
The One Academy of Communication Design (TOA)
- Profile
- Courses
- Contact
- Scholarships
- Achievements
-
Map
- Key Personnel
- Testimonials
- Videos
Institution Profile
About Us
In 1991, The One Academy of Communication Design was established as a private art college and soon proved its worth producing industry-standard graduates. Then, in 2003, the academy was awarded the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status by the Malaysian government, an acknowledgement for IT-related organisations for facilitating and complying with Malaysia’s k-economy.
The One Academy has been in the education industry for almost three decades. Since its humble beginning as a double-storey establishment in Bandar Sunway, we have come a long way, having recently moved our headquarters into a 25-storey campus building with upgraded facilities and amenities. With the demand for creative education steadily increasing, we expanded with the opening of The One Academy Penang. Today, as a world-class, award-winning creative education institution, The One Academy is reputed in transforming its students into renowned industry players and leaders through any of its internationally-recognised courses offered at Bachelor's Degree and Diploma levels.
Programme Outline
As an MQA-accredited college with MSC-status that aims to nurture quality homegrown talents, The One Academy offers top notch diploma and degree courses in the fields of Computer Science, Game Design, Digital Animation with Game Development, Film Visual Effects, Digital Media Design, Illustration, Movie & Game Art, Advertising & Graphic Design, Interior Architecture and Design, Paris Fashion Design & Pattern Making and Fine Arts as well as 3+0 UK bachelor’s degree programmes in partnership with one of the top-ranked universities in the UK, the University of Hertfordshire where young aspiring youths will be able to pursue an excellent UK design education locally and acquire uncompromised creative education. We have collaborated with DigiPen USA, a pioneer in the international game tech industry and world leaders in computer science, video game technology and creative education to provide international standard diploma and degree courses in the fields of computer science and game design. In addition, The One Academy has also formed official affiliations with reputable design universities and colleges in UK, Australia, New Zealand, US and more, providing wider selections for our graduates to further their studies.
Academic Resources & Facilities
As a leading creative education institute, our academic strengths lie in ensuring optimum creative education is given to our students. This is done through the practice of our teaching philosophy ‘Masters Train Masters’, where we believe each educator must possess relevant industry knowledge to produce excellent graduates. Besides that, we also ensure students are constantly exposed to real-life industry practices through various masterclasses and sharing sessions that are held throughout the school year. This allows our students to get both theoretical and practical knowledge of the creative field. Our academic staff consists of top industry experts who have made a name for themselves in the creative scene both local and abroad. Most of them are successfully running their own creative organizations and have worked with top-notch renowned companies such as Pixar, Ubisoft, TBWA, Grey Worldwide and more. On campus, students have access to facilities and amenities that mirror industry standards to provide the best, most conducive learning environment for them. These include an auditorium, an art gallery, cafeteria, library, photography and videography lab, several computer labs and more.
Student Support Services
There are many services offered to the students here to ensure their time with us is a truly remarkable one. We provide student hostels to live in nearby the institution as well as shuttle buses to make travelling to and fro the institute easy. Besides that, we also provide student counselling services and host a number of social clubs. The One Club comprises of various sporting and social activities that are made available for the students to partake in. We have a Photography Club, Badminton Club, Taekwondo Club, Basketball Club, Dance Club, Karate Club, Table Tennis Club and more.
Student Development Activities for Employability
At The One Academy, we take pride in ensuring our students are ready to take on the industry the moment they graduate from the institution. A big part in making this happen is opening the right doors for them while they are learning with us. We hold various exhibitions during which external companies and public are invited to come and view students’ work; this not only gives them the chance to exhibit their talent and skills, but also allows them to connect with potential employers. Besides that, we regularly hold sharing sessions and Masterclasses during which students get the opportunity to refine their skills and understand what is expected of them upon entering the industry. By doing so, we are allowing them to not only better themselves but also open opportunities to be hired by their dream employer.
The Student Experience
To further inspire students, The One Academy features exhibitions, establishes many real-life working experiences and conducts master lecture series by top-notch industry experts. Examples of these are: for digital animation and digital media students, they were involved in various local and international competitions which allow them to showcase their skills as well as partake in events such as Ubisoft’s Art in Video Games Exhibition. For advertising students, they worked on projects with established brands and gain exposure on latest trends in the industry and also gain insights from advertising gurus hailing from TBWA, Grey Worldwide, Ogilvy & Mather and Leo Burnett through master lectures. For Fine Arts, students worked on some painting projects while for fashion, fashion design students collaborated with Disney Pixar for various events and attended sharing session by renowned fashion design experts. For Digital Media students, they organized Malaysia’s first ever Arduino World event, interactive light exhibition iNYALA and collaborated with the British Council. In addition, two groups of students were invited to Shanghai to present their work to the public at the Shanghai Maker Carnival which is truly an amazing feat. Through master lectures conducted by renowned artists such as former Pixar Animation Director Andrew Gordon, The Hobbit: 1, 2 & 3 Hollywood concept artist Eduardo Pena and Executive Producer of Tau Films (former founder of R&H) John Hughes to name a few, digital animation students understand the industry better. The One Academy is a recruitment ground for many multinational corporations like Ubisoft and Tau Films.
Recognition and Accreditation
International / regional awards and recognitions garnered by The One Academy students showcase their outstanding creativity, ensuring a repeated success in the global arena. Among the top accolades gained globally include D&AD Gold and Silver Awards, Asiagraph Award, Summit International Awards USA, Italy-International Art & Design Competition, APICTA Awards, Creativity International Awards, Masterpieces Futures Masters Award, Japan Media Arts Festival, TBS DigiCon6 Awards Japan and Crowbar Awards (by 4As Singapore). We were named World’s No.1 Best Concept Art & Illustration School in 2019, World’s No.2 Best Production Excellence (Game Development) School & World’s No.5 Best Motion Graphics School in 2021 by The Rookies. The One Academy was?also ranked 8th by Animation Career Review (ACR) in the?‘Top 25 International Animation Training Programs – 2021 School Rankings’ and named Creative School of the Year in the Kancil Awards, Malaysia’s top advertising awards.
Scholarship and Financial Aid
We offer a scholarship known as the Malaysia Top 10 Outstanding Young Artists Awards during which a number of scholarships is given out to deserving young talents each year. To date, RM 17.4 million worth of scholarships has been given out since the inception of this award. Interested applicants can keep an eye out on our MT10 website for more details on the MT10.
Why study in our institution?
Grab the opportunity to learn at one of the leading communication design institutes and take the first step to accomplishing you dream career in the creative industry. Our faculty is made up of top-notch industry experts that impart not only useful knowledge but also insider insight on how to succeed in the thriving creative field. Choose from the variety of creative courses offered and be assured that you are receiving world-class education here at The One Academy.
Ranking
Ranking: SETARA/D-SETARA/ MyQUEST/QS/THE/Others |
Type & Ranking Details: |
Year: |
MyQuest 5 Star (International Student Services Category) |
2014/2015 |
|
MyQuest 5 Stars (College Based Category) |
2016/2017 |
|
MyQuest 4 Stars (Cluster Based Category for Art and Humanities) |
2016/2017 |
Courses Offered
Click on a programme name for full details.
Diploma Level
1. |
Diploma in Advertising & Graphic DesignLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 Yrs |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
||
2. |
Diploma in Computer ScienceLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 Years |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
||
3. |
Diploma in Digital AnimationLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 years |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
||
4. |
Diploma in Digital Media DesignLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 Yrs |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
||
5. |
Diploma in Fashion Design & Pattern MakingLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 Yrs |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
||
6. |
Diploma in Film Visual EffectsLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 Years |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
||
7. |
Diploma in Fine ArtsLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 Years |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
||
8. |
Diploma in Game DesignLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 Years |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
||
9. |
Diploma in IllustrationLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 Years |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
||
10. |
Diploma in Interior DesignLevel: Diploma LevelFees (Local): Refer to College Duration: 3 Years |
Add to Educart |
Ask About This Course |
Bachelor's Degree Level
Contact Details
The One Academy of Communication Design (TOA)
Address: Block B4, Leisure Commerce Square, No. 9, Jalan PJS 8/9, 46150 Petaling Jaya Selangor |
Type: Private College Tel: 603 7875 5510Fax: (+603) 7875 5508 Website: http://www.toa.edu.my/ |
Other Campuses
The One Academy Penang |
|
Address: |
Type: Private College Tel: 604-210 3000Fax: 604-210 3003 Website: http://www.toa.edu.my/penang |
Active Scholarships
-
Scholarship / Fund / Loan
Deadline
TOA Education Loan
Deadline: OngoingWe believe that everyone should have a chance to receive a professional education. That’s the reason we provide administrative aid for financial assistance with tuition fees. We help our students liaise with governmental organizations such as the N...Ongoing
Latest Achievement News
- The Rookie Awards is the world’s largest and most prestigious competition for aspiring creatives in games, animation, visual effects, immersive media, motion graphics and 3D visualisation. It is regarded as the most respected rankings for education...
Graphic Designer Turned Leathercraft Entrepreneur’s Journey to Success
November 17, 2020
From having not much of a dream to finding a purpose in life, Zi Xian’s story is set to inspire and encourage those who are uncertain about pursuing their dreams. The 25-year-old Kuala Lumpur-born lad who has been living in Petaling Jaya for more t...
Location Map
Key Personnel
![]() Tatsun Hoi Tack SengFounder & Principal , The One Academy of Communication Design (TOA) Tatsun Hoi is a creative strategist and entrepreneur who is also the Founder and Principal of The One Academy, one of the world’s best creative art & design institutes. Besides that, he is also the Founder and Managing Director of The One Group, comprising The One Academy, One Creative Development Centre, Tatsun Studio and Tatsun Integrated. For over 28 years in the creative industry to date, Tatsun has been a well-acclaimed educator, renowned for his consistency in heightening creative education in Malaysia. During the decade prior to founding The One Academy in 1991, he felt that there is a lack of talent as well as substandard level of training in the communication design industry. He wanted to prove wrong the misguided belief that ‘creativity cannot be taught’. In recognition of this outstanding contribution in the creative industry, Tatsun was awarded the Outstanding Young Malaysian Award and Asia Young Chinese Entrepreneur Award. He had also served as Beijing's Olympic Games Creative Multimedia Consultant and President of the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Malaysia (PUMM). His renowned leading example has led The One Academy to be awarded The BrandLaureate Awards 2008, 2009 & 2010 - Best Brand in Education Creative Communication Art & Design. Throughout his career, Tatsun has not been just a role model who has demonstrated exemplary leadership but is also actively involved in community projects. One of his most recognisable efforts is the Malaysian Unity Campaign which he initiated back in 1997 when the country was rocked by internal and external threats during the economic crisis. He created a campaign to remind all Malaysians to stay united in order to overcome all impending threats. The animation was aired over NTV7 and RTM for 6 months. At the age of 29, Tatsun became the youngest principal among all colleges in Malaysian education industry when he founded The One Academy together with prominent creative consultant, the late Veronica Ho. It’s his mission to make Malaysia the creative and educational centre of excellence since the college’s establishment, having successfully imparted his knowledge and expertise to over tens of thousands of students through practical, result-driven professional syllabus. He is also committed to promoting locally nurtured art & design talents, grooming them to reach international levels in the creative fields of advertising & graphic design, digital media design, visual effects, fashion design, interior architecture & design, digital animation, fine arts and illustration worldwide. He imparts his wisdom to prepare students to know all about strategic practical applications of creativity in the global market. To date, the graduates are now among the best creative leaders working for the best names such as Pixar Animation Studios, Ubisoft, Lucasfilm, Tau Films, Leo Burnett, TBWA, Ogilvy & Mather, Grey Worldwide and many more. The art and design industry has greatly benefited from the teaching philosophy he initiated – ‘Masters Train Masters’. As part of his commitment to produce industry-ready talents, various top-notch professional masters were engaged by The One Academy to give lectures to the students. Among those who shared their insightful knowledge and experience were Oscar-winning production designer of Star Wars, animation director, story artist, character designer and animator from Pixar Animation Studios, animation master of The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, world’s top game developer Ubisoft, and leading creative marketing gurus from renowned advertising agencies. One way in which he advocates the opportunity for creative young talents to pursue creative education is through the Malaysia Top 10 Outstanding Young Artists Awards. Currently in its 22nd year, this art competition brings out the best and most talented young artists and nurtures them to help lead them to success. To date, it has given out more than RM16.8 million worth of scholarships to deserving talented individuals all over Malaysia. From being a creative whiz in communication art, a successful entrepreneur as well as a leading business strategist, his passion in sharing expertise and experience has made a strong presence in both the entrepreneurial and the educational arenas. His self-made success story has inspired many and is keenly featured in various media. Today, The One Academy’s achievements under Tatsun’s leadership have garnered international recognition. The institute has fostered educational partnership with prestigious universities and institutions in the US, UK, New Zealand and Australia to provide opportunities for students to continue their learning journey abroad. |
Student Testimonials
![]() Abdullah Boges, Saudi ArabiaDigital Animation
I found out about The One Academy through the Internet. During the search, I found a website which rated The One Academy very highly compared to other design art schools in the country. After getting catalogs from the college, I was simply amazed by the students’ artwork. |
|
||
![]() Benjamin Encarnacion, PhilippinesMultimedia Design I feel that learning doesn’t end after graduation but involves continuous evolution and adaptation. The One Academy provides us with a solid foundation that enables us to shape the very essence of what multimedia is when we become creators of content ourselves. |
|
||
![]() Billy Wen Hao, Shanghai, ChinaDiploma in Multimedia Design Strong teamwork for a common purpose is essential for success. |
|
||
![]() Christopher Gunawan, Jakarta, IndonesiaMultimedia Design - 3 years
I joined The One Academy because it is known to be the best around. Working together with cross-cultural Asian friends here is a new learning experience for me. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others. I wouldn’t mind to becoming a lecturer here one day! |
|
||
![]() Delphine Saira GomezDesign Major in Advertising & Graphic Design (Alumni Student) I have worked on projects for the government, private corporations and merchandising firms. Each client has his or her own needs and it's important to listen to them to ensure customer satisfaction. It is also important that designers have their own ideas and style. There is an unfortunate tendency to stick to the tried and true instead of coming up with original ideas. This needs to change. You must believe that you can come up with something better, something new. I am very grateful to the lecturers in The One Academy for the excellent guidance which has led me to success. |
|
||
Dewi, IndonesiaMultimedia Design, 3rd Year I am happy to be able to prepare myself for the world through solid and practical guidance from the very best in the industry. Creativity is more than a catchphrase here, but an amazingly functional advantage that will mould a highly-demanded professional. |
|
||
Donna Harapan, IndonesiaMultimedia Design, 2nd year The programmes here are interesting and mainly hands-on, which makes them fun and enjoyable. The lecturers here really work you hard, therefore I learnt a lot in a relatively short period. The advantage of being in Bandar Sunway is that it is not only convenient; it also means we are practically living in a creative resource centre, where the vibrant city provides us our research and a source of inspiration. |
|
||
![]() Doreen shuk Bekenova, IndonesiaAdvertising and Graphic Design Malaysia is quite an interesting place because we can meet many people from different countries, races and backgrounds. I would recommend my friends to study here at The One Academy because it’s a wonderful experience to exchange cultures and thoughts with people here as you become exposed to many different languages. |
|
||
![]() Eric WongDesign Major in Illustration I set very high expectations for myself. If I'm not satisfied with the work I produce, I'll spend extra time improving or re-doing it. The result is something I can be proud of and that is what matters. Of course, a good learning attitude is important. Whatever you do, give it your best. Your future is what you put in now. It's in your hands and it's up to you to achieve what you want; others cannot do it for you. I chose The One Academy because it produces the best students. |
|
||
![]() Filisa Christie Andani, IndonesiaDiploma in Digital Media Design, Year 2 Course Duration: 3 years Malaysia is a friendly country and great place to study, as the living cost here is similar to where I’m from. The One Academy is a recommended school in terms of art course and has great teaching modules. The lecturers are very open and resourceful because they give personal consultations, do progress checks and often provide external materials for reference. Although I am the only foreigner in class, I feel welcomed and comfortable here. |
|
||
![]() Isabel Kang Zhu Jiao, ChinaAdvertising & Graphic Design, 2nd Year
The One Academy has a stimulating and pleasantly designed environment that no one institute in this region can provide. This makes it very conducive for my creative growth. It is also easy to mix with the cosmopolitan student population here, and everyone here has positive attitude in learning and sharing. |
|
||
![]() Jennifer Lin, IndonesiaDiploma in Interior Design, Year 2 Course Duration: 3 Years College is an experience of a lifetime they say. The lecturers and friends in Interior Design were the best and most lovely. Although the assignments given are quite a lot and often challenging, these have taught me a lot of things and trained my skills. At first, I do not even have any digital or drawing skills at all, but now I have learned a lot of new things and I will keep learning. |
|
||
![]() John Akpan Eyo, NigeriaInterior Design The One Academy is a nice place to study. They provide quality education, include most needed facilities and employ good lecturers and provide a good learning environment. Malaysia is a nice place to study with beautiful tourist attractions. I want to encourage more Nigerians to study with The One Academy as the academy has what it takes to mold students into self-employed leaders after and even before graduation. |
|
||
![]() Lee Leong Ping, MalaysiaBA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design, Year 1 Course Duration: 3 Years The One Academy provides a very conducive environment for me to study in, such as computer labs, library, drafting room and more. Also, my lecturers are kind and are always willing to help when I have any issues. I am glad to study at TOA and I hope my skills can advance to higher levels in the future. |
|
||
![]() Mohamed Sathom, Republic of MaldivesIllustration & Comics The One Academy doesn’t just teach you about techniques, but also passion for art, how to grow in the field and ways to develop your own art sense. That’s one of the major reasons I enjoy studying here. I have met new people of different races and cultural backgrounds here and I enjoy learning, being inspired and working with them too. |
|
||
![]() Ng Pui YanDesign Major in Advertising & Graphic Design The One Academy opened a whole new world of discovery and technique by including in-depth training on topics such as history and culture. We studied and compared Western and Eastern art, explored our roots and got a clearer picture of how advertising has evolved internationally and locally. It gave us so much more to think about. The syllabus was designed to help make us all-rounders who would be masters of technical skills, problem solving, researching, articulate presentation and dedicated team playing. |
|
||
![]() Oky Indrajaya, IndonesiaAdvertising & Graphic Design Studying in another country is an invaluable experience for me. I was working as a designer in China when I realised that I was wanting in many aspects and there were so many things that I needed to master. It was then that I was presented with the chance to study in Malaysia. Today, I am in the final term of my Advertising and Graphic Design major, but my ability and creativity have improved by leaps and bounds. The One Academy also gives its students many hands-on learning opportunities. Being appointed as an Art Director in the Graduation Campaign project, I am even more prepared than ever to take on the challenges of the region’s creative industry. There’s no doubt in my mind - if you want to be a professional designer, The One Academy is definitely the place to be. |
|
||
![]() Oliver Halbauer, GermanyBachelor in Management In the short span of time that I am with The One Academy, I noticed that the lecturers here are professional and very talented. The lecturers are also always on hand to give personal advice whenever students face any problems. They have become friends and mentors to us as well. We know that whenever we encounter any problems we can turn to them, especially when we are so new in this country. |
|
||
![]() Rezaliando, IndonesiaDiploma in Multimedia Design Multimedia design is beyond having fun. It’s having the power to push for new boundaries. |
|
||
![]() Soo Zhi Jing, MalaysiaBA (Hons) Digital Media Design, Final Year Course Duration: 4 years Studying at The One Academy has been eye-opening and mentally stimulating. The education here taught me the challenging art of always taking ideas a little further and pushing one’s abilities. I learnt to grasp the sense of professionalism and teamwork required of a designer through project-based assignments. I have a good learning experience with lecturers who are very responsive and helpful. There was a ton of assignments, but looking back, it was worthwhile. |
|
||
![]() Teo Ee Sean, MalaysiaDiploma in Interior Design, Year 3 Course Duration: 3 Year I would like to thank The One Academy for providing me with a platform and opportunity to learn. These past years, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge and skills at The One Academy. Dr Eric and the team of lecturers not only equip us with crucial skills and knowledge but most importantly provide us with support, guidance and keep inspiring us to never stop learning. |
|
||
![]() Vanessa Wuditia, IndonesiaDiploma in Interior Design, Year 2 Course Duration: 3 Years Learning at The One Academy is always creative and inspiring. Joining this community has creatively changed me. Trough observation practices that have been applied, I’ve started to appreciate more things in life, not just the big ones, but also the little ones. Every design and technical courses have trained me to properly express and deliver my ideas. I'm grateful to be able to go through my design journey with this community. |
|
||
![]() Watanabe Noriko, KobeJapan, Advertising Design - 3 years I have compared the major institutions for creative education in Malaysia and found that The One Academy is the best. It sets very high standards in teaching quality and student development. In addition, the lecturers here are very supportive and helpful towards all students. The coursework is very interesting and fun-filled, I’ve certainly learnt a lot. Ever since I joined this place, my English has improved, too. |
|
||
![]() Yang Hai E, Shanghai, ChinaMultimedia Design, 3 years
I have a university degree majoring in multimedia and already planned to further my studies in Germany, but once I saw the creations of The One Academy students, I knew I had to study here! I am impressed with the concept and designs taught here, and even more impressed with the independence and initiative of my course mates. |
|
||
![]() Yang Qin, Guang Zhou, ChinaDigital Animation - 3 years
I was studying law in a university in China before switching over to The One Academy. The atmosphere here is so youthfully vibrant and lively, and not dark and dull like some other institutions. Here, I really enjoy the group projects and the experience of being a team player. |
The One Academy of Communication Design (TOA) Videos
World's No.1 Best Art School | The One Academy
The one Academy's continuous endeavours in striving for the best have paid off in achieving the rank of World's No.1 Best Concept Art & Illustration School (for Game, Animation & Film Art) in The Rookies World School Rankings - regarded as the world's most respected rankings for educational institutes that propels careers in creative entertainment art industries.
The One Academy has fulfilled its promise of "Just World-Class Results!