applying to NCA– a detailed guide

the process of applying to your favorite university can be very overwhelming for all the right reasons. it's a confusing, equally scary and not so comprehensively elaborated process, and every student, at one point, has wished there was someone who would just explain it to us in a simpler way.

that's exactly why i'm here today- to explain it step by step in a simple language that we can all understand. 

it all starts with NCA's website ( link to their website: https://www.nca.edu.pk/ ) if you're looking forward to their bachelor/ undergraduate program, you'll have to keep a lookout for the admission dates. they share all of these important information and updates through their website ( link to admission dates: https://www.nca.edu.pk/admission-information )

APPLYING FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM ON  OPEN MERIT 

once admission for undergraduate program opens, they will provide a deadline. you'll have to download and print an application form and a fee challan from their website. along with that, you will need a few ORIGINAL documents (and 2 attested photocopies of them ALL)

• Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or its Equivalent Certificate:

this is basically your matric result (you will need a minimum of 45% marks) and if you're an O LEVEL student, you MUST bring an O Level equivalence certificate. Equivalence certificate is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, as they do not accept your O level & A Level result. it takes about 3 weeks, at least, to get your equivalence certificate made, so it is absolutely essential that you get your equivalence certificate for both O/A Level result made before the admission date arrives.

• Higher Secondary/Intermediate or its Equivalent Certificate:

this is your intermediate, FSC or A Level equivalence. Most students don't receive their A level result before September/ October, so it's okay if you don't have an A Level equivalence at this point. HOWEVER, please get your A Level equivalence made as soon as you receive your A Level result certificate, because if you pass the drawing test and interview, your admission can still get CANCELLED if you don't have your O/A level equivalence at that time.

• Documents in support of additional qualifications (If any):

this isn't very important. keep reading.

• Domicile Certificate:

hold back now this is where the violence begins. you'll have to visit the nearest court/ kachahri in order to get your domicile certificate made. they will need at least 4 passport size photos of you, your birth certificate, your CNIC/ smart card and your parent's CNIC. this process, again, takes about 3 to 4 weeks, so please start working on it as soon as possible.

• Pages 1 to 5 passport (International Students only):

you read it, only international students

• National identity card
• Five attested passport size recent photographs.
• Bank draft as applicable:

this is basically the fee challan you'll download from NCA's website and then pay on the day you visit their campus. keep on reading to understand what this is, i'll elaborate it in a while.

• Affidavit of father/guardian income:

this is something you'll get from the same court kachahri you go for the domicile. 

EXRTREMELY IMPORTANT: make sure you write a BIG AMOUMT OF MONEY on your parent's affidavit/ income certificate. the court agent will ask you to write a small amount of money but DON'T listen to them.

once you've gathered ALL of these documents along with their attested photocopies, you'll have to visit NCA before the deadline. there, you will first have to visit HBL and pay your fee challan. the HBL in question here is located inside Punjab University Old campus, and it's on the other side of the same road as NCA. after you've payed the admission fee for your respective department, you'll come back to NCA. there, you will have to wait in a very longgg line as NCA still lives in the 1875s and their systems are pretty ancient. once you make it to the reception, you'll submit your documents, application form and bank draft (given to you by the bank after you pay the fee). if your documents are complete at this point, (rarely ever happens LOL) then they'll give you your roll number slip. if you apply for more than one department, then you'll receive more than one roll number slip. keep them SAFE as your roll number slip is needed during the drawing/ aptitude test. if you lose your slip, you lose your seat.

APPLYING FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM ON SELF FINANCE/ SELF SUPPORT SCHEME 

it's almost the same as open merit, only you'll have to submit a pay order addressed to "principal NCA." the amount changes every year, but it's around Rs. 579,000/- for Fine Arts, Design and Musicology, and Rs. 730,000/- for Architecture and Film & Television. yes, you can apply for both open merit and self support. no, they won't take you in on open merit if you apply on self finance as well because why on earth would they want to give your money back? does it increase your chances of admission? yes, yes it does.

PREPARING FOR DRAWING (AND) APPTITUDE TEST

studio classes help. a number of good studios include:

• Saeed Akhtar studio
• Studio RM
• Studio Tanzeel
• Haider Ali Studio

however, please understand that a lot of students pass the drawing test without going to any studio or academy. keep practicing still life art and improve your line quality and you're as good as any studio student. as for the aptitude test, all you can do is go through the past papers. baaki Allah ki amaan mai.

INTERVIEW

passing the interview is the TOUGHEST step. a lot of students who make it through the drawing test fail the interview. that's mainly because most of us aren't so sure about what we're doing, and if it isn't that, then it's acting overconfident or too scared that leads to disqualification. also, the seats are SUPER LIMITED. so yes, most of us will not make it. all you can do is, do your research. read up about your department, favorite artists and enter that interview room with the right amount of confidence. no, they didn't ask for a portfolio during our interview. 

AFTER YOU'VE PASSED THE INTERVIEW

honestly congratulations if you've made it this far. now is the time you'll need both your O/A Level equivalence certificates. without them, they will kick you out. you'll have to visit the campus along with your:

• registration and semester fee
• your admission letter (they TCS it to your house)
• matric, inter, F.A/ FSC result (OR) O/A Level result and equivalence certificates
• domicile certificate
• CNIC (your parent's and yours)
• 4 attested passport size photos
• affidavit of your parent's income
• your roll number slip(s)
• a medical report by a proper MBBS doctor, stating that you're not physically or mentally defected from any side
• birth certificate

along with these original documents, you must bring 2 attested photocopies of them all as well. take all of this to NCA's reception, they'll produce a fee challan and direct you to the same HBL located inside or beside Punjab university and you'll go pay your registration/ first semester fee. then, you'll come back to NCA and submit the bank draft given to you by the bank and they'll provide you with a form you'll have to fill out on the spot. once you're done with that, they'll give you a form that must be signed by a parent. after you get it signed, you'll get your section + roll number, along with the date sheet and information about your first class.

congratulations, now you're an NCA student.