On Thomas Street in Dublin 8, a short walk from the Guinness brewery gates, NCAD teaches fine art, design and art education in converted industrial buildings. Its roots go back to the Dublin Society's drawing schools of the 1740s. Degrees are awarded by University College Dublin, and the studio culture is intense. Portfolio counts for most of admission.
Dublin, Ireland
Official website: ncad.ie
1746, as the Dublin Society's drawing schools
Awarded by University College Dublin
Thomas Street, Dublin 8
€18,000 – €24,000
Non-EU students, undergraduate and taught postgraduate
€14,000 – €18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on ncad.ie before you apply.
BA (Hons) Fine Art
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
BA (Hons) Fashion Design
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
BA (Hons) Product Design
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MA Interaction Design
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MFA Fine Art
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
Ireland's largest specialist art and design college.
Studios in a former distillery complex off Thomas Street.
A UCD degree with art-school teaching.
Graduates work as artists, fashion and product designers, illustrators and art teachers.
Dublin's design studios and tech firms hire interaction and communication designers.
Master's graduates can usually stay two years on Ireland's Stamp 1G.
Undergrad
Portfolio deadline, early spring
Postgrad
Rolling until full
Thomas Street is one of Dublin's oldest streets, lined with markets, pubs and the Liberties' old tenements. The Luas red line runs close by.
Dublin is expensive, especially rent, and student rooms go quickly. The Irish Museum of Modern Art is a short walk west at Kilmainham.
Letter of acceptance from the institution
Proof of tuition fee payment
Proof of EUR 10,000 living funds
Private medical insurance
English test at required level
Passport valid twelve months beyond arrival
Non-EU undergraduates apply directly to NCAD rather than through the CAO, with a portfolio submitted in early spring. Postgraduate applications are usually reviewed from winter until places fill. Check the current dates on NCAD's site.
All programmes start in September.
Most non-EU students need a D study visa for Ireland. The key documents are the acceptance letter, fee receipt, bank statements showing EUR 10,000 and private health insurance. You register for an IRP once you're in the country.
Fine art, fashion design, product design, interaction design and the MFA are popular with international applicants. Selection rests mainly on your portfolio, plus secondary school results or a relevant degree and IELTS 6.5.
Scholarships for non-EU students are limited. A few postgraduate awards and bursaries run most years, so ask the international office when you apply.
