Everything About the New Singapore University That’s Formed by Lasalle & NAFA

After a long wait, Singapore is about to have a university dedicated to arts education. Finally.

The best arts institutions in Singapore, LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE) and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), have formed an alliance to create the University of Arts Singapore (UAS), the first and only art university in the country supported by the government.

Now don’t be mistaken; LASALLE and NAFA are not merging and will still be up and running as separate entities. This means that courses in both institutions will still be available for application and won’t be going anywhere.

Unlike LASALLE and NAFA that award degrees with partner institutions like Goldsmiths, University of London, and University of the Arts, London, respectively, UAS will be offering programmes that are awarded by the school itself.

Take it as you will as this can be good or bad for some. If you wish to have an already recognised, reputable, global arts universities on your graduating certificate, then UAS may not be for you.

But UAS does come with its perks.

Located around the heart of Singapore, at the National Design Centre in Middle Road, the university is easily accessible to the public and on-going students of LASALLE and NAFA.

This will come in handy for the cross-college modules in UAS. Yes, students of UAS will get to experience the best of both worlds, or in this case—arts institutions, and experience more opportunities.

The new university will also be offering both undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in fine art, design, media art, performing arts, arts management as well as in new and upcoming areas of the applied arts.

So you can now say that you went to a local public university and studied a specialised arts course.

What about the costs?

Since it’s being formed by two well-known private arts schools, many might expect the cost of education to be high.

But fret not.

The degree programmes will be kept affordable to ensure that it will be accessible to all Singaporeans.

Applications for their first intake in August 2024 will begin in the third quarter of 2023.

Time to build up your portfolio because they won’t be accepting basic stickman drawings for sure.

Who is LASALLE and NAFA?

LASALLE College of the Arts was founded in 1984 and is Asia’s leading contemporary arts and design institution. They offer 30 diplomas, undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in fine art, design communication, film, fashion, arts management and many more.

Their undergraduate and post-graduate degrees are validated by Goldsmiths, University of London, a reputable university in London with reknowned artists among their alumni.

Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, on the other hand, was founded in 1938 and is Singapore’s pioneer arts institution. They offer full-time diploma and degree programmes across three schools, The School of Art and Design, The School of Music and The School of Arts Management, Dance and Theatre.

Their Bachelor with Honours degrees are in collaboration with either the University of Arts, London, ranked 2nd in the world for arts and design universities in 2020 by QS World University Rankings by Subject or The Royal College of Music, London, whose patreon is Her Majesty, The Queen.

After the first intake for UAS in 2024, both LASALLE and NAFA will also offer undergraduate and post-graduate degrees by UAS.

We might have to get ready for a Singaporean Picasso to appear somewhere along the way.

Read Also:

• SFA Recalls Mao Shan Wang Snowskin Mooncake from My Mum’s Cookies
• Here’s a List of Pasar Malams That Are Taking Place in September & October
• Some M’sia Farms Can Start Exporting Their Chicken to S’pore From October 2022
• Everything About Joseph Schooling’s Cannabis Consumption Summarised for You

Featured Image: Google Photos