FACULTY OF PERFORMING ARTS

Audition

You are required to attend an entrance audition of approximately 15 minutes on your intended principal study. Non-pianists are advised to bring along their own accompanist for the audition. If necessary, please contact the Student Admissions Office for a list of accompanists. The accompanist fee is S$100, for a 45-minute rehearsal and the audition. Applicants are required to make arrangements with the accompanists directly for practice sessions and payment.

The audition consists of the following:

• Performance of two contrasting works of your choice. Pieces selected from popular music repertoire would not be considered for the purposes of this audition.
• Sight-reading
• Aural awareness
• Music theory*
• Short interview with the audition panel about your musical experiences, interests and your ambitions for future studies and career

*The music theory paper (approximately 60 minutes) will test applicants in various areas at a level similar to ABRSM Grade V.

Applicants who present documentary evidence of ABRSM Grade V Music Theory or its equivalent will be exempted from the test. Further information about the requirements of ABRSM Grade V Theory can be found at www.abrsm.org

Composition Portfolio Interview

Composers should submit a portfolio of at least two, but not more than five, contrasting examples of your compositions. Do submit your portfolio one week in advance of your scheduled audition. You may submit your work as written scores, recordings or a combination of the two.

Please ensure that your written music is clear and legible, and that you include full details, where necessary, of instrumentation, scoring, and performance details. Do not send Sibelius files unless they are accompanied by PDF files of the same material. Recordings should be in a file format that can be read in VLC or Windows Media Player.

Individual works should be clearly indexed on the accompanying documentation. All recordings should be clearly labelled with your name and the title of the piece. Portfolios will be returned to you immediately at the end of the audition or mailed back to you after the audition period upon request.

Online Audition

Though live auditions are preferred, applicants who are unable to attend a live audition may submit a video recording for their audition. If they pass the video screening round, an interview via Zoom or MS Teams with applicants will be arranged by the Student Admissions Office. Applicants will be tested on their sight-reading and aural awareness during the interview.

Guidelines for Video Recording:

• The recording should be a clear and accurate representation of your playing. Do not edit the audio/video of your recording
• The camera should be stationary for the performance of each work
• The video should show the performer in full body if possible

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 bonus points. The CCA points can be used to improve their 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 courses 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 courses. Any applicant who does not meet the admission requirements will have his/her conditional offer revoked.

The minimum English Language proficiency requirement:

• Grade D7 at GCE ‘O’ Levels
• TOEFL iBT 40
• TOEFL 400
• IELTS Academic Band 4
• SAT score of 450 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing component)
• Duolingo score of 55
• Qualifications equivalent to any of the above

Applicants who do not meet the English Language proficiency requirement for the applied diploma course will have the option to enrol in the NAFA Preparatory English Course (PEC). Prior to enrolment in the PEC, applicants are required to submit their English Language proficiency scores from certification systems such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. They will be placed in the appropriate module(s) – Pre-intermediate Level English and/or Intermediate Level English or Supplementary English as determined by the submitted scores. 

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

Applicants should be 16 years of age or above in the year they are admitted to Year 1 of the diploma course.

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 courses 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 courses under the Faculty of Performing Arts (Dance/Music/Theatre)

Please refer to the section ‘Potential in Artistic Talent and Creativity’ under each course 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 course

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.

Applicants with GCE A-Level, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and 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 courses. 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 courses subject to their final or preliminary examination results.

At NAFA, we are committed to providing full and equal educational opportunities to all students. The Academy firmly believes that every individual deserves a supportive learning environment. Applicants are invited to inform us in advance of any specific needs, and/or type of physical facilities or support you might require. Please include this information in your application form, supplemented with the relevant medical reports. This will allow us to plan the appropriate learning support for you.

Audition

You are required to attend an entrance audition of approximately 15 minutes on your intended principal study. Non-pianists are advised to bring along their own accompanist for the audition. If necessary, please contact the Student Admissions Office for a list of accompanists. The accompanist fee is S$100, for a 45-minute rehearsal and the audition. Applicants are required to make arrangements with the accompanists directly for practice sessions and payment.

The audition consists of the following:

• Performance of two contrasting works of your choice. Pieces selected from popular music repertoire would not be considered for the purposes of this audition.
• Sight-reading
• Aural awareness
• Music theory*
• Short interview with the audition panel about your musical experiences, interests and your ambitions for future studies and career

*The music theory paper (approximately 60 minutes) will test applicants in various areas at a level similar to ABRSM Grade V.

Applicants who present documentary evidence of ABRSM Grade V Music Theory or its equivalent will be exempted from the test. Further information about the requirements of ABRSM Grade V Theory can be found at www.abrsm.org

Composition Portfolio Interview

Composers should submit a portfolio of at least two, but not more than five, contrasting examples of your compositions. Do submit your portfolio one week in advance of your scheduled audition. You may submit your work as written scores, recordings or a combination of the two.

Please ensure that your written music is clear and legible, and that you include full details, where necessary, of instrumentation, scoring, and performance details. Do not send Sibelius files unless they are accompanied by PDF files of the same material. Recordings should be in a file format that can be read in VLC or Windows Media Player.

Individual works should be clearly indexed on the accompanying documentation. All recordings should be clearly labelled with your name and the title of the piece. Portfolios will be returned to you immediately at the end of the audition or mailed back to you after the audition period upon request.

Online Audition

Though live auditions are preferred, applicants who are unable to attend a live audition may submit a video recording for their audition. If they pass the video screening round, an interview via Zoom or MS Teams with applicants will be arranged by the Student Admissions Office. Applicants will be tested on their sight-reading and aural awareness during the interview.

Guidelines for Video Recording:

• The recording should be a clear and accurate representation of your playing. Do not edit the audio/video of your recording
• The camera should be stationary for the performance of each work
• The video should show the performer in full body if possible

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 bonus points. The CCA points can be used to improve their 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.

Minimum Qualifications Required
International applicants who have completed at least 10 years of education are eligible to apply. Relevant supporting evidence of applicants’ achievements in the arts must be submitted with the application.

If the earliest you are able to submit your full results is mid-2023, you may use your most recent school examination or preliminary examination results, which must be certified by your school, for application.

Overseas Educational Qualifications Accepted

China

• Senior High School Leaving Certificate Examination
• National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), also known as “Gao-kao”

India

Secondary School Certificate (Standard X) from:

• The Central Board of Secondary Education Examinations (CBSE)
• The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ISCE)
• Other certificates equivalent to GCE ‘O’ Level

Indonesia

• Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) Final Examination*
  * Good SMA 10 and 11 results will be considered.

Korea

• High School Graduation Certificate of National Examination (Year 11/Year 12)

Malaysia

• Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Examination
• Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) Examination
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) Examination

Myanmar

• Basic Education High School Examination/Matriculation

Philippines

• High School Diploma/Certificate

Taiwan

• General Scholastic Ability Test (GSAT)
• Senior Secondary School (Grade 11 / Grade 12))

Thailand

• High School Year 12*
  *Good High School Year 10 and 11 results will be considered

Vietnam

• High School Year 11 Results
• High School Diploma (Year 12)
• Diploma in arts-related studies

Other Qualifications

• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
• Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
• International Baccalaureate Middle Year Programme (IB MYP)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP)
• International Baccalaureate Career-related Certificate (IBCC)
• International Baccalaureate Certificate

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 75
• Qualifications equivalent to any of the above

Applicants who do not meet the English Language proficiency requirement for the applied diploma course will have the option to enrol in the NAFA Preparatory English Course (PEC). Prior to enrolment in the PEC, applicants are required to submit their English Language proficiency scores from certification systems such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. They will be placed in the appropriate module(s) – Pre-intermediate Level English and/or Intermediate Level English or Supplementary English as determined by the submitted scores. 

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

Applicants should be 16 years of age or above in the year they are admitted to Year 1 of the diploma course.

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 courses 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 courses under the Faculty of Performing Arts (Dance/Music/Theatre)

Please refer to the section ‘Potential in Artistic Talent and Creativity’ under each course 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 course

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.

Applicants with GCE A-Level, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and 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 courses. 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 courses subject to their final or preliminary examination results.

At NAFA, we are committed to providing full and equal educational opportunities to all students. The Academy firmly believes that every individual deserves a supportive learning environment. Applicants are invited to inform us in advance of any specific needs, and/or type of physical facilities or support you might require. Please include this information in your application form, supplemented with the relevant medical reports. This will allow us to plan the appropriate learning support for you.

Audition

You are required to attend an audition. The audition consists of two sections - Practical Assessment and Interview.

• You are required to report to the audition venue 30 minutes earlier to register and change into your own appropriate attire for dancing
• The audition may take up to 2 hours

Practical Assessment
You are expected to prepare and perform two contrasting solos of any dance genre/style (e.g. Ballet and Cultural Dance; Chinese classical dance and Chinese folk dance). Each dance should not exceed 90 seconds. The solo dance can be choreographed by yourself or by someone else (e.g. your dance teacher). You are required to bring your own music which can played from a CD or from your own media device (e.g. phone, tablet, MP3 player with a 3.5mm audio output jack. A costume (e.g. tutu for female ballet classical solo) may be worn. Through your performance, assessors will evaluate your:

• Technique - coordination, control and alignment
• Artistry - spatial awareness, musicality, dynamic range and performance quality
• Fitness - strength, control, flexibility, coordination, speed, stamina and stretch

Interview
You are expected to discuss why you want to study dance during the interview. You will be evaluated based on your:

• Existing knowledge of and experience in dance performance
• Dance-related interests and career aspirations
• Dance proclivity and learning attitude

Applicants who are unable to attend a live audition may request for an online audition. For the Practical Assessment, applicants can choose to perform the two solos through the Internet or submit a current pre-recorded performance. Both options will be followed by an online interview.

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.

Minimum Qualifications Required
International applicants who have completed at least 10 years of education are eligible to apply. Relevant supporting evidence of applicants’ achievements in the arts must be submitted with the application.

If the earliest you are able to submit your full results is mid-2023, you may use your most recent school examination or preliminary examination results, which must be certified by your school, for application.

Overseas Educational Qualifications Accepted

China

• Senior High School Leaving Certificate Examination
• National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), also known as “Gao-kao”

India

Secondary School Certificate (Standard X) from:

• The Central Board of Secondary Education Examinations (CBSE)
• The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ISCE)
• Other certificates equivalent to GCE ‘O’ Level

Indonesia

• Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) Final Examination*
  * Good SMA 10 and 11 results will be considered.

Korea

• High School Graduation Certificate of National Examination (Year 11/Year 12)

Malaysia

• Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Examination
• Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) Examination
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) Examination

Myanmar

• Basic Education High School Examination/Matriculation

Philippines

• High School Diploma/Certificate

Taiwan

• General Scholastic Ability Test (GSAT)
• Senior Secondary School (Grade 11 / Grade 12))

Thailand

• High School Year 12*
  *Good High School Year 10 and 11 results will be considered

Vietnam

• High School Year 11 Results
• High School Diploma (Year 12)
• Diploma in arts-related studies

Other Qualifications

• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
• Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
• International Baccalaureate Middle Year Programme (IB MYP)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP)
• International Baccalaureate Career-related Certificate (IBCC)
• International Baccalaureate Certificate

The minimum English Language proficiency requirement:

• Grade D7 at GCE ‘O’ Levels
• TOEFL iBT 40
• TOEFL 400
• IELTS Academic Band 4
• SAT score of 450 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing component)
• Duolingo score of 55
• Qualifications equivalent to any of the above

Applicants who do not meet the English Language proficiency requirement for the applied diploma course will have the option to enrol in the NAFA Preparatory English Course (PEC). Prior to enrolment in the PEC, applicants are required to submit their English Language proficiency scores from certification systems such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. They will be placed in the appropriate module(s) – Pre-intermediate Level English and/or Intermediate Level English or Supplementary English as determined by the submitted scores. 

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

Applicants should be 16 years of age or above in the year they are admitted to Year 1 of the diploma course.

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 courses 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 courses under the Faculty of Performing Arts (Dance/Music/Theatre)

Please refer to the section ‘Potential in Artistic Talent and Creativity’ under each course 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 course

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.

Applicants with GCE A-Level, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and 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 courses. 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 courses subject to their final or preliminary examination results.

At NAFA, we are committed to providing full and equal educational opportunities to all students. The Academy firmly believes that every individual deserves a supportive learning environment. Applicants are invited to inform us in advance of any specific needs, and/or type of physical facilities or support you might require. Please include this information in your application form, supplemented with the relevant medical reports. This will allow us to plan the appropriate learning support for you.

You are required to attend an audition. The audition consists of three sections — Workshop, Audition Monologue and Interview.

• You will be given three audition monologues at least one week prior to the audition and you will need to choose one. You are expected to memorise or be very prepared with your chosen piece
• You are required to report to the audition venue 30 minutes earlier to register
• The audition may take up to three hours
• Wear comfortable clothing that allows for ease of movement

Workshop

You are expected to participate enthusiastically in the improvisation exercises and theatre games during the workshop. Through your participation in the workshop, you will be evaluated based on your:

• Openness to improvisation and willingness to work with others
• Vocal response in an improvisation – projection, range, tone and clarity
• Physical response in an improvisation – expressiveness, spontaneity and range

Audition Monologue

During the audition, you will be asked to perform one of the three pieces of dramatic texts. You are expected to arrive with your chosen monologue memorised. Through your performance of the monologue, assessors will evaluate your:

• Ability to perform a dramatic text – comprehension, characterisation and creativity
• Physical skills – presence on stage, spatial awareness, physical range, movement vocabulary and physical portrayal of character
• Vocal skills – projection, clarity, range and tone

Interview

You are expected to discuss why you want to study theatre during the interview. You will be reviewed based on your:

• Existing knowledge of and experience in theatre and/or performance
• Personality traits
• Innovation and creativity

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.

Minimum Qualifications Required
International applicants who have completed at least 10 years of education are eligible to apply. Relevant supporting evidence of applicants’ achievements in the arts must be submitted with the application.

If the earliest you are able to submit your full results is mid-2023, you may use your most recent school examination or preliminary examination results, which must be certified by your school, for application.

Overseas Educational Qualifications Accepted

China

• Senior High School Leaving Certificate Examination
• National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), also known as “Gao-kao”

India

Secondary School Certificate (Standard X) from:

• The Central Board of Secondary Education Examinations (CBSE)
• The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ISCE)
• Other certificates equivalent to GCE ‘O’ Level

Indonesia

• Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) Final Examination*
  * Good SMA 10 and 11 results will be considered.

Korea

• High School Graduation Certificate of National Examination (Year 11/Year 12)

Malaysia

• Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Examination
• Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) Examination
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) Examination

Myanmar

• Basic Education High School Examination/Matriculation

Philippines

• High School Diploma/Certificate

Taiwan

• General Scholastic Ability Test (GSAT)
• Senior Secondary School (Grade 11 / Grade 12))

Thailand

• High School Year 12*
  *Good High School Year 10 and 11 results will be considered

Vietnam

• High School Year 11 Results
• High School Diploma (Year 12)
• Diploma in arts-related studies

Other Qualifications

• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
• Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
• International Baccalaureate Middle Year Programme (IB MYP)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP)
• International Baccalaureate Career-related Certificate (IBCC)
• International Baccalaureate Certificate

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 75
• Qualifications equivalent to any of the above

Applicants who do not meet the English Language proficiency requirement for the applied diploma course will have the option to enrol in the NAFA Preparatory English Course (PEC). Prior to enrolment in the PEC, applicants are required to submit their English Language proficiency scores from certification systems such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. They will be placed in the appropriate module(s) – Pre-intermediate Level English and/or Intermediate Level English or Supplementary English as determined by the submitted scores. 

In addition to the minimum English Language proficiency requirement, the minimum Chinese Language proficiency requirement for Diploma in Theatre (Mandarin Drama) is Grade C6 at GCE ‘O’ Level in Chinese Language or Higher Chinese or Literature in Chinese. The subject(s) will form part of the 4 ‘O’ Level subject requirements.

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

Applicants should be 16 years of age or above in the year they are admitted to Year 1 of the diploma course.

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 courses 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 courses under the Faculty of Performing Arts (Dance/Music/Theatre)

Please refer to the section ‘Potential in Artistic Talent and Creativity’ under each course 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 course

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.

Applicants with GCE A-Level, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and 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 courses. 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 courses subject to their final or preliminary examination results.

Applicants with Higher Nitec/Nitec:

Full-time ITE graduates from the following courses will be considered for module exemption(s):

• Higher Nitec in Performance Production

At NAFA, we are committed to providing full and equal educational opportunities to all students. The Academy firmly believes that every individual deserves a supportive learning environment. Applicants are invited to inform us in advance of any specific needs, and/or type of physical facilities or support you might require. Please include this information in your application form, supplemented with the relevant medical reports. This will allow us to plan the appropriate learning support for you.