Creative studies

Published on: Monday, May 23, 2022

By: K Krishnan

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WHENEVER students say they want to be singers, dancers, musicians or actors, we think that they are not being practical. How can they earn a steady income? How can they support themselves? We often feel something should be wrong with them. Even when students study art and craft in school we always brand them as students who are not intelligent or those who are weak in their studies. Just because they don’t choose the careers that we choose, it doesn’t mean that they are wrong.

There are among us students who have natural talents and would like to explore careers in creative studies. Studying for such courses in private colleges can be expensive. Often not many scholarships are available for creative studies. This week let us explore courses in creative studies offered by Aswara.

ASWARA

To help talented students enter the field of creative studies the Government of Malaysia under the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism established ASWARA in 1994. However, many are ignorant about the existence of such an academy.

ASWARA is Malaysia’s only public university dedicated entirely to the arts, both contemporary and traditional, and committed to academic and artistic excellence in a wide range of areas leading to diploma, baccalaureate degree, masters, and doctorate.

ASWARA’s vision is that this institution should be the first choice for people wishing to study and practise the arts, culture, and heritage. And, to that end, it provides an environment conducive to learning, practising, and researching every aspect of its offerings with the ultimate goal of producing creative graduates capable of researching, sustaining, and promoting our national heritage as scholars, performers, educators, artists and critics. ASWARA aims to make its graduates the core of the professional creative arts industries throughout Malaysia thereby enhancing our society as educated and informed citizens and ensuring the conservation and preservation of our national and artistic heritage.

Courses offered

There are nine (9) faculties provided

by ASWARA, namely:

Faculty of Music

Faculty of Theater

Faculty of Writing

Faculty of Film & Television

Faculty of Visual Arts Communication

Faculty of Dance

Faculty of Animation & Multimedia

Faculty of Arts and

Culture Management

Centre for Postgraduate

Studies (P.Ramlee Chair)

Traditional Performing

Arts Centre (PUTRA)

Entry requirements for diploma courses

- PASS SIJIL PELAJARAN MALAYSIA (SPM) with credits in Bahasa Melayu and three other subjects;

- MUST BE A MALAYSIAN CITIZEN

- Have a basic knowledge and experience in the field applied for.

- nd Pass an interview and audition set by ASWARA In addition:

- Candidates from Faculty of Theatre and dance will have an audition

- Faculty of Creative Writing candidates are asked to bring their own finished writing sample

- Candidates from Faculty of Music will be tested in terms of reading notes and playing musical instruments

- Candidates from Faculty of Film and Television will be tested in terms of talent to paint storyboard and write storyline also to bring their own finished storyboard, short film or script.

- Candidates from Faculty of Visual Communication Design and Faculty of Animation & Multimedia will be tested in terms of painting talent

Tuition fees for bachelor’s programme

The tuition fee is affordable. For instance the FEE FOR FACULTY OF MUSIC, FILM & TELEVISION AND ANIMATION & MULTIMEDIA & VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN is RM 7449.00 for 3 years (6 Semesters)

The tuition fee FOR DANCE FACULTY, THEATRE, WRITING AND ART MANAGEMENT & CULTURE is RM 7,029.00 for 3 years (6 Semesters)

Financial Aid

The following scholarships and financial aid are available for students:-

1. ASWARA Loans

This loan is only open to students in the second year who have achieved a CGPA of 3.00 and above and did not receive any sponsorship either in the form of loans or scholarships from any party.

2. ASWARA Scholarships

Open to students who pursue Diploma and Masters Degree in Animation & Multimedia, Visual Communication Design, Theatre, Dance, Music, Movies & Television, Creative Writing and Arts and Cultural Management.

3. Selangor State Government Education Loans

4. Johor Education Foundation

5. Terengganu Education Foundation

6. Pahang Foundation

7. Penang State Government

8. Sabah State Government

Scholarship

9. Perkeso

10. Bank Rakyat Foundation

11. Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA)

How to apply:

Prospective students can contact ASWARA at:

Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) 464, Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2778 5999

Faks: 3-2778 5903

Emel: [email protected]

You can also apply on-line.

www.aswara.edu.my

Career tips

Now that you know there is an academy for Creative studies, you can explore further by accessing their homepage. If you have a passion and would like to do a Diploma, Degree, a Masters Program or Ph. D. you can study at a reputable academy locally. The tuition fee is also very affordable and financial aid is offered to those who are eligible.

If you have a question write to: [email protected]