Dare to Dream Scholarship (NAFA): 2026 Profile
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)03 Oct 2025, 19:45 Z
TL;DR\ NAFA's Dare to Dream Scholarship grants S$6,000 per academic year—renewable—to Singaporean freshmen with medically certified special needs who achieve strong audition scores and demonstrate financial need. Apply through NAFA's in-house scholarship exercise with full documentation; renewals hinge on attendance, results, and verified need.
Scholarship Snapshot
- Status: Application Cycle Closed (last verified 2025-10-03)
- Official Listing: Dare to Dream Scholarship — Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
- Who It Targets: Newly admitted full-time diploma students at NAFA with certified special needs and notable entrance assessment scores
- Eligibility: Singapore Citizen, offer holder for a NAFA diploma, special needs diagnosis recognised by NAFA, financially needy (PCI ≤ S$2,500 or household income ≤ S$10,000), strong character and artistic engagement, and not holding other scholarships/bursaries except MOE Higher Education Community/Bursary
- Tenable Institution: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
- Bond: None
Award Components
- S$6,000 per academic year to help offset tuition and learning expenses
- Renewable funding for subsequent diploma years subject to annual reassessment of financial need and maintaining at least 80% attendance
- Recognition within NAFA's Dare to Dream community, including opportunities to showcase practice and contribute to campus initiatives
Eligibility Highlights
- Special needs verification: Applicants must submit medical certification aligned with NAFA's recognised categories (physical & sensory difficulties, social & behavioural, learning & language, or other conditions with significant learning implications).
- Academic strength: Strong entrance test or audition results and continued progress within NAFA diploma coursework.
- Financial need: Per-capita income ≤ S$2,500 or gross monthly household income ≤ S$10,000; documentation required.
- Character & engagement: Evidence of discipline, diligence, leadership qualities, and involvement in artistic pursuits beyond coursework.
- Exclusivity: Recipients cannot hold concurrent scholarships or sponsorships apart from national bursary schemes.
Application Roadmap
- Secure an offer for a NAFA full-time diploma programme and gather supporting documents (results, portfolio highlights, medical certification, proof of income).
- Monitor NAFA's in-house Scholarships, Merit Awards & Bursaries exercise—applications typically open in the lead-up to the new academic year.
- Submit the Dare to Dream application form with all mandatory documents, including medical reports and income evidence.
- Prepare a personal statement outlining your creative goals, leadership/service contributions, and how the award supports your professional development.
- Respond promptly to follow-up requests from NAFA's scholarship panel; shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview or portfolio review.
- Upon award, confirm acceptance and ensure attendance remains ≥80% with strong termly progress to retain eligibility for renewal consideration.
Preparation Playbook
- Document creative achievements (performances, exhibitions, community arts projects) to strengthen your application.
- Engage mentors, therapists, or educators who can attest to your readiness for diploma-level study and personal resilience.
- Organise financial records—recent payslips, CPF statements, or income declarations—to streamline the means-testing stage.
- Map out transport, assistive technology, or accommodation needs early so you can incorporate them into your study plan and scholarship budgeting.
- Track academic and co-curricular milestones each semester; NAFA looks for consistent excellence when reviewing renewals.
