Admissions - Orientation Exams

In order to enrol in the Bachelor of Arts Degree Program, students have to pass an admission test which is held each year between the 3rd and 4th week of september.

Entrance test procedure

Introduction

The department for Italian Artistic and Musical Training (AFAM-MUR), Ministry of Education requires all candidates for 3-year BA courses at NABA to take an entrance exam before being accepted by the Academy.

In the past Italian Academies have traditionally tested technical skills in geometric and life drawing because the well-established areas of study - painting, sculpture, theatre design, decoration – required a basic level of competence.

Over time the creative panorama has changed however, and new fields of artistic research in fashion, design and communication have been recognized within the Academy system. These areas have contributed to the development of new forms of artistic expression, techniques and methods, aimed at developing the critical and methodological skills needed to address the complex challenges of the contemporary designer. As a consequence, the profile of students entering the 3-year BA courses at NABA has diversified, and there has been an increase in students coming from non-artistic backgrounds.

This change has led the Academy to reassess the entrance exam with the objective of giving more weight to a students attitude and motivation for art, design and experimentation, as apposed to the their actual technical skills.

About the entrance test

The test is designed to help us understand your motivations and potential for the chosen field of study. Those applicants who are able to demonstrate strong motivation for, and comprehension of the course curriculum to be undertaken is a guarantee for us of the commitment and determination with which a candidate wishes to embark upon the course, and the way in which the various choices faced during the course will be tackled and overcome.

Your motivations for the chosen area of study will be tested in an interview with the course teachers and coordinators, and through a series of specific tasks to be prepared prior to the test days at NABA as follows:

• Motivational letter
• Research on a given theme
• Preparation of an additional subject of your choice to be discussed at the interview.

‘Creativity’ can be defined as an approach to solving problems, and in generating new opportunities, and thus requires the ability to deconstruct problems, demonstrate a deep understanding of a given context and apply the information processing and relational qualities required to find solutions.

The entrance test therefore evaluates a candidate’s aptitude for research and in the ability to tackle a given task. The test therefore consists of the development of a short project in which you will be asked to do some research on a given topic prior to the test days at NABA.

This type of test does not anticipate standard or conclusive solutions but offers the opportunity to devise a project that can be discussed during the interview.

Day 1

1)Develop project

2)Submit motivational letter (1 page A4 max)  

Day 2

1)General culture test (multiple choice)

2) Further develop project

DAY 3

1)Interview  

The interview will include the following:

a) Discussion about the project developed by the candidate

b)Presentation of the candidate’s portfolio (this could include drawings, sketches, computer graphics, photography, research projects, competition entries, video productions, documentation about personal interests etc.)

Submitting a portfolio is not compulsory but strongly recommended, especially for candidates who wish to receive a NABA scholarship.

c)Discussion about motivations and expectations

d)Discussion about a topic related to the area of study chosen and prepared by the candidate.

The purpose of the interview is also to give international students the opportunity to present their project in Italian, and to make an initial assessment of their oral language ability.

Please note that NABA requires International students to have reached the B1 level (intermediate level). In the case of a positive perfomance in the entrance test but a negative assessment of language skills, students who have not reached the B1 level will be able to take the language assessment test again in February.

We hope that these notes will help you understand the spirit of our testing and evaluation practices and enable you to enter the test and NABA with all your enthusiasm and energy.

Teaching coordinators committee