MASTER OF COMPOSITION (University of the Arts Singapore)

NAFA hopes to attract applicants with the potential to become excellent arts practitioners. Applicants are selected by merit, based on the following criteria:

• Potential in Artistic Talent and Creativity
• Educational Qualifications
• Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning (APEL)
• English Language Proficiency
• Age Requirement

Selection is competitive and is subject to the availability of places. However, the Academy may give consideration to talented applicants who excel in Artistic Talent and Creativity, but have not fully met the education qualification stated.

Potential in Artistic Talent and Creativity

In order to be considered for enrolment into the Master of Composition programme, all prospective students should meet both the educational and audition requirements.

Audition: Portfolio Submission and Interview

• All applicants are to submit a portfolio of at least two, but no more than five, contrasting examples of their compositions.
• All applicants are required to submit their portfolio to the Students Admissions Office at least 4 weeks in advance of their scheduled audition.
• Written scores may be submitted as PDF files. Do not send Sibelius files unless they are accompanied by PDF files of the same material. Recordings should be in a file format that can be read in VLC or Windows Media Player.
• Individual works should be clearly indexed on the accompanying documentation. All recordings should be clearly labelled with your name and the title of the piece.
• Applicants whose portfolios demonstrate potential will be invited to an admission interview.
• On the day of the audition, you may submit your work as written scores, recordings or a combination of the two. Please ensure that written music is clear and legible with full information of instrumentation, scoring and performance details.
• Additionally, applicants will be required to submit a personal statement (250 – 350 words) to support their application for the Master of Composition programme. The personal statement should be based on the following questions:

Why are you applying for the Master of Composition programme, based on your ambitions and interests?

What skills do you possess that make you suitable for the rigorous demands of the programme?

• Applicants will require two professional references emailed directly to NAFA Admissions.
• Current NAFA graduating students are not required to submit personal statement and references.
• All applicants will be asked about their intentions and expectations of the programme, as well as how the Master of Composition programme will be useful to their future plans.
• Typical questions you may be asked during your interview include:

Why do you want to study at NAFA?

What are your musical interests?

What do you think you need to do most to improve your writing?

• The panel will be looking for evidence of both a talent for composition and the ability to realise effectively your ideas in a variety of forms and media.
• Though live auditions are preferred, an online interview may be arranged by the Student Admissions Office for applicants who are unable to attend a live audition.

Audition Date

• 4 to 8 December 2023
• 26 to 29 February 2024
• 22 to 25 April 2024

Note: You will be notified of the outcome of your application 4 to 6 weeks after your portfolio interview or audition. Some application outcomes may take longer than expected.

Educational Qualifications

Applicants are required to have at least:

• A relevant undergraduate degree from RCM-NAFA or a recognised institution, usually in Music
• Degree transcripts must indicate passing grades in equivalent RCM-NAFA Bachelor of Music modules

Applicants whose qualifications do not conform to the above requirements (such as those with relevant experience or prior learning) may be considered on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, approval by the Royal College of Music will be required prior to final acceptance into the programme.

English Language Proficiency

The minimum entry requirement for English language proficiency is IELTS Academic Band 5.5 or equivalent.*

*Waived for NAFA applicants who have successfully completed NAFA's Bachelor of Music. Non-NAFA applicants who have successfully completed a recognised and approved Diploma qualification or higher, where the language of instruction was English, may be given a waiver on a case-by-case basis.

Information not available.

Contact school for more information.