Course Summary
First Year Studies at NCAD gives you the solid foundation that you require for entry into the variety of creative paths of study offered by the college. First Year Studies is a common entry course that leads our students to studying any one of the fourteen different studio specialisms available in NCAD
The School of Fine Art, Paint, Print, Sculpture , Media, Textile Art & Artefact and Ceramics & Glass ( Applied Hard Materials) ; and in the School of Design, Graphics, Illustration, Moving Image Design, Fashion Design, Textile Surface Design, Jewellery & Objects, Product Design and Interaction Design.
All these specialisms can also be studied as a Joint Honours Degree with Education or as a Studio specialism with Visual Culture.
NCAD considers applications from candidates who wish to gain Advanced Entry to the second or subsequent year of an undergraduate degree.
NCAD will accept applications for Advanced Entry to all of their studio based undergraduate degrees as well as to AD215 BA Visual Culture. The BA in Visual Culture provides an opportunity to study the history of art and design in a creative art school setting. This programme does not require a portfolio submission. For more information about the programmes see here.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Language Options
* Time abroad utilising this language
Disclaimer: Details subject to change - always check with the college.
Note: It may also be possible to do an Erasmus+ Programme allowing you to study abroad for a
period of at least 2 months to 12 months. This study can be through English or through your
language of choice � please check with your course coordinator to see if this is possible
for this course.
Entry Requirements
Disclaimer: Details subject to change - If this is a course you are considering applying for you should check on the Colleges' website to ensure you have the latest entry requirements information.
If you believe the data above to be incorrect, please let us know at [email protected] - thank you.
PLC Progression Links
This course will accept All PLC (QQ/FET) Level 5 or 6 Major Award as an entry requirement.
Click on the link below for a List of PLC Courses Directly Related to this Career Sector
This Information is Correct for 2025 Entry
Points Calculator for QQI Awards:
Details of the QQI scoring system and a points calculator can be found
HERE
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Career Progression
At the end of first year your final results are posted and successful students progress to second year within their chosen school and department. There is a opportunity for students who may have been unsuccessful in certain modules to repeat them over the summer.
For students with a strong interest in the history and theory of visual culture, there is an opportunity to take a Joint Honours Degree in Design or Fine Art and Visual Culture. Students make this choice at the end of First Year.
Further Research
DISCLAIMER: These links are to official sources of information for this course - we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
