Introducing NCAD

The National College of Art and Design occupies a unique position in art and design education in Ireland. It offers the largest range of art and design degrees in the State at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

In the past many of the most important Irish artists, designers and art teachers have studied or taught in the College. It has long been the central and most important art and design educational institution in Ireland.

The origins of the College date from 1746 when Robert West had a private drawing school in George's Lane, Dublin, which was taken over by the Dublin Society (later the RDS). Throughout the eighteenth century there were three schools: Figure Drawing, Landscape and Ornamental Drawing and Architectural Drawing. The School of Modelling was added in 1811. From 1854 the institution was controlled by the Department of Science and Art, London. In 1877 it was renamed The Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. The Department of Education took control in 1924, and twelve years later it became the National College of Art. In 1971 the National College of Art and Design was established by act of an tOireachtas and is now governed by a board (An Brd) appointed by the Minister for Education and Science.

The College's campus is situated in Thomas Street, in the historic Liberties area of Dublin. In 1998 the College opened its new wing, the School of Design for Industry, and now houses all of its activities on the Thomas Street campus.

In recent years, the College has conferred honorary associateships on Sybil Connolly, Dr. James White, Patrick Scott, Jan de Fouw, Sonja Landweer, Conor Fallon, Dr. Seamus Buachalla, Leonora Curry, Paul Costelloe, Prof. Anne Crookshank, Charles J. Haughey, Dr. Patrick Moriarty, Dr. Edward Walsh, Professor George Dawson, Michael Farrell, Paul Hogan, William Walsh, Mealla C. Gibbons, Bro. Joseph McNally, Juan O'Callahan and Anthony Cronin.

The College has over seven hundred and fifty full-time students and a further eight hundred students who are taking non-award evening classes. Those who know the College, and those who have attended the Open Day, the annual exhibitions and fashion show, will be aware of the very high standards that are achieved.

The College has four faculties; Design, Education, Fine Art and Visual Culture. With the exception of the Industrial Design course and the Faculty of Education course, First Year (Core) provides the first year of all undergraduate courses.

A tutorial system operates throughout the College and many of the courses are project based. Students' progress is monitored at the end of projects, and by examination at the end of each year.

From its beginnings the College has been as equally concerned with fine art as with design. The Faculty of Fine Art teaching combines the traditional disciplines such as drawing and painting with an open experimental approach which allows individuals to realise their ideas in a wide range of media. Through contact with teachers who are practising artists, students become familiar with the activities and the ideas of artists working in today's society. Students also become familiar with the fundamentally questioning nature of contemporary art and of the variety of responses generated by contemporary artistic practice. It is an intense visual education not only for artists but for others who may build careers in related directions.

The Design Faculty is the largest in the College and comprises ceramics, glass, metals, fashion design, industrial design, textile design and visual communication. In design the emphasis is on solving specific problems set by project. While students are expected to master the relevant technologies, the aesthetic design factor is stressed equally. There are many links with industry and students often work on competitions sponsored by commercial firms. The College aims to promote a broad education in design which can be the basis for a variety of careers either as part of a team in industry or by working individually in a studio or small business.

The Faculty of Visual Culture interacts with all the other faculties.

In both the fine art and design courses, the element of history and theory of art and design is essential in assisting artists and designers to place themselves within a larger historical, intellectual, social and stylistic context. Within contemporary fine art practice, theory has become increasingly important. The Joint Course BA degree makes special provision for the student who wishes to explore art history and studio practice in art and design to an equal extent. For all students there is a requirement to attend regular lectures and submit written papers culminating in a thesis in the final year. The well stocked College Library is a central resource for all courses.

The Faculty of Education provides for the education of teachers of art, craft and design in second-level schools. There are two modes available: the four-year BA degree in Art and Design Education, and the one-year postgraduate Higher Diploma in Art and Design Education. The Faculty also provide a Higher Diploma in Community Arts Education. The Centre for Continuing Education in Art and Design is part of the Faculty of Education and offers a range of part-time courses including certificate courses.

Artists and designers of international repute are invited to teach or give special lectures in the College. Exchange programmes with colleges and universities in Europe and the United States take place annually. Individual staff members are linked to numerous professional organisations at home and abroad. The College is a member of the European League of the Institute of the Arts.

The College has been a recognised college of the National University of Ireland since 1996.

The College welcomes all applicants who are committed to art and design and who also have the necessary talent and academic standards. We can assure you that a degree course at this College will be an enriching and challenging experience. It is a preparation for life in both a professional and a broad educational sense.