Mature Students

Mature students are those who are 23 years of age or older on 1 January of the year of application.

Students attending NCAD range in age from 17 to over 60 years of age. Of the current full-time student population of over 700, more than 200 students are aged over 23.

Intending applicants should note that being over 23 years of age does not give an automatic exemption from the minimum entry requirements for any course.

In exceptional cases mature students may be accepted without the NUI matriculation requirements. Such applicants may be considered on an individual basis and criteria in addition to second- level school examinations will be taken into account to establish their suitability for the course.

The standard of portfolio work required from a mature applicant is the same as that required from other applicants.

Mature students apply in the same way and at the same time as other applicants.