Institution Profile

‘Dasein’(‘da : za-in ), a connotation derived from German philosophy, has timelessly inspired creative thinkers to discover and redefine one’s true being and existence.

With that ideal in mind, Dasein Academy of Art is established in 1996 by a team of avid educators and professionals from the creative industry. Aspired to revive the role of creative education from stereotyped qualifications back to the cultivation of individual distinction, an aspired team dedicated to personal enrichment was formed.

The college firmly believes that every individual is unique, and every art created is different in ideology, style, expression, medium and more. The lecturers do confine students into one norm - we do not mass-produce art students like a factory at Dasein Academy. Driven by this ingenuity, Dasein Academy believes that creative education is more than just merely a skill or job-market-oriented curriculum. After all, it is through the path of creative thinking and aesthetic learning that one discovers the beauty of one’s existence; and that, is a fulfilment of a lifetime.

Dasein Academy of Art is a boutique art college run by artists for future artists. We deliver specifically tailored courses to small groups of dedicated students. We focus on unearthing each student's creative best and personal development in preparing them for a multifaceted career.

Programme Outline

Dasein Academy of Art is a private college in Malaysia, specializing in art and design programs. We offer programs in (3D) Animation, Illustration, Graphic Design, Digital Media (Multimedia), and Fine Art.

The college's diploma programs are accredited with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and recognized by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Dasein Academy of Art is proud to be voted as one of the institutions with high employability ratings according to the 2021 National Employability Index (formerly known as Talentbank Best Universities) - 100% voted by leading graduate employers.

Academic Resources and Facilities

The college takes pride in creative transformation via Edu-Mentoring® - essentially a people-centered approach when it comes to guiding and mentoring students on individual development and growth. Edu-Mentoring® is made up of three components. Edu-Clinic - where lecturers and students have one-to-one sessions to promote understanding and individual progress. Industry professionals are often invited to mentor and inspire our students via the Edu-Lab. Students are also exposed to social activities aimed at helping the underprivileged via Edu-Social programs.

Student (local and International) Support Services

The college offers hostel and student accommodation arrangement at condominiums within 2-3 minutes walking distance to the campus and the nearest LRT station which is Abdullah Hukum LRT Station. The college’s Student Affairs Department offers counselling support to students, an array of clubs and societies (both course-based and non-course-based) and Student Council which hosts many exciting events and outings every year.

Student Development Activities for Employability

The college is a partner with NALA Employment which provides job placement assistance and service to our graduates who wish to work in Singapore and locally in Malaysia. The college is affiliated with many art galleries, creative agencies, and studios in Malaysia – industry professionals are invited to provide workshops and trainings to students from time to time as part of the top-up learning and to stay updated with the market trends and demands. The college also partners with industry players to provide trainee and incubator programs for fresh graduates in helping them to transit better into career of choice.

Recognition and Accreditation

Each year, our students participate in a variety of competitions both nationally and internationally. Some of the recent accolades include Taiwan International Student Design Competition 2019 (Jury Special Prize) by New York’s The One Show ADC Award, USA 3x3 Magazine of Contemporary Illustration Student Award Shows 2019, Audience Favorite’s Prize at Florida Animation Festival 2019 and special feature at California’s Palm Spring International Animation Festival 2019, multiple wins in various categories in Kancil Awards 2019, Amsterdam Indigo Design Awards 2018,  UOB Painting of the Year (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), Grand Mapping Projection (Champion) at Putrajaya Light & Motion Festival 2019, Japan’s Asia Student Package Design Competition 2017, Asia Forbes 30 under 30, 4A’s Student Awards, Cannes Lions to name just a few. Learning during the pandemic did not stop students from winning international design awards in the US, Peru, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Slovakia and more.

Students are honoured and endorsed for their distinguished talents and abilities, reflecting the betterment and upward mobility of the college’s teaching philosophy. 

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The tertiary education of art and design is ever costly as compared to other courses due to the increase in academic standards and additional amenities, equipment and art materials. However, the reward of a creative career is usually more satisfying as it will eventually become a life-long professional exploration and personal achievement. The college offers full scholarships and partial tuition fee subsidy in the form of study grant to talented and well-qualified students to support their studies.

Courses Offered

Click on a programme name for full details.

Contact Details

Latest Achievement News

• Dasein Alumni Contribute to Golden Horse Award Winning Film: The Garden of Evening Mists

  September 8, 2021

  Students graduated from Dasein Academy of Art’s Diploma in Animation program have gone on to work on many popular and visually stunning films, games, animated series, including 47 Meters Down Uncaged, Once Upon A Time, Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV...

• Dasein Digital Media Team Awed Crowd at Putrajaya Light & Motion Festival

  September 6, 2021

  If you’re looking to complete your studies abroad, HELP University’s programmes may be your best route. HELP University offers various programmes that enables students to transfer their credits to numerous universities around the world specifical...

• Dasein Illustration Students put on Final Year Exhibition, “MonARTpoly”

  September 2, 2021

  Inspired from the famous Monopoly board game, “MonARTpoly” is the final year exhibition put together by Dasein Academy of Art’s batch 172 illustration program students. The students underwent 2 years and 8 months of learning and training at the...

• Mother’s Day Celebration by OSIM Malaysia & Dasein Academy

  August 30, 2021

  Kuala Lumpur, May 2019 – The students from Dasein Academy of Art were invited by OSIM Malaysia, Asia’s leading healthy lifestyle products retailer to provide sketching and caricature for their shoppers in conjunction with their Mother’s Day cel...

Location Map

Key Personnel

Henz Gooi Hean Chye President , Dasein Academy of Art An impressive art career does not go BOOM! and happen overnight, aside from having talent, passion, skills, and ideas – a good artist needs to have good attitude and good character. There are plenty of opportunities in art and design, leading to various career pathways. You may want to be part of the entertainment art industry that produces animated series, Netflix films or the popular mobile game everyone in town is playing. Or you may want to join the advertising industry and build brand awareness or visibility with cool product packaging, attractive posters, and billboards. Companies and brands need good, creative ideas all the time, it is a big and competitive market out there. You can pursue a solid career as a professional artist if you have talent, skill sets and dedication. At Dasein Academy, we very much focus on artist’s character building – not just their academic performance or skills development. We firmly believe that every individual is unique, and every art created is different in ideology, style, expression, medium and more. We will not confine students into one norm - we do not mass-produce art students like a factory at the college.

Dasein Academy of Art Videos