Overview

The BA in Set Design at NABA explores how spaces, objects, costumes and lighting shape a performance or visual experience. Based at NABA’s Milan campus, the programme brings together creative design and the practical skills needed to plan and produce work for theatre, opera, events, exhibitions, fashion, cinema and television. Students choose one of two specialisations:

Theatre and Opera: Students design sets and costumes for opera, plays, ballet, musicals and concerts, considering how the performance space and the needs of the production influence their choices.
Media and Events: Students develop designs for exhibitions, artistic performances, music videos, fashion shows, advertising, photography and television, taking projects from initial concept towards realisation.

Across both specialisations, students learn to communicate their ideas through drawings, models and professional project documents, while planning schedules and budgets and collaborating with directors, workshops and curators. Graduates may pursue set and costume design for live performance, film and television, or design spaces and installations for events, exhibitions, concerts, fashion productions, advertising and other visual media.

Accreditation

NABA’s Bachelor of Arts qualifications are recognised by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), have full legal status and are equivalent to the corresponding university degrees. The academic credits awarded can support progression to further study at academies and universities in Italy and abroad, subject to each institution’s admission requirements.

Programme Structure

The BA in Set Design at NABA develops skills in designing sets and costumes for performances, events and exhibitions. After the first year, students choose one of two specialisations: Theatre and Opera or Media and Events.

First year: Learn set and costume design for theatre, opera, dance, concerts, exhibitions and fashion shows. Practical and theoretical work covers drawing, digital tools, spatial design, costume history and each stage of developing a set.
Second year: Deepen the specialisation through set design, directing, costume design, photography, cinema history and digital applications. Projects involve designing for performances or creating event concepts for real spaces.
Third year: Respond to briefs for live performances and events while developing an independent approach. Study lighting design, performing arts history, theatre production techniques and cultural anthropology, then complete a thesis combining theory and practice.

Audience

This course is aimed at students who want to create sets, costumes or environments for performances and events. It suits those interested in turning visual ideas into physical spaces through design, planning and collaboration.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-02-01 00:00:00

Application deadline not specified.

More details

Pre-enrolment: between March, November and February. Usually it takes 90 days to get the study visa, we suggest to start the procedure soon.

Language

English, Italian

TOEFL^® IBT

OR

45

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PTE Academic

36

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IELTS

5

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Credits

180 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Milano, Italy

Disciplines

Design Music Performance Fine Arts View 3 other Bachelors in Fine Arts in Italy

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

OR

45

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

36

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

International applicants to a NABA Bachelor of Arts programme must meet these requirements and pass the admission test:

Academic qualification: Applicants must hold a secondary or high school diploma awarded after at least 12 years of schooling. The diploma must be legalised by the Italian embassy in the country whose education system issued it, translated and notarised by the Italian embassy or consulate in the country of issue, regardless of the school’s location. The diplomatic authority will also issue a Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di valore in loco).
English-language proficiency: For a BA taught in English, applicants must submit one of the English-language certificates accepted by NABA. It must be submitted within the month before the programme begins and must be no more than two years old. Native speakers and graduates of English-taught high schools may be exempt, subject to verification by the NABA Admission Office.

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Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at NABA, New Academy of Fine Arts and/or in Italy, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

22750 EUR / year

≈ 22750 EUR / year
EU/EEA Applies to you

Applies to you

EU/EEA Nationals

8500 EUR / year

≈ 8500 EUR / year

Additional Details

EU/EFTA students with 3+ yrs residency may get reduced fees based on income.

Living costs

Milano

Italy

850 - 1450 EUR / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Set Design.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Accreditation

Programme Structure

Audience

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

EU/EEA Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

Milano

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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