The Art & Design (Portfolio Preparation) course is a concentrated one-year program designed to bridge the gap between creative ambition and entry into world-class Art and Design universities. The curriculum is centered on the production of a diverse and sophisticated portfolio, encompassing traditional fine art practices like painting and sculpture alongside modern digital photography and film. The course is highly flexible, supporting individual interpretation across various pathways—whether your interest lies in fashion, illustration, or fine art—ensuring your portfolio reflects your specific creative identity.

The Art Graphics and Printmaking (AGP) course is a comprehensive program designed to help students build a versatile and dynamic portfolio that bridges the gap between traditional fine art and modern digital design. The curriculum offers a rich blend of disciplines, including painting, printmaking, and photography, alongside intensive training in computer-based design. By utilizing a dedicated digital studio equipped with industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, students gain the technical proficiency required for the competitive world of visual communications. This dual approach ensures that graduates are equally comfortable with a paintbrush as they are with a digital stylus

The aim of this one year full time course course is to provide the learner with the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of traditional and modern art and craft disciplines including drawing, painting and ceramics as well as working with a variety of materials.

This one-year, NFQ Level 5 full time course equips learners with the skills and knowledge in Art and Design. Learners will explore, experiment and build on basic skills in a variety of media and disciplines. Drawing from observation is a core element as is the use of sketchbooks for research and creative thinking. This then leads to project work in other areas such as design, painting, print, ceramics and digital photography.This approach leads to the development of a varied and exciting project lead portfolio, essential in progressing to Art College.

Students will have the opportunity to:

• Develop creative thinking and design skills, learning how to plan, research, and bring ideas to life through hands-on projects.
• Improve drawing abilities, using different materials and methods to express ideas and develop a personal artistic style.
• Explore painting techniques, learning how to use colour, texture, and composition to create original artwork.
• Work with clay, gaining hands-on experience in shaping, glazing, and firing to produce finished ceramic pieces.
• Create original prints, using a range of traditional and modern printmaking techniques.
• Use digital photography creatively, learning how to take, edit, and present photographs using digital tools and software.

In this course, students will have the opportunity to explore their individual creative interests through a wide variety of artistic processes. Working in a studio-style classroom environment, learners can experiment, share ideas, and develop their own personal style while engaging with both traditional and contemporary techniques. Students will work with a broad range of materials and methods, including collage, embroidery, printmaking, painting, drawing, sculpture, relief techniques, and mixed-media approaches.

This is a one-year course with a requirement to achieve 120 credits. It particularly suits participants that are eager to develop their artistic skills in a wide range of different modules.

Location: Athlone

The overall aim of the programme is to provide the learner with the opportunity to develop the required knowledge, skills and competence in art, craft and design in order to meet the standards set by the awarding body in the award specification for Art, Craft and Design level 5.

Please refer to Programme Descriptor for Programme Objectives. Employment opportunities in this area range from setting up their own small art and craft business to working in areas such as community art, festival events, interior decorating and so on.

This course designed to cultivate creative thinking and personal expression through a diverse range of artistic mediums. The curriculum provides hands-on exploration in traditional and contemporary practices, including design, ceramics, digital photography, painting, drawing, batik, and stop-motion animation. Students gain full access to the industry-standard Adobe Creative Suite, significantly enhancing their digital and visual media literacy. Throughout the year, learners compile a bespoke, high-quality professional portfolio tailored to their unique talents and interests. The course culminates in a public art exhibition showcasing student work.

A unique course that caters for those interested in art, craft and design. The overall aim of the programme is to enable the learner to acquire the knowledge, skill and competence to engage in a range of art, craft and design practices and to progress to further and or higher education and training.

If you can say YES to any one of the following then this may well be the course for you:

• Have you always had an interest in art and would like to learn more?
• Do you enjoy making and designing?
• Do you like to draw and paint?
• Do you want to prepare a portfolio for application to Art & Design Colleges?
• Are you creative & want to try different subjects to find out what you enjoy most?
• Would you like to get hands on experience exploring different materials and crafts like jewellery, woodcraft, weaving and ceramics?
• Like to start a career as an Artist, Craftsperson or Designer?

Should you have the interest and enthusiasm, we have the teachers, coursework and facilities to nurture and grow your talent. We will guide you on your way to a creative career.

This course is designed to help learners develop their skills in drawing, painting, 3D studies and life drawing, using a variety of media and materials including monoprint, pastels, charcoal etc. The course content is structured to cover many aspects of art, craft and design. While preparing a high quality portfolio, learners will also have the opportunity to complete a QQI Level 5 Award in Art with the potential to gain a maximum of 390 CAO points for entry into third level institutions. By doing this course, learners are better prepared for degree programmes as it enables them to make informed decisions regarding college and course choices. It also gives them the confidence in their ability to succeed in a higher educational environment.

Increased use of Artificial Intelligence (Al) can bring major social and economic benefits by automating tasks currently done by humans. AI computers can analyse and learn from information at higher accuracy and speed than humans can. It offers massive gains in efficiency and performance to most or all industry sectors, for example in Health, Financial Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Social Media.

Al is software that can be integrated into existing processes, improving them, scaling them, and reducing their costs, by making or suggesting more accurate decisions through better use of information. Artificial Intelligence has also been a main focus of Computer Science research at Ulster University for over 25 years, and we are uniquely positioned to deliver this degree course.

The Bachelor of Science programme is of four years duration.  In the first year the student will undertake an intensive learning programme of computer science fundamentals, programming including an immediate introduction to an AI-appropriate language, and mathematics.  In subsequent years the focus on artificial intelligence will intensify while also including core computer science aspects such as operating systems, data structures and algorithms, database systems, computer graphics.

Data analytics / mining and more specialist topics such as language engineering / translation and cultural aspects of AI are covered in later years.  Students who opt to exit after four years with a bachelors degree will complete, in their final year, a year-long Final year Project that is the culmination of their studies drawing on their skills in research, algorithm or system design, and implementation. 

This two-year duration and deep focus of the Higher National Diploma at DCFE often leads to stronger connections with industry professionals and organisations. This first-year program focuses on building instrumental technique, songwriting skills, and stage confidence through regular live performances and creative workshops. In second year, Students master musical direction and studio technology, culminating in a professional portfolio that demonstrates their readiness for a career as an authentic, self-directed artist.