Faculty of Contemporary Art & Design
SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS
Diploma in Visual Arts, a 16 months course that provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the ever-changing creative industry. Located in the heart of Singapore’s Arts and Heritage district, this interdisciplinary course offers a dynamic blend of theoretical and practical classes that foster critical thinking and creativity.
With a focus on developing independent learning methods and practices in the visual arts, the Diploma in Visual Arts guides students in exploring different aspects of art and design, while also introducing them to the role and place of art in the world today. Whether you’re interested in graphics, fashion and textiles, interior design, photography, or craft, this course offers a breadth of specialisms for you to experiment and discover areas of interest for further development and investigation.
Throughout the course, students are encouraged to engage in real-world observations, building upon reflexivity to nurture critical thinkers and creators who are industry-ready. Core practical skills are developed across an innovative and conceptually robust curriculum, supported by learning of visual culture alongside the development of interpersonal skills and independent thought. This facilitates an understanding of the diverse contexts for art production and consumption, both within the studio and beyond, fostering a critical engagement with art’s historical, socio-political, technological, environmental, ethical, and emotional dimensions.
At the heart of the course is expert training within a dedicated studio environment exploring techniques of drawing, painting and a wide range of traditional, contemporary and digital materials and processes. Surrounding this is an extensive course of live projects, fieldwork, online forums, and seminars designed to develop an understanding of visual arts practices in wider contexts. Upon graduation, students will be equipped with the necessary skills for independent work as well as collaborations with artists and managers from across various disciplines.
With a focus on creativity and practice-based learning, students will have the opportunity to build an exciting and varied portfolio of artwork for future career development.
Upon successful completion of the course, students are eligible to progress to the Advanced Diploma Level
- Following career pathways
- Visual Artist,
- Painter, Curator,
- Textile & Fabric Artist,
- Illustrator/Storyboarding Artist,
- Theatre/Television/Film Set & Prop Artist,
- Artwork Fabricator,
- Art Handler,
- Art Teacher,
- Art Programmer,
- Art Festival & Project Facilitator/Manager,
- Gallery Assistant/Guide,
Minimum Entry Requirements
- Minimum age: 17 years old
- Minimum of two ‘O’ Level subject passes (not including English Language) or their equivalent; AND
- The student will need to submit a statement of purpose and creative portfolio and pass an interview.
- Other qualifications which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
View Full Academic Entry Requirements
Minimum Language proficiency requirements
Statement of Purpose (500–800 WORDS)
The student will need to describe their interest, involvement and experience in the visual arts. Visual arts experience can include work done with arts organisations or events such as film, design, performance, festivals, exhibitions. These can also be events you attended or student projects that you worked on.
The student will also need to submit a portfolio – a collection of work that showcases their skills, personality and creative potential. This should include what they have learnt and created so far to what they plan to do next. Visual materials can include (but are not limited to) drawing, painting, photography, graphic design, film, sketches, video art, sculpture, ceramics, etc.
The student will need to participate in an aptitude test and dialogue in relation to the submitted statement of purpose and creative portfolio – What are your motivations for choosing this course? Share your interest, influence and aspiration. What do you hope to achieve in this programme? You should also share how this programme might prepare you for your future career path.
- Critical and Contextual Studies
- Studio Practice Presentation,
- Communication and Research
- Industry and Career
- Tutorial 1:25
- Lectural 1:80
- Attendance requirement
- Module Grade: minimum 50% for each module.
16 Months – 4 Trimesters (full-time)
Total Tuition Fees: SGD$32,600 (subjected to 9% GST)
excluding non-tuition fees and miscellaneous fees
– Payable over 2 installments