FACULTY OF ART & DESIGN

All applicants are to demonstrate their artistic potential through portfolio submission/admission test/audition as specified in each programme, in order to be considered for admission.

Applicants may select either (A) Portfolio Submission or (B) Admission Test.

(A) Portfolio Submission

You are to submit 10-15 images of recent art or design work, which should include a range of finished artwork as well as development work in preparing the finished artwork (sketches, mood boards, etc). Portfolios are assessed with the aim of identifying your creative and technical potential to undertake a programme in art and design.

(Allowed file types: .pdf,.jpg,.jpeg,.png,.gif,.tif,.tiff,.bmp. Maximum image file size: 5 MB)
(Allowed video file types: .mpeg,.mp4,.mov,.m4v,.avi,.wmv,.flv,.asf,.mpg,.mp3. Maximum image file size: 200 MB)

The work submitted should preferably be not more than two years old. It may be the result of assigned class projects or independent exploration. It is recommended that the selected examples of work reflect your interests, experience and competencies in art and design.

While compiling the contents of the portfolio, you may concentrate on a single medium or show work in a breadth of media. The portfolio may include, but is not limited to the following: drawing, prints, photography, painting, film, video, animation, sculpture, ceramics, digital work, etc.

Guidelines on taking photographs of artworks:

• A clean background with no visual clutter distracting the artwork should be used.
• The artwork should be evenly lit and there should not be any shadows cast on the artworks

You are also expected to write a statement of intent of about 100 words, stating your reasons for pursuing a programme of study in art and design. Please include your goals, interests and aspirations for the future.

Submit Portfolio and All Required Application Documents by
9 October 2023
30 October 2023
20 November 2023
11 December 2023

(B) Admission Test

The test consists of three sections (test duration: 2.5 hours):

• Written essay
  where you will be tested on your ability to write and express your views on art and design
• Drawing from observation
  where you will be tested on your ability to draw an actual object or a scene in front of you
• Creative visualisation where you will be tested on your creativity and imagination to visualise a design or solution.

Please note that selected applicants may be asked to attend an in-person or online interview.

Admission Test Date
24 January 2024
28 March 2024
30 May 2024

Please note that you will be notified of the confirmed admission test date upon submission of your application, all supporting documents and application fee payment.

Minimum Educational Qualifications Required

• Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level: Aggregate score of 25 points or better in 4 GCE ‘O’ Level subjects, excluding English.

  Applicants who are active in their Secondary Schools’ Co-curricular Activities (CCA) may gain up to 2 CCA points. The CCA points can be used to improve their EQ aggregate score for admission consideration.

  Types of bonus points	No. of bonus points awarded
  Grades of A1–A2	2 points
  Grades of B3–C6	1 point

• Singapore Integrated Programme: Successful completion of Year 4 or higher.
• School of The Arts (SOTA): Successful completion of Year 4 or higher.
• Institute of Technical Education (ITE): Successful completion of full-time Higher Nitec or Nitec.

Successful completion of at least 10 years of education.

Eligible international students will be able to use their mid-year examination results to apply for diploma programmes at NAFA. Applicants will be given conditional offer if they are successful in their portfolio interview/audition selection. Applicants are still required to submit their year-end examination results and meet the admission requirements of the respective programmes. Any applicant who does not meet the admission requirements will have his/her conditional offer revoked.

The minimum English Language proficiency requirement:

• Grade C6 at GCE ‘O’ Levels
• TOEFL iBT 50
• TOEFL 500
• IELTS Academic Band 5
• SAT score of 480 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing component)
• Duolingo score of 80
• Qualifications equivalent to any of the above

Recognition is accorded for prior achievements in areas relevant to intended studies.

The Early Admissions Exercise (EAE) allows applicants to apply for and receive conditional admission to NAFA prior to receiving their final grades. The application will commence in June for the following year’s intake.

The EAE is open to graduating GCE O-Level students, final-year Nitec and Higher Nitec students from the Institute of Technical Education, IP or IB Year 4 students.

Process

Applicants to:

• Submit Portfolio for programmes under the Faculty of Art & Design (3D Design/Design & Media/ Fashion Studies/Fine Art) (No Admission Test for EAE)
• Submit Personal Statement and Testimonial for Diploma in Arts Management
• Attend Audition for programmes under the Faculty of Performing Arts (Dance/Music/Theatre)

Please refer to the section ‘Potential in Artistic Talent and Creativity’ under each programme for more information about the above.

Offer and Acceptance

• Applicants will receive notification of the application outcome via email. Successful applicants should confirm acceptance of their offers by the deadline stipulated
• Applicants who accept their offers at this stage will be guaranteed a place, as long as they meet the criteria stated under Entry Requirement for each programme

Withdrawal

• Should applicants wish to withdraw their acceptance, they must submit their withdrawal notice to [email protected]
• Applicants who had accepted their EAE offer but fail to make the required payment by the stipulated deadline will have their offers withdrawn
• Applicants who fail to meet the admission criteria will have their offers withdrawn

Entry Requirements for EAE

For O-Level Students

Students who have registered to sit for the GCE O-Level examinations in the year of Early Admission Exercise (EAE)

For ITE Students

ITE students from full-time Higher Nitec/Nitec courses may apply for early admission. They can use their preliminary examination results (cumulative GPA of up to the 3rd term for a 2-year Higher Nitec/Nitec course or 5th term for a 3-year Nitec course) for application. The minimum cumulative GPA for early admission is 3.0.

For Integrated Programme (IP)/ International Baccalaureate (IB) Year 4 Students
IP and IB Year 4 students may use their mid-year examination results to apply for EAE.

Confirmation of Conditional Offers for Diploma Admission

Successful applicants for the EAE will be given conditional offers and are still required to submit following document, as applicable:

• GCE O-Level results with an aggregate of not more than 25 points for 4 subjects excluding English
• Certificate and Academic Transcript for Nitec or Higher Nitec
• Completion of IP Year 4 (End-Year Examination Results)
• Completion of IB Year 4 (End-Year Examination Results)

Any applicant who fails to provide documentary evidence of having met the admission requirements by the deadline stipulated by NAFA will have his/her conditional offer withdrawn.

Applicants may receive module exemption of up to 60 credits, if they have taken and passed the same or similar modules in another institution. The granting of exemption and advanced standing may be subject to applicants passing a Portfolio Interview, Audition or Admission Test. Application for module exemption may be subject to a Portfolio Interview or Audition.

GCE A-Level

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

IB Career-related Certificate (IBCC)

Applicants who have completed GCE A-Level or IB Diploma will be eligible to be considered for module exemption (up to 40 credits) in the relevant programmes. Applicants from SOTA who have completed Year 4 and above are eligible to receive advanced standing (Year 1, Semester 2 or Year 2, Semester 1) in relevant Diploma programmes subject to their final or preliminary examination results.

Higher NITEC/NITEC

Diploma programmes from the School of Fine Art
Full-time ITE graduates from the following courses will be considered for module exemption:

• Higher Nitec in Games Art & Design
• Higher Nitec in Motion Graphics
• Higher Nitec in Visual Effects
• Higher Nitec in Visual Merchandising
• Nitec in Digital Animation
• Nitec in Interactive Media Design
• Nitec in Product Design
• Nitec in Visual Communication
• Nitec in Visual Effects

Diploma programmes from the School of 3D Design
Full-time ITE graduates from the following courses will be considered for module exemption:

• Higher Nitec in Architectural Technology
• Higher Nitec in Games Art & Design
• Higher Nitec in Landscape Management & Design
• Higher Nitec in Motion Graphics
• Higher Nitec in Visual Merchandising
• Nitec in Architectural Technology
• Nitec in Building Drafting (Civil & Structure)
• Nitec in Digital Animation
• Nitec in Interactive Media Design
• Nitec in Interior & Exhibition Design
• Nitec in Product Design
• Nitec in Space Design (Architecture)
• Nitec in Space Design (Interior & Exhibition)
• Nitec in Urban Greenery & Landscape
• Nitec in Visual Communication
• Nitec in Visual Effects

Diploma programmes from the School of Design and Media
Full-time ITE graduates from the following courses will be considered for module exemption:

• Higher Nitec in Filmmaking (Cinematography)
• Higher Nitec in Games Art & Design
• Higher Nitec in Interactive Design
• Higher Nitec in Motion Graphics
• Higher Nitec in Visual Effects
• Higher Nitec in Visual Merchandising
• Nitec in Digital Animation
• Nitec in Product Design
• Nitec in Social Media & Web Development
• Nitec in Video Production
• Nitec in Visual Communication
• Nitec in Visual Effects

Diploma programmes from the School of Fashion Studies
Full-time ITE graduates from the following courses will be considered for module exemption:

• Higher Nitec in Visual Merchandising
• Nitec in Fashion Apparel Production & Design
• Nitec in Product Design