Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA School)

Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, usually known as NABA, is a specialist academy for art, design, fashion, media and communication. It was founded in 1980 and is legally recognised within Italy's AFAM higher artistic education system, regulated by the Ministry of University and Research.

For students planning an October 2026 intake, NABA is strongest if you want a studio-led creative education rather than a broad general-university route. The academy has campuses in Milan and Rome, and from the 2026/27 academic year it also adds a London campus, giving students different creative-city contexts for design, fashion, media and visual arts.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Institution type	Private specialist academy of fine arts and design
Country	Italy, with a new London campus for 2026/27
Main campuses	Milan, Rome and London
Founded	1980
Recognition	AFAM institution legally recognised by Italy's Ministry of University and Research
Academic focus	Art, design, fashion, media, set design, communication and graphic design
Popular intake	October 2026, subject to programme and campus availability
Best fit	Students seeking portfolio-led creative training with industry-facing projects

Why NABA Can Be A Good Fit

NABA is a good option for students who want their education to sit close to the creative industries. Milan gives access to fashion, design, luxury, communication and product culture. Rome is useful for cinema, visual culture, set design, art history and cultural production. London adds another international creative hub for selected programmes from 2026/27.

The learning model is practical and project-based. Students should expect briefs, workshops, critiques, portfolio development, team projects and contact with professional contexts instead of a lecture-only experience.

NABA is also useful for students who want recognised Italian academic qualifications in a specialist environment. Its AFAM degrees include First Level Academic Degrees, Second Level Academic Degrees and First Level Academic Master qualifications, depending on the programme.

2026 Tuition Snapshot

NABA publishes 2026/27 fees by level and applicant category. Students should confirm the final fee for the exact programme, campus and nationality before applying.

Programme level	2026/27 fee guidance
BA programmes, non-EU students	About EUR 22,250 per academic year
MA programmes, non-EU students	About EUR 22,250 per academic year
One-Year Academic Masters, non-EU students	About EUR 23,800 per academic year
EU/EFTA students	Fee may vary by income bracket and programme level
Extra costs	Materials, printing, portfolio production, equipment, travel and living costs

Admission Snapshot

Area	What students should prepare
Academic background	Secondary school completion for BA entry; relevant prior study for MA or Academic Master routes
Creative assessment	Artistic statement, project assignment and/or portfolio of projects
Portfolio	Important for most art, design, fashion and media programmes
Language	Check the teaching language and certificate requirement for the selected programme
Documents	Passport, transcripts, diploma documents, application form and programme-specific materials
Intake	Applications for Milan, Rome and London list October 2026 starts, subject to programme deadlines

Campus And Student Life

Milan is best for students who want daily exposure to fashion, design companies, showrooms, communication agencies, product culture and creative business. Rome is stronger for students interested in cinema, set design, visual arts, heritage, museums and cultural storytelling. London can suit students who want an English-speaking creative hub with links to international design, fashion and media networks.

Student life is likely to be shaped by studio deadlines, project reviews, exhibitions, portfolio work and city-based research. The surrounding city should be treated as part of the study experience.

Who Should Consider NABA?

NABA can suit students who want:

• A specialist creative academy rather than a large general university
• Art, design, fashion, media, set design or communication routes
• Portfolio-led learning with practical briefs
• A recognised Italian AFAM qualification route
• Access to Milan, Rome or London creative environments
• Career support connected to internships, portfolios and industry contacts

Things To Check Before Applying

Before finalising your choice, confirm:

• The exact programme title and campus
• Whether the October 2026 intake is open for your course
• Tuition, scholarship, enrolment and material costs
• Portfolio format and admission-test requirements
• Language of instruction and language certificate rules
• Visa timeline for Italy or the UK, depending on campus
• Internship and career-service support for international students

NABA is popular with students who want a focused route into art, design, fashion, media and creative-industry careers in Italy or London.

Key Highlights

Popular for	Why it matters
Art and design reputation	NABA is ranked in the global top 50 for Art & Design in QS by Subject 2026
Fashion design	Milan and Rome give students access to Italian fashion culture and professional creative networks
Communication and graphic design	Useful for students interested in branding, advertising, editorial, visual identity and digital communication
Media design and new technologies	Good fit for students interested in film, animation, creative technologies and digital storytelling
Visual arts	Supports students aiming for contemporary art, curatorial, gallery, museum or cultural-production pathways
Set design	Rome is especially useful for cinema, performance, theatre and production design context
Portfolio development	Creative careers depend heavily on visible project work and presentation quality
Industry-facing learning	Students work on briefs, projects and career preparation connected to professional practice

Best-Fit Students

NABA is especially useful for students who:

• Want an October 2026 creative intake
• Prefer a specialist academy over a broad research university
• Are ready for studio work, critique and portfolio building
• Want to study in Milan, Rome or London
• Are interested in fashion, design, media, visual arts, set design or communication
• Want a course where professional projects matter as much as classroom theory

Why Students Shortlist It

Students usually shortlist NABA because it has a clear creative identity and strong subject positioning. Its value is not only the qualification, but also the combination of studio culture, Italian design context, portfolio development and career-service access.

The academy is also attractive for students who want recognised creative degrees while studying in cities where fashion, design, cinema, art and communication industries are visible in everyday life.

Student Takeaway

NABA is a strong fit when your priority is creative-industry preparation, portfolio quality and access to specialist art and design networks.