2025 - 2026 Academic Year
Fall Trimester 2025
Early Bird Registration: 23 to 27 June
General Registration: 30 June to 16 September
Trimester Dates: 22 September to 7 December

Winter Trimester 2026
Early Bird Registration Starts: 6 to 10 October
General Registration Starts: 13 October to 30 December
Trimester Dates: 5 January to 22 March

Spring Trimester 2026
Early Bird Registration Starts: 6 to 10 January
General Registration Starts: 13 January to 1 April
Trimester Dates: 7 April to 21 June*
* The trimester begins on a Tuesday, as the studio is closed on 6 April (Easter Monday.) A make-up session for classes which are normally held on Mondays is scheduled on Friday 11 April.

Registration:
Course applications are accepted three months before the start of each trimester.

"Early Bird Registration" opens 1 week earlier for current DARA students and applicants who were wait listed for the previous term.

To apply, click on a course page below and submit an online application form. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. It is therefore advised to apply early before classes are filled. Once a class is full, new applications are placed on a waiting list.

Once a trimester has started, it is not possible to join a class in the middle of the term.

Overview

Studio Policies >

Frequently Asked Questions >

Trimester Programme Overview

The Trimester Programme is intended for figurative artists who are drawing and painting in traditional media, and are seeking serious academic study on a long-term basis.

Classes at DARA are technical, skill-based, and are structured around learning drawing and painting from direct observation. We welcome dedicated students of all levels of ability to enrol.

Courses are offered on a trimester basis in the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Each trimester lasts for a period of 11 weeks. Students may enrol in one or more courses for a full trimester at a time. Applications for each trimester open three months ahead of the trimester start date.

New students are strongly encouraged to start with Introduction to Classical Drawing. (In particular, students who have no previous classical or academic training should start with this course.)

All trimester courses at DARA are successive. The curricula is intended for students to enroll in the same course for multiple trimesters in order to advance on to progressively more advanced and challenging studies.

How to Apply: Please review our Studio Policies first. Applications are accepted three months before the start of each trimester. "Early Bird Registration" opens 1 week earlier for current DARA students and applicants who were wait listed for the previous term.

When applications are open, click on a course page below and select "apply" to submit an online application form. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. It is therefore advised to apply early before classes are filled. Once a class is full, new applications are placed on a waiting list.

2025-2026 Calendar