Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
南洋艺术学院 (Chinese)
Akademi Seni Halus Nanyang (Malay)
நன்யாங் அகாடமி ஆஃப் ஃபைன் ஆர்ட்ஸ் (Tamil)
Motto"To be a premier arts institution in Asia, producing leaders in their fields."
TypePublicly-funded
Arts institution[1]
Established1938
FounderLim Hak Tai
Yong Mun Sen
Parent institution
University of the Arts Singapore[2]
PresidentTan-Soh Wai Lan[3]
Students>2,400 (2015)[4]
Location
Bencoolen Street
,
Singapore
CampusUrban
NicknameNAFA
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

1°18′01″N 103°51′06″E / 1.300229°N 103.851573°E / 1.300229; 103.851573 Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA; Chinese: 南洋艺术学院; Malay: Akademi Seni Halus Nanyang; Tamil: நன்யாங் அகாடமி ஆஃப் ஃபைன் ஆர்ட்ஸ்) is a publicly-funded post-secondary arts institution in Singapore, and a constituent college of the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) from 2024.[5][6]

NAFA offers courses at high-school / singapore's polytechnic equivalent Diploma, and also Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree levels.[7] NAFA's diploma programmes provides comprehensive arts and design education appropriate of Singapore's polytechnic-level for students who had successfully completed their secondary school education, which is 10 years of studies in Singapore.[8] As an industry-oriented alternative to a broader-based junior college education in Singapore, NAFA's diploma graduates in Singapore are sought after for work or many continue to complete university degrees. NAFA's Diploma Programme in Singapore admits the majority of their students after secondary school, normally at the age of 16–17, which is after ten years of formal education, similar to the other polytechnics in Singapore. Diplomas in a specialised area of study, for example 3D Design, are awarded after completing 3-years of full-time studies and industry internship.[9]

Demand for its programmes has remained strong, and the school projects a student population of 3,300 by 2024.[10] NAFA offers full-time diploma and degree programmes across three faculties: Faculty of Art and Design comprising the School of Fine Art, School of 3D Design, School of Design and Media, as well as the School of Fashion Studies; Faculty of Performing Arts comprising School of Dance, School of Music, and School of Theatre; Faculty of Interdisciplinary Practices comprising School of Arts Management and School of Interdisciplinary Arts.

The institution also offers a full range of government tuition fees subsidised, 2 to 3-years undergraduate degree programmes for NAFA's diploma graduates in partnership with the prestigious University of the Arts London in England, United Kingdom. Students with GCE A-Level certificates as well as those without a relevant Singapore's polytechnic diplomas will be allowed to enrol in NAFA-UAL's degree programmes for the first time.[11] Diploma courses are aligned with the degree courses offered in partnership with top universities in the world, including Royal College of Music, London (named as the world’s leading institution for performing arts in QS World University Rankings 2022).

NAFA has nurtured 13 recipients of the Cultural Medallion—Singapore's highest accolade bestowed on art practitioners who have significantly impacted arts and culture. Another 15 alumni have been presented the Young Artist Award.[12]

  1. ^ "Overview of Post-Secondary Education Institutions". www.moe.gov.sg. Ministry of Education, Singapore. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  2. ^ "University of the Arts Singapore".
  3. ^ "Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts to have new president". The Straits Times. 17 October 2020.
  4. ^ "NAFA receives S$10m donation from Ngee Ann Kongsi - Channel NewsAsia". Archived from the original on 2 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Singapore's first arts university, formed by NAFA and LASALLE alliance, to welcome students from 2024". CNA.
  6. ^ "Singapore's first university of the arts to be established in NAFA and LASALLE alliance". CNA.
  7. ^ https://uas.edu.sg/ [bare URL]
  8. ^ "Our Courses".
  9. ^ "Work placements to be made compulsory for Nafa students". The Straits Times. 6 April 2018.
  10. ^ "NAFA receives S$10m donation from Ngee Ann Kongsi". Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts partners University of the Arts London to offer new degree programmes". The Straits Times. 7 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Award-Winning Artists | NAFA". www.nafa.edu.sg. Retrieved 20 January 2023.