NABA - Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti

NABA - Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti is the largest private Academy of Fine Arts in Italy, founded in 1980 in Milan by a group of artists and designers who sought to challenge the rigidity of the traditional academic world. Since 1981, the Academy has been legally recognised within the Italian AFAM (Alta Formazione Artistica e Musicale) system, a section of the Italian university system governed by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR). Degrees awarded at the end of AFAM programmes — First Level (Bachelor of Arts), Second Level (Master of Arts), and First Level Academic Master — are recognised by MUR as equivalent to university degrees.

NABA's educational philosophy is based on interdisciplinarity, research, and direct engagement with the professional world. The 'learning by doing' and 'teaching by learning' methodology places practical, project-based work at the core of academic life. Students collaborate with companies, respond to industry briefs, and develop their work in real-world contexts.

The Academy offers Bachelor of Arts (3-year), Master of Arts (2-year), and Academic Master (1-year) programmes across the following areas: Visual Arts, Communication and Graphic Design, Design, Set Design, Fashion Design, Media Design and New Technologies. Programmes are taught in Italian and/or English. From the 2026/27 academic year, NABA expanded its international presence with a campus in London, complementing its established campuses in Milan and Rome.

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, NABA ranked 41st globally and 1st in Italy in the Art & Design category — its sixth consecutive year in the ranking. According to a 2025/26 Ipsos Doxa survey, 92% of NABA graduates are employed within one year of graduation. The Academy holds UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification and UNI EN ISO 14001 environmental certification.