| Established in 1938, NAFA was upgraded in 1999 by the Government to tertiary institution status, receiving polytechnic-level funding from the Ministry of Education but remaining private and autonomous. |
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| Over the last 68 years, NAFA has grown from strength to strength and transformed itself into a full-fledged, premier arts institution. It currently operates four schools: School of Visual Arts (SVA), School of Performing Arts (SPA), School of Fashion Studies (SFS) and School of Young Talents (SYT). The full-time diploma and degree student population figure for SVA, SPA and SFS programmes stands at 2,083, with approximately 30% coming from overseas countries/regions. Combined with the student population of SYT and those enrolled on a part-time basis and in various short-term enrichment courses, NAFA boasts a total student population of 5,700. |
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| Apart from awarding internationally recognised diplomas, NAFA also conducts several degree programmes in collaboration with reputable universities in the UK and China. These programmes provide students with an opportunity to upgrade themselves and pursue higher education with NAFA. |
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| Among NAFA’s 353-strong academic staff are 73 experienced full-time lecturers and 180 part-time lecturers who are professionals in their respective artistic fields. Such a combination ensures that the Academy is constantly in the know of the latest industry trends and developments. |
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| Many of our lecturers are alumni of famous universities in the UK, France, USA and Australia. They inject a cosmopolitan perspective into the curricula and introduce refreshing teaching methods that bridge the characteristics of the East and West. |
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| In addition to a rigorous and innovative curriculum, students are put through internship programmes to acquire the practical skills and knowledge required by the industry. As a result, NAFA graduates are highly sought-after by corporate employers. |
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| In recent years, the Singapore Government has placed a greater emphasis on arts education and development. There will be an increasing need for more artistic talents to support the growth of our creative industry and to steer Singapore towards its goal of becoming a Renaissance City. Graduates of NAFA can certainly look forward to playing a signifi cant role in this process. |
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| Besides producing numerous outstanding visual and performing artists, professional designers as well as entrepreneurial graduates, NAFA has also made signifi cant contributions to the region’s artistic developments. |
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| Many of our graduates have garnered prestigious accolades in their creative disciplines, including the Cultural Medallion and Young Artist awards presented by the National Arts Council. Of our graduates and lecturers, 15 have been awarded the Cultural Medallion and nine are Young Artist Award recipients. |
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| Over 20% of our graduates go on to attain Bachelor or Master’s degrees from local or overseas universities. The rigorous training in NAFA has stood our graduates in good stead in the employment market, with many of them being promoted to the positions of Artistic or Creative Directors by the age of 30. |
