ACADEMIC INFORMATION

NAFA Foundation Programme
Lessons may be delivered face-to-face on campus or facilitated online. Lecturers employ a variety of teaching strategies and methods according to the needs of each module. Students are expected to attend every lesson as scheduled, either in the form of lectures, tutorials, discussions, demonstrations, practical exercises, field activities, e-learning, or any of these combinations.

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Diploma Programmes
Lessons may be delivered face-to-face on campus or facilitated online. Lecturers employ a variety of teaching strategies and methods according to the needs of each module. Students are expected to attend every lesson as scheduled, either in the form of lectures, tutorials, discussions, demonstrations, case studies, practical exercises, field activities, classroom practice or e-learning.

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Offered in collaboration with the University of the Arts London (UAL)

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Design Practice
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Fine Art
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Performance Making
Lessons may be delivered face-to-face on campus or facilitated online. Lecturers employ a variety of teaching strategies and methods according to the needs of each module. Students are expected to attend every lesson as scheduled, either in the form of lectures, tutorials, discussions, demonstrations, case-studies, practical exercises/classes, seminars, workshops, rehearsals, productions, laboratory/studio-based practice, screenings, field activities or e-learning/web-based interactions, which vary depending on the programme.

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Offered in collaboration with the Royal College of Music (RCM)

Bachelor of Music (Honours)
Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Instrumental & Vocal Teaching
Lessons may be delivered face-to-face on campus or facilitated online. Lecturers employ a variety of teaching strategies and methods according to the needs of each module. Students are expected to attend every lesson as scheduled, in the form of one-to-one lesson (in Principal, Second and Related Study), masterclasses, practical workshops, orchestras, ensembles and choirs, small group seminars, lectures, tutorials, observation visits, teaching practicum, and web-based interactions such as video conferencing/presentations, teaching webinars and (pedagogical) workshops, online lectures/seminars and live-streaming of students’ recitals.

Master of Composition
Master of Performance
Lessons may be delivered face-to-face on campus or facilitated online. Lecturers employ a variety of teaching strategies and methods according to the needs of each module. These include individual lessons, lectures and seminars, tutorials, masterclasses, concerts, student presentations, independent study, observation visits, workshops, and rehearsals. Besides the use of iLEARN, NAFA’s Learning Management System (Canvas), a range of new online/technology-enhanced methods will also be implemented to offer students additional learning flexibility and access to expertise and new audiences. Examples include individual supervision for projects/assignments via video conferencing, individual coaching for preparation of recital exams, webinars, workshops and masterclasses with overseas guest lecturers, including RCM professors, online lectures/seminars for elective modules, and live-streaming of students’ recitals.

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University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) - NAFA Degrees

Lessons may be delivered face-to-face on campus or facilitated online. A variety of teaching strategies and methods are used for the different needs of each module.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Biophilic Design
Various learning and teaching methods include technical inductions and workshops, individual or group tutorials and critiques, formative and summative critique sessions by industry experts, group and collaborative projects, interdisciplinary projects, Co-Design Project with industry and institution partners, internship, field trips and visits, masterclasses, independent study, one-to-one tutorial support, online learning, student discussions and presentations, lectures and seminars, studio practice, overseas immersion, professional development, and self and peer assessments.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Contemporary Chinese Theatres
Various learning and teaching methods include workshops, rehearsals, productions, practical classes, laboratory/studio-based practice, screenings, lectures, seminars, tutorials, and web-based interactions. Student-led, self-directed, and collaborative learning are facilitated by lecturers and professional practitioners.

Master of Fine Arts Fine Art
Various learning and teaching methods include regular one-to-one tutorials, studio critiques, group discussions, workshops, presentations, and monthly studio seminars/lectures. Peer and collaborative learning are fundamental to the programme. Key to the MFA delivery are the X-disciplinary labs and incubator spaces for students, staff, and invited prolific art practitioners of diverse fields and disciplines to convene around specific topic(s) of interest. A series of dedicated Master Ateliers and skill-based workshops will also be available for students to deepen their mastery of specific subjects and techniques. There are no taught modules on the programme.

NAFA Foundation Programme and Diploma Programmes
Each module is assessed by either class participation, written assignments, practical performances, portfolio presentations, projects, examinations, or any of these combinations. Assessment methods may vary according to individual module requirements.

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Offered in collaboration with the University of the Arts London (UAL)

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Design Practice
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Fine Art
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Performance Making
Each module is assessed by either class participation, written assignments, coursework, practical activities, performances, portfolio, oral presentations, peer reviews, projects, examinations, or any of these combinations which vary depending on the programme. Assessment methods may vary according to individual module requirements.

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Offered in collaboration with the Royal College of Music (RCM)

Bachelor of Music (Honours)
Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Instrumental & Vocal Teaching
Each module is assessed by either individual practical examination and unseen written examination, written project, mock recital examinations, mock auditions, lecture-recital, viva voce, concert performance, concert review, self-assessment, reflective diary, case study, round-table discussion, individual or group oral presentation, peer assessment, fieldwork, research project, portfolio submission, or any of these combinations.

Master of Composition
Master of Performance
Students will be assessed, both formatively and summatively, in the same way as their counterparts in the corresponding RCM programmes. Assessment methods are designed to mirror professional practice, in both the Principal Study modules and elective options, such as performing in a public recital. Formative feedback is important for students’ continued improvement of their performance, and peer feedback is encouraged to develop a supportive learning environment among the student body. NAFA students are expected to refer to the same assessment criteria and abide to the same performance standards as that in RCM. NAFA students are not only subject to assessment by examiners appointed by NAFA but will also be validated by an external examiner from RCM.

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University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) - NAFA Degrees

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Biophilic Design
Formative and summative assessments across a range of written and practical work are used to monitor and evaluate students' learning through individual and group presentations, research and evaluative reports, design portfolio, skills and technical exercises, journals, research and process development portfolio, written assignments and proposals, projects, peer assessment and degree show.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Contemporary Chinese Theatres
Students demonstrate their level of achievement in a diverse range of performance-making assessments. A variety of formative and summative assessment modes are used. Formative assessment includes relevant feedback strategies to enable students to meet the programme learning outcomes. For coursework, assessment submission formats include practical activities, oral presentations, performance, production and/or technical outputs, digital platforms and formats, essays, critical evaluation, journals/portfolios, project reports, dissertations, research projects, performance texts/scores/plays. For examination, assessment submission formats include practical, written, oral, peer assessment, degree show and creative journals.

Master of Fine Arts Fine Art
The programme will have three main modes of assessment – a presentation of a fully realised artwork or body of artworks made during the MFA programme; a written manifesto of 4,000 - 6,000 words, which could be creative writing, art writing or academic piece of written work; and a portfolio of documentation of studio work.

NAFA provides authentic learning opportunities for diploma students in the form of industrial attachments/internships, industry/community projects and teaching practice, through a strong network of esteemed creative industry partners.

Such industry-based learning allows diploma students to be exposed to and familiarised with the industry/work environment, consolidate and apply discipline-specific knowledge and skills in an authentic industry/work situation, develop professional skill sets and be introduced to the industry as potential employees.

Industry-based learning is also a feature of NAFA’s degree programmes in collaboration with UAL and RCM where students will be assigned to participate in live-client project or internship (for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Design Practice), local or international arts residency or internship (for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Fine Art), professional-standard public production (for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Performance Making), and teaching practicum (for Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Instrumental & Vocal Teaching).

Industry-based learning in the degree programmes allows students to experience the working climate, pace, atmosphere, and professional disciplines of working within their subject area, apply discipline-specific knowledge in an authentic professional setting and broaden their practical experiences in the various roles, functions, and operations in the industry, as well as further develop their artistic practice.

Note
With effect from 1 Feb 2018, students who are enrolled in a MOE-funded diploma and degree programme* and take up industrial attachment/internship during their programme of study, will be exempted from mandatory CPF contributions for paid work during school holidays and term time.

*All NAFA diploma programmes, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Design Practice, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Fine Art, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Performance Making, Bachelor of Music (Honours), and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Instrumental & Vocal Teaching are funded by the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE). Please click here for full list of diploma programmes.

Programme	Lecturer-to-Student Ratio*
NAFA Foundation Programme	1:18

Diploma Programmes

Programme	Lecturer-to-Diploma Student Ratio*
3D Design	1:11
Arts Management	1:32
Dance	1:14
Design & Media	1:18
Fashion Studies	1:17
Fine Art	1:8
Music	1:9
Theatre	1:10
Average	1:13

Degree Programmes

Programme	Lecturer-to-Degree Student Ratio*
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Design Practice	1:7
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Fine Art	1:7
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Performance Making	1:2
Bachelor of Music (Honours)	1:3
Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Instrumental & Vocal Teaching	1:3
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Biophilic Design	1:7
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Contemporary Chinese Theatres	1:3
Master of Composition	1:2
Master of Performance	1:2
Master of Fine Arts Fine Art	1:3
Average	1:4

Note: The lecturer-to-student ratio is not a direct measure of classroom size; rather, it indicates the number of teaching staff to the number of students in the School. Teaching groups vary widely, depending on the programme and module; it can range from 1:1 studio practice and small seminar groups, to large lectures of about a hundred students.

^*As at September 2023

NAFA’s students are guided by a dedicated faculty comprising academics, professional artists and industry practitioners, all of whom are registered with the Committee for Private Education.

Please see appended list of faculty here.