University of the Arts Singapore to offer 8 new degree programmes; common curriculum to include internship opportunities

Students intending to pursue the arts in Singapore can now look forward to eight new degree programmes at the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), formed in a joint effort between Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE). 

UAS announced on Tuesday (Sep 12) that LASALLE will offer three bachelor’s (BA) and two master’s (MA) degree programmes, while NAFA will offer two BA’s and one MA degree programme. 

UAS will be the awarding body for the conferred degrees.

Under LASALLE, prospective students can expect to enrol in the 3-year BA (Honours) Art Histories and Curatorial Practices: Asia and the World; 3-year BA (Honours) Design for Social Futures; 3-year BA (Honours) International Contemporary Dance Practices; 2/3-year MA Arts and Ecology; and the 2-year MA Music Therapy.

The first of five degree programmes offered by LASALLE, the BA (Hons) Art Histories and Curatorial Practices: Asia and the World aims to help students understand the relationship between history and how works of art are presented and received today.

Another degree offered by LASALLE is the BA (Hons) Design for Social Futures, where students will learn the different facets of design within the context of the communities around them and the working world.

In collaboration with the London Contemporary Dance School, the three-year BA (Hons) International Contemporary Dance Practices will see students spending one year studying dance in London and the remaining two in Singapore.

LASALLE’S MA in Arts and Ecology is a “transdisciplinary”, studio-based programme that will explore arts practices and research with relevance to the “current ecological crisis.” The programme can be taken as a 1-year or 2-year degree.

Its other MA, Music Therapy, will train students to be professionally registered music therapists. According to UAS, it will be Singapore’s first postgraduate programme to offer such a qualification.

All LASALLE MA students will take up three core modules, which include the Agora and the Final Research module. Students under the MA in Music Therapy will take on additional modules for clinical placements.

On the other hand, NAFA will offer the 3-year BA (Honours) Biophilic Design; 3-year BA (Honours) Contemporary Chinese Theatres; and the 2/3-year MFA Fine Art.

In collaboration with CPG Corporation, NAFA’S BA (Hons) in Biophilic Design will teach students nature-inspired, people-centric spatial design.

Another BA (Hons) offered by NAFA, Contemporary Chinese Theatre, aims to prepare students to understand the landscape surrounding Singapore and Southeast Asia’s theatre and performing arts industry. 

NAFA’S only MA programme under UAS, MFA Fine Art, will focus on Singapore’s sociocultural context in creating art, and will encourage students to conduct “urgent research” in order to produce fine art that “connect[s] and impact[s] cultures and communities.”

Each degree programme aims to prime graduates to “thrive in creative, high-growth sectors such as the digital, green and care economies, museum development and global arts.”

UAS is Singapore’s first government-supported private arts university. The application window will span from Oct 2, 2023 to Mar 31, 2024, with interviews and other forms of assessment taking place on differing dates depending on the degree programme. 

The university’s first batch of students will begin their studies in August 2024. 

Students of UAS will also take the UAS Common Curriculum, where LASALLE and NAFA students alike will be placed into joint classes. These classes fall under the In-depth Programme and Career Skills Curriculum. 

The In-depth Programme comprises 9-hour workshops, during which they will be presented with tasks to problem-solve using different mediums. The programme aims to foster critical and creative thinking.

All BA (Hons) students will undergo the UAS Career Curriculum, where they will be taught branding strategy and career readiness. Students may choose their own electives under the Curriculum. Optional additional bootcamp modules are available to Year 3s.

According to UAS, all undergraduate students will be required to participate in industry internships for a minimum of 400 hours after their second academic year. 

The In-depth Programme, Career Skills Curriculum, and Internship Programme do not bear credit, but are graduation requirements for all UAS students.

Students looking to apply for a LASALLE-hosted programme may do so on the websites for BA (Hons) and MA respectively. Prospective NAFA students can apply on its applications portal. The admissions criteria can be found on LASALLE and NAFA’s websites.

Application outcomes for students will be announced by early to mid 2024. Students may check the “Important Dates” section of their desired degree programme’s website to find out more. Additional information on programme fees, scholarships, and financial aid can also be found on UAS’ Admissions website.

UAS will be based at the National Design Centre on Middle Road.