Verified
A group of designers founded the Friends of Design Academy of Digital Arts in 2006, and the academy opened its doors in 2007. The Academy of Digital Arts (ADA) now trains students in graphic design, web design and development, motion graphics, and game and concept art from a campus in the centre of Cape Town.
- Registered name
- Academy of Digital Arts (ADA)
- Type
- Private higher education institution (digital design)
- Fields funded
- Fast Track bursary programmes in advertising and film; design and digital media
- Website
- ada.ac.za
Taught by working professionals
ADA says all of its lecturers work as practising professionals in their fields, bringing real-world knowledge, contacts and insights into class. ADA also points to national and international industry accreditation and to staff and students drawn from around the world, a network that ADA says keeps its techniques and technology current.
The city-centre campus is part of the pitch. ADA presents Cape Town’s cosmopolitan culture as a source of creative inspiration, and the academy holds open days where prospective students can see the campus and student work.
Fast Track bursaries
ADA runs free Fast Track bursary programmes that train young people for jobs in creative industries. The 2026 Fast Track Advertising intake closed on 30 June 2026 and started on 6 July 2026, which shows how quickly the programmes move from application to classes. ADA listed a Fast Track Film intake with dates still to be announced when BursariesAfrica checked.
Because intakes open and start within weeks of each other, applicants need to be ready to commit to full-time training in Cape Town at short notice.
Researching ADA before applying
ADA publishes student work and alumni stories on its website. Looking through them shows the standard of work Fast Track graduates produce and the careers alumni have moved into, which helps applicants decide whether advertising, film or design suits them. ADA’s how-to-enrol and studying-in-Cape-Town pages explain practical matters, such as accommodation, for students moving from other provinces.
Many students still search for Friends of Design, the academy’s earlier name, so check that any advert you find points to ada.ac.za. Ask ADA whether a Fast Track programme leads to a formal qualification or a certificate of completion, because the answer affects how you present the training to future employers.
Creative students can compare ADA’s programmes with other funders on our graphic design bursaries page.
