How to apply for art and design at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA): three-year BA (Hons) Fine Art, Design Practice and Biophilic Design conferred by the University of the Arts Singapore, with portfolio and interview for all applicants; portfolio requirements and timeline for students in China and Canada and transfer students

Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) is in central Singapore. Together with LASALLE College of the Arts, NAFA forms the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS): NAFA designs and teaches its own degree programmes, and UAS confers the degrees. This guide covers the August 2027 intake for art and design, based on NAFA's website, for students at high school in China, students at high school in Canada (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Art and design degrees

NAFA's Faculty of Art & Design offers three honours degrees, all three years full-time (there are no part-time degrees):

• BA (Hons) Fine Art: studio-based, across traditional and contemporary media, with an emphasis on experimentation, critical enquiry and Southeast Asian perspectives, plus international placements, exchanges and residencies.
• BA (Hons) Design Practice: specialise in one of four domains, 3-Dimensional, Communication, Fashion or Spatial Design, while working across disciplines. Year 2 includes a five-week international placement, and you can apply for a semester exchange.
• BA (Hons) Biophilic Design: described by NAFA as the first in Asia, combining spatial design with sustainable living, leading to roles in spatial, regenerative and environmental design.

• Awarding body: all three are currently conferred by UAS. The Fine Art and Design Practice pages state that students entering Year 1 in August 2027 graduate with a UAS degree, while students granted direct entry into Year 2 that year graduate with a degree from the University of the Arts London.
• Graduation requirements: 360 credits, a minimum CGPA of 2.00 (5-point scale), and the UAS Common Curriculum (36-hour IN-depth module, 10-hour Career Skills module and a 10-week, about 400-hour internship).
• No programme transfer: NAFA's FAQ states that programme transfer is not available for degree programmes, before or after they start; you would need to submit a new application. Moving to LASALLE also requires a separate application.
• NAFA also has music, dance and theatre degrees and several art and design diplomas, which are outside the scope of this guide.

2. Dates and how to apply

• One intake, in August: the 2027 programmes start on 9 August 2027.
• Application period: opens 1 October 2026; outcomes are released progressively by about mid-April 2027. NAFA gives no fixed closing date and says applications close once a programme is full, so apply early.
• International students living overseas: NAFA encourages them to apply from as early as August through its authorised overseas education counsellors, where available. The list includes China (valid 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2027) but not Canada. NAFA states that authorised counsellors may charge up to SGD 4,500 per student and advises against using anyone not on the list. You can also apply online yourself.
• Steps:
  1. Apply online (NAFA states that a second choice is possible only if your first choice is Contemporary Chinese Theatres, Performance Making, Music or Instrumental & Vocal Teaching);
  2. Keep the acknowledgement and email the documents on the checklist for verification within five working days;
  3. Pay the non-refundable application fee online: SGD 120 for international students, SGD 75 for Singapore Citizens and PRs (including GST);
  4. Submit your portfolio and statement of intent online;
  5. Once everything is received, the Student Admissions Office emails your interview details;
  6. Receive the outcome by email 4 to 6 weeks after the interview.

3. Portfolio and interview (required for all three)

NAFA states that no prior formal training is needed, but your portfolio should show your interest and self-exploration in art and design. Work should preferably be no more than two years old and can be class projects or independent work. Label each piece with title, medium, month and year, and a description. Photograph work against a clean background, evenly lit and without shadows.

• Design Practice:
  • A portfolio of 10 to 15 of your best works showing creativity, passion and curiosity;
  • A statement of intent of 250 to 300 words on why you want to study Design Practice;
  • File types pdf, jpg, png, gif, tif or bmp, up to 10 MB each;
  • All applicants attend a group interview on their motivation and given topics.
• Biophilic Design:
  • A portfolio of 10 to 15 works reflecting skills and study in spatial design; if you have not studied spatial design, show your interest in it and a basic understanding;
  • A 250 to 300-word statement of intent; same file rules;
  • A group interview.
• Fine Art:
  • A statement of intent of about 500 words on the artistic practice or research you are pursuing and why it matters to you;
  • A portfolio of 5 artworks or projects, from any discipline or medium, each supported by up to 10 visuals showing process and details, with a description of up to 50 words giving material, dimensions in cm (width x height, or width x height x depth for 3D) or duration in minutes (performance, video and sound);
  • PDF up to 10 MB; video and audio files up to 200 MB;
  • All applicants attend an interview about their motivation, current practice and their role in the Southeast Asian art ecosystem.
• Originality: work must be your own and not copied or reproduced from another source. The Fine Art portfolio guidance also has a declaration requirement about tools used in the work, so read the admissions page carefully before submitting.

4. Entry requirements for students from China and Canada

• Listed qualifications: Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level (at least two H2 subjects and a pass in General Paper), a local polytechnic diploma, the IB Diploma, the ITE Work-Study Diploma, the NUS High School Diploma, and an "Equivalent of Year 12 qualification". IB students must authorise the IB to release their results to NAFA (institution code 003693) through their school's IB coordinator.
• Students at high school in China: NAFA does not list the Chinese senior high school certificate or a Gaokao score; this is not published. The FAQ says that if your qualification is not listed, you can email your transcripts to the admissions office for assessment.
• Students at high school in Canada (including BC): also not listed separately; the grades needed with a BC graduation diploma are not published. Send your transcripts to the admissions office to check.
• Final results not yet available: you can apply with your latest results and receive a conditional offer, then submit proof of Year 12 completion later; the offer is withdrawn if you cannot.
• Below the requirements: you can appeal by sending your portfolio, references and transcripts. Appeals are considered case by case, and an accepted appeal does not guarantee an offer.

5. English requirements

• Year 1 entry: IELTS Academic 6.0; TOEFL iBT 80 or 4.0 on the new scale; PTE Academic 50; Duolingo 105. This does not apply if you have completed a NAFA diploma, or a diploma or degree at an English-medium institution.
• Direct Year 2 entry (Fine Art and Design Practice, UAL degree): IELTS 6.0 or above with at least 5.5 in each component.
• You can apply first: NAFA assesses your portfolio and interview and makes an offer conditional on meeting the English requirement by a deadline.
• NAFA does not say whether completing high school in English in Canada exempts you; this is not published, so ask the admissions office.

6. Transfer and advanced entry

• Direct entry into Year 2: applicants with a relevant diploma from NAFA, LASALLE or a recognised institution may be considered, subject to places, portfolio review and interview.
• Accreditation of Prior Learning: up to 120 credits (one level of study) for prior certification, not module by module; you must first meet the programme entry requirements.
• From another university: students with related prior study who show they are ready may be offered Year 2, subject to places and programme requirements.

7. Fees and scholarships

• AY2027 annual fees (120 credits), the same for Fine Art, Design Practice and Biophilic Design:
  • Non-subsidised students (including international students): SGD 30,400 (including GST);
  • Subsidised Singapore Citizens: SGD 8,650 (under 40); Singapore PRs: SGD 12,100.
  Fees include the final-year graduation show fee, are paid by semester, and exclude miscellaneous fees and airfares.
• Tuition Grant: not available to international students. Singapore Citizens receive it automatically with no bond; PRs may apply and must then work for a Singapore entity for three years after graduating.
• Scholarships: the FAQ says NAFA offers a small number of scholarships and bursaries to outstanding applicants each year; across the academy it gives more than 220 awards worth over $1.3 million each academic year. See NAFA's scholarships pages for dates and eligibility; miscellaneous fees are not covered.

8. Checklist

Students at high school in China:

• High school certificate or proof of Year 12 completion and transcripts; requirements are not published, so send transcripts for assessment
• IELTS 6.0 or equivalent (you can apply first)
• Portfolio and statement of intent for your programme, and an interview
• Apply from 1 October 2026; SGD 120 fee; applications close when full

Students at high school in Canada (including BC and Vancouver):

• High school diploma and transcripts; grade requirements not published
• English results, or check with admissions about an exemption
• Portfolio, statement of intent and interview; classes start on 9 August 2027

Transfer students:

• A relevant diploma or university results to apply for direct Year 2 entry, with portfolio review and interview

Sources: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Bachelor's degree admissions; Faculty of Art & Design degree admissions (entry requirements, how to apply, FAQ); BA (Hons) Fine Art; BA (Hons) Design Practice; BA (Hons) Biophilic Design; Degree programme fees; Overseas education counsellors. Information is for the August 2027 intake. Check NAFA for the latest details.