University in South Africa
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
University profile
The Academy of Digital Arts (ADA), operated by Friends of Design, is a private higher education institution teaching digital design and creative technology from the 2nd Floor, HAK House, 186A Bree Street, in the centre of Cape Town. It was founded in 2006 and officially opened its doors in 2007. Classes are small and lecturers are practising industry professionals, which the academy uses to keep curricula aligned with current workplace needs.
Full-time programmes for 2027 are four one-year Higher Certificates at NQF Level 5, namely Concept Art, Graphic Design, Product Design (UX/UI) and Game and Interactive Media Development, and the three-year Bachelor of Arts in Concept Art at NQF Level 7 (360 credits). Studies start in February, and each programme can be followed on campus or online through live-streamed classes that give the same qualification. Tuition includes the software licence for the course (Adobe Creative Cloud, or Figma for Product Design), and Concept Art students receive a Wacom Intuos tablet at the start of first year.
ADA belongs to the wider Friends of Design group, which also runs a short-course academy, a corporate training department for working professionals and a design studio and agency, Loud Rabbits. Short courses, corporate training and Fast Track programmes sit alongside the full-time offering. The academy partners with creative organisations, exhibitions and companies, and holds Open Days on campus and online via Zoom.
Students from outside Cape Town find private accommodation in areas around the city core such as Observatory, Woodstock and Salt River, with train, MyCiti bus and e-hailing options into the CBD. The campus building does not currently have wheelchair access. ADA accepts international students, who need a South African equivalent of matric accepted by SAQA at NQF Level 4.
ADA is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution (registration number 2010/HE07/014), and its four Higher Certificates and the BA in Concept Art are accredited by the Council on Higher Education.
One full-tuition scholarship is awarded each year per full-time programme. Lecturers review applicants' portfolios and award it to the strongest talent on the programme.
Funded by industry and business partners and covering the full tuition fee. Lecturers shortlist up to ten of the most promising applicants on each programme, and the funding partners choose whom to support.
Complete the online application, tick the bursary or scholarship option, and submit by 30 November 2026 for study in 2027. Funding is limited and selected on talent shown in the portfolio. See Fees and payment options.
Paying a full year's tuition early earns a 10% saving: for 2028 study the offer is open until 31 July 2027. Students needing a loan can apply through Student Hero, a free service that sends one application to several South African lenders. Companies and individuals can fund a student through the Sponsor a Student programme.
Browse the scholarships listed for Friends of Design- Academy of Digital Arts (Pty) Ltd and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for Friends of Design- Academy of Digital Arts (Pty) Ltd →A valid matric (Grade 12) certificate or an NQF Level 4 equivalent accepted by SAQA. Applicants also submit a short personal statement (an essay or video about themselves) and a small creative task, and for Graphic Design and Concept Art a portfolio is compulsory, while for Game and Interactive Media Development and Product Design (UX/UI) it is optional. Applicants without matric may ask to be admitted to the Higher Certificate courses only, without receiving the certificate or its credits, or ask about Recognition of Prior Learning.
A National Senior Certificate with a Bachelor's Pass: at least 30% in the language of learning and teaching, and an achievement rating of 4 (50 to 59%) or better in four NSC subjects excluding Life Orientation. Applicants submit a creative portfolio (a master study of an admired artwork with its reference image, one self-designed character, creature, asset or environment, and at least five further artworks), a motivational letter and, for online study, a virtual learning motivation.
Applicants with a foreign school qualification must have it assessed by SAQA, and ADA can accept them if SAQA rates it equivalent to NQF Level 4. Online study needs a stable internet connection, a computer able to run the course software and ideally a second screen.
A certified copy of the ID and a certified copy of the matric certificate or latest degree (or the latest marks transcript if the certificate is not yet issued). Applications are made online: choose a course, create a profile on the application portal, complete the form and upload documents and portfolio. A short interview is sometimes requested. Applications are open through the year for the following February, with an October submission suggested because places are limited, and late applications are accepted until four weeks into the academic year while seats remain. After acceptance, an invoice for a R4 000 deposit secures the seat and makes the contract binding; an admin fee of R1 000 also applies. Fees can be paid upfront (5% off), in two payments (2% off, second due 3 June) or monthly over 11 debit orders from February to December. Prices start from R7 100 per month for the Higher Certificates and from R6 800 per month for the BA in Concept Art.
Cape Town campus, 2nd Floor, HAK House, 186A Bree Street, Cape Town CBD. All full-time Higher Certificates and the BA in Concept Art are taught here, and each can also be attended online through live-streamed classes.
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