Undergrads in arts and design will soon have more options

Students who wish to pursue an undergraduate degree in arts and design will soon have more options.

New degree programmes will be available following a partnership between the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa) and the University of the Arts London (UAL).

They are targeted to begin in the 2021/2022 academic year and eligible students can receive government subsidies for tuition fees.

Students with A-level certificates as well as those without the relevant diplomas will be allowed to enrol in Nafa's degree programmes for the first time.

Speaking at the Lee Foundation Theatre at the Nafa campus last night, Nafa board chairman Low Sin Leng said: "The planned new degree programmes in arts and design will be reflective of the progressive arts education landscape in Singapore.

"Working in close consultation with our industry partners and UAL, the degree courses aim to mould students into holistic arts practitioners," she added.

The number of new degree programmes and course names will be announced later.

The programmes will require students to explore across their specialisms to become versatile artists and designers.

For example, fine artists will have the option to delve into 2D, 3D and 4D mediums. Design students will be able to take on project work with classmates from different specialisations while performance-related undergraduates will work across dance and theatre practices in their studies.

As part of the programmes, students will get the opportunity to spend five or seven weeks at the UAL campus, Covid-19 restrictions allowing, to learn from the university's academics and practitioners.

The Nafa-UAL collaboration is the first time that the latter, ranked second in the world for art and design in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020, is validating degrees outside of Britain.

The tie-up announcement comes after the Government announced a $55 million Arts and Culture Resilience Package last year to support the arts community through the Covid-19 crisis.

Noting that Nafa is a part of the arts and culture sector that continues to be hit by the pandemic, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who was the guest of honour yesterday, said: "UAL is one of the top-ranked universities in the world for arts and design. This partnership is a recognition of Nafa's achievements, and the confidence that UAL has in Nafa's ability to deliver programmes that meet UAL's rigour and standards."