund and the Paradiso Project will be awarding a series of specific scholarships to enable students to attend one of the postgraduate courses run by Elías Querejeta Film School in 2023-2024.
1. Izango zara scholarship: The Gipuzkoa Provincial Council's Department of Culture will be awarding three scholarships. In order to access these scholarships, it will be an indispensable requirement to prove administrative residence in any of the municipalities that make up the Historical Territory of Gipuzkoa for a minimum period of five years, within the last ten years. Persons under 31 years of age may apply for these scholarships.
2. Ibermedia scholarship: The Ibermedia Latin American Scholarship Fund will be awarding 14 scholarships, each to the value of $3,571, to selected candidates who are accepted onto one of the EQZE’s courses from any of the 23 countries that form part of the programme: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.
These scholarships can only be applied for after admission to EQZE.
The tuition fee for the 2024-2025 Academic Year is 4,700 euros.
How long does the course last?
The academic year starts in September and finishes in December the following year. It is divided into six different modules. The first five, which run from September to July, are teaching modules and are conducted face-to-face. The sixth, which runs from August to December, is a mixed module (teaching and end-of-course assignment) and is semi face-to-face. In total, the course lasts for a total of fifteen months, structured in a circular fashion in order to reflect the ‘non-linear’ philosophy of learning and experience that underpins Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola.
In what languages are classes taught?
About 75% of all the contents and activities included in the EQZE syllabus (subjects, seminars, meetings, etc.) are carried out in Spanish. Remaining classes are mainly conducted in English. Accompaniment or tutoring may be carried out in Basque, Spanish or English, depending on the assigned tutor. The defense for the end-of-course assignment and all previous feedback sessions may be carried out in any of the three languages. Even though the school does not require any official certificate accrediting language proficiency and does not set any language tests, we recommend that candidates have a good level in both Spanish and English. This will be taken into account during the selection process.
How much time do students need to dedicate to their EQZE course?
It is difficult to give precise figures regarding the amount of time students will need to dedicate to their studies at EQZE. However, it should be noted that the courses are very demanding. Classes may be scheduled for both the morning and afternoon, and can sometimes take up the entire day. In addition to attending class, students must also dedicate time to developing their personal projects and participating in research initiatives, internships and activities carried out at the institutions that make up the project.
Are classes conducted face-to-face or online?
With the odd exception, all academic activities at EQZE are carried out face-to-face.
What qualification will I earn after my time at EQZE?
Since 2019, the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has recognised the postgraduate courses run at Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola as official UPV/EHU Master’s degrees. The courses therefore have the same academic value (and therefore the same professional value) as those run at the different university faculties.
Can I apply for a place at EQZE before I have finished my current studies?
If when enrolling and applying for a place on one of the courses, the candidate is in the final year of their current studies and is not therefore able to submit their official qualification certificate prior to the start of the academic year, they should enclose their current academic record or transcript along with the other documents required.
What should the project presentation dossier contain?
All candidates applying for a place at EQZE should submit a dossier outlining the project or projects they hope to complete during their time at the school. This dossier should contain a detailed description of the project, specify the current state of its development and provide any additional information the candidate deems relevant for assessing the artistic proposal, such as texts, images, sketches, references, a script or moodboard, etc. Written dossiers will be accepted, along with other types of presentation. No restrictions are established in relation to either length or format.
What scholarships are available to EQZE students?
During the 2024-2025 Academic Year, successful candidates who are accepted onto one of the EQZE postgraduate courses may apply for the scholarships granted by the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, providing they live in Gipuzkoa and are under the age of 31 years. Alternatively, successful candidates may apply for one of the Ibermedia Latin American Scholarship Fund scholarships, which are awarded to students from any of the 23 countries that form part of the programme: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.
What career opportunities are there for EQZE graduates?
The career opportunities for students graduating from the Film Preservation Studies course are linked to jobs in film archives and film libraries or with film preservation firms, restoration departments, television documentation centres, professional laboratories, audiovisual collection management and research at technology centres and universities. Graduates from the Film Curating Studies course often find jobs at film festivals and competitions or become cultural project managers at museums, galleries and art centres. Other opportunities include publishing, working as a film critic, writing audiovisual essays and conducting research. Finally, graduates from the Filmmaking Studies course often pursue careers in film directing, audiovisual creation, art or photography direction and film editing.
* INFORMATION ON ACCESS FOR THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR