Scholarships and Bursaries
National Arts Council's scholarship and bursary schemes provide full or partial funding for full-time studies in arts institutions locally and abroad. These scholarships and bursaries aim to nurture and groom talent with career ambitions in the arts.
Areas of Study
Fields of study that will be considered are:
Performing Arts (Music, Dance and Theatre)
Visual Arts
Literary Arts
Arts Management
Technical Design and Production in the Arts
Please click on any of the links for further details.
NAC Arts Scholarship (Overseas)
This is available to outstanding students or practising artists to pursue full-time overseas undergraduate or postgraduate studies in visual arts (fine art courses only), performing arts, literary arts, arts management, technical design and production in the arts.
Grant quantum - Up to 100% of total cost of study (Maximum of $100,000).
Note: Male applicants must have completed National Service.
NAC Arts Scholarship (Local)
This is available to promising students or practising artists to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses in visual arts (fine art courses only), performing arts and literary arts, as well as arts management, technical design and production in the arts at local universities or the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and LASALLE College of the Arts, taught in association with international tertiary institutions.
Grant quantum - Covers tuition fees of up to S$10,000 per year, subject to a maximum of S$20,000
Note: Students who are eligible for Ministry of Education subsidies in the first three years of study (up to Diploma level), should apply for the Georgette Chen Arts Scholarship (Local) instead. In such cases, the NAC Arts Scholarship (Local) is only applicable in their final year of study.
Georgette Chen Arts Scholarship (Local)
This is available to first, second and third year arts students pursuing full-time diploma courses in theatre, dance, music, visual arts (fine art courses only) and arts management at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, LASALLE College of the Arts or the Polytechnics.
Grant quantum - $2,000 per year.
Chen Chong Swee Art Scholarship (Overseas)*
* Visual arts only
This is available to promising visual artists interested in undertaking full-time overseas postgraduate studies or research programmes. Priority will be given to applicants specialising in Painting.
Grant quantum - Up to a maximum of $25,000.
Note: Applicants must not have started on their course of study.
Gifted Young Artists' Bursary (Overseas)*
* Dance and Music only
Sponsored by The Rotary Club of Singapore East, this bursary is available to young music and dance students, aged 18 years and below, to pursue full-time, pre-tertiary studies in overseas music and dance institutions.
Grant quantum - Up to $15,000 per year.
Assessment Criteria
Eligible applicants will be assessed based on the following:
Talent (artistic / creative potential), leadership qualities and commitment to contribute to the development of arts in Singapore
Track record of arts activities, achievements and involvement in the arts
All other factors remaining equal, financial background of the applicant.
Eligibility
All applicants must be Singapore citizens or Singapore permanent residents with a good track record in the arts. Applicants awaiting admission to their proposed institution may still apply for a scholarship or bursary. However, proof of admission into the institution must be produced at the time of the scheduled interview or upon award of the scholarship or bursary, if successful.
* Special note on course commencement dates and scholarship application timings:
All scholarships and bursaries will be awarded in August.
Students who are interested to pursue studies that commence in February/March (e.g. courses in Australia) should make their applications a year before the commencement of the course.
Students who are interested to pursue studies that commence in June/July (e.g. NAFA and LASALLE courses) are advised to concurrently apply for the intended course as well as the relevant scholarship. Students should be prepared to begin studies pending confirmed financial assistance from NAC.
How to Apply
Closing Date: 31 March 2010
To give your application the best chance of success, you should complete the application form as fully as possible. Your application will be considered ineligible if:
the course of study does not belong to any of the eligible art forms stated under the respective scholarship or bursary;
your application is incomplete or not submitted via the prescribed application procedures.
After submitting your application online, you are required to send in your supporting materials by 7 April 2010 to:
Scholarship and Bursary Applications
National Arts Council
140 Hill Street
MICA Building #03-01
Singapore 179369
Shortlisted applicants will also be required to attend one or more interviews, usually held in May / June of the year of application.
Disbursement
Disbursement of scholarship or bursary may (at the discretion of the National Arts Council) be made either in one lump sum or by instalments.
Conditions
The following is a summary of the terms and conditions to which the award of all NAC scholarships and bursaries are subject.
The scholarship or bursary must be used within the prescribed period of the proposed course of study ("Course") and strictly for the purposes of the Course as allocated and described in the application form.
The recipient must pursue the Course described in the application form within the prescribed period for the Course and shall not change his/her Course, subjects of study, institution of study or programme of training, or take any additional courses without the prior written approval of the National Arts Council. In such event, the National Arts Council shall have discretion to review all terms and conditions of the scholarship and bursary.
At the end of the Course, the recipient must submit to the National Arts Council transcripts of his/her results (or a true certified copy of the transcript), records of his/her involvement in the arts, as well as an evaluation report describing the achievements and benefits gained from the year(s) at the institution within two months after completing the course. In additional, the recipient may be required to submit proofs of expenditure for big-ticket expenses (for e.g. tuition fees, accommodation, airfare, etc).
Recipients may be required by the National Arts Council at any appropriate time to deliver lectures, conduct demonstrations, workshops and courses in his/her field of training and/or give recitals and performances organised by the National Arts Council as part of his/her contribution to the promotion of the arts in Singapore.
Recipients must disclose any information on other scholarships or bursaries applied for and inform the Council of the outcomes of those applications.
Recipients of the NAC Arts Scholarship (Overseas and Local) are required to fulfil up to a two-year service commitment to work in the arts (related to their field of study) on a full or part-time basis in Singapore within a five-year timeframe after the completion of their Course. In addition, recipients may be required to participate in relevant training programmes as designated by the National Arts Council, during or upon the completion of the recipient's Course.
Recipients will be liable to repay to the National Arts Council on demand all scholarship or bursary monies which have been paid to or expended by the National Arts Council on his/her behalf, or such other amount as the National Arts Council may decide on the occurrence of certain events (including where the recipient fails to take up or complete the Course, and where the recipient breaches any of the terms and conditions to which the grant of the scholarship or bursary is subject). In such event, the scholarship or bursary shall automatically be withdrawn and no further allowances under the scholarship or bursary shall be provided by the National Arts Council.
The National Arts Council may terminate, at its sole discretion, the scholarship or bursary at any time by giving one month's written notice to the candidate.
Others
The National Arts Council reserves the right not to disclose its reasons for approving or disapproving any application. The National Arts Council reserves the right (at its sole discretion) to review, withdraw or suspend any scholarship or bursary in full or partially if any of these rules are breached. Further, the National Arts Council will be under no further obligation to provide any allowances under the scholarship or bursary but without prejudice to the right of the National Arts Council to claim any sums due to it from the candidate in respect of any antecedent breach of these terms and conditions.
