LASALLE College of the Arts: Where Creativity Crosses Boundaries

LASALLE College of the Arts is Asia's leading contemporary arts and design institution and the highest ranked specialist arts institution in Southeast Asia for Performing Arts, and joint top for Art & Design (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).

The College offers 36 Diploma, BA (Hons) and postgraduate programmes across the full spectrum of arts and design disciplines. A nurturing, interdisciplinary learning environment inspires the next generation of forward-looking and globally engaged creative leaders, who are mentored by a faculty of award-winning artists, designers, educators and researchers. LASALLE's tradition of practice-led research sets the College apart as an international centre of excellence.

Founded in 1984 by the late De La Salle Brother Joseph McNally, a visionary artist and educator, LASALLE has written, developed and delivered all its own academic programmes since 2004, and continues to do so as a founding member of the University of the Arts Singapore alliance. LASALLE is a non-profit private educational institution. The College receives tuition grant support from Singapore's Ministry of Education.

Here are 7 lesser-known facts about the college:

1. A Place Where All Arts Meet

LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, is more than a school. It is an ecosystem where every art form, from performance to design, coexists under one roof. This proximity creates something rare: dancers working with animators, set designers exchanging ideas with theatre students, and filmmakers collaborating with fine artists. Students do not just learn their own discipline; they are constantly exposed to others, building an instinct for collaboration that LASALLE strives to impart.

2. Global Recognition and Regional Leadership

In 2025, LASALLE College of the Arts became the only specialist arts institution in Singapore ranked in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Within Southeast Asia, it stands at the top tier. It is the highest ranked specialist arts institution for Performing Arts and joint leader for Art & Design. These accolades matter not only as prestige markers but also as signals to parents, counsellors and students that LASALLE holds its own among global peers while serving as a regional hub for creativity.

3. Learning from Practising Artists

One of LASALLE's defining features is its faculty. Students are taught and mentored by artists who are shaping their fields today: former Disney and Lucasfilm animators, a Cannes-nominated cinematographer, Royal Shakespeare Company theatre-makers and Red Dot Design Concept winners. Learning from experienced practitioners who are actively engaging in the industry gives students valuable insights into the inner workings of the industries and helps them understand the standards and expectations of the creative world.

4. Industry Partnerships and Real-World Experience

A LASALLE student's education experience is very hands-on. Internships are mandatory across both Diploma and BA (Hons) programmes, ensuring every student graduates with practical experience and professional connections. Industry collaborations deepen this further. Nike, Chanel, Hyundai, Samsung and Singapore Airlines are just a few of the brands that have invited LASALLE students to co-create projects. The result is a graduate body that does not just dream creatively but delivers in professional contexts from the start.

5. Award-Winning City Campus

LASALLE's award-winning city campus is itself a work of art. It was so striking that it represented Singapore at the Venice Biennale for Architecture in 2004. More than an iconic building, it is a creative hub where ideas flow across studios, theatres and performance spaces, making the physical environment part of the learning journey.

6. Community and Well-Being

Students at LASALLE are part of a diverse multicultural community with numerous activities throughout the term, including sports, nature walks and excursions around Singapore. These create an active and vibrant student life that extends beyond academic study. The College has also been twice awarded the Silver Ribbon Mental Health Award in recognition of its commitment to raising awareness about mental health. Students are empowered with resources, information and a supportive environment that prioritises their wellbeing alongside their artistic growth.

7. Rooted in Singapore's cultural heart

Situated in the vibrant arts and heritage district, the campus sits steps away from Little India's colour and cuisine, with the wider city's cultural offerings at its doorstep. For students arriving from abroad, LASALLE offers not only a rigorous arts education but also immersion in one of Asia's most cosmopolitan, creative capitals.

What This Means for Students, Parents and Counsellors

For students, LASALLE offers an education that is collaborative, global and industry-integrated. It is an environment where creativity is not divided into disciplines but flourishes through collaboration across them. For parents, the institution's rankings and industry ties signal credibility and employability, while its focus on community, wellbeing and student support provides reassurance that their children will thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. For counsellors and education consultants, LASALLE represents a strong option for students seeking world-class training in the arts within a supportive, multicultural context.