CEAD FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions and information for part-time mature students at NCAD
How do I apply for a part-time accredited evening course?
Students who want to apply to Drawing and Visual Investigation DVI, Photography and Digital Imaging PDI, Jewellery and Object Design JOD and Visual Arts Practice VAP certificate and the part time Higher Diploma in Art courses should complete an application form which is available online by Clicking Here. Students applying to PDI or the Higher Diploma should also submit a portfolio. There is a portfolio brief for both on the website.
Course requirements
Details of course requirements are available online by Clicking Here. Applicants to CEAD credit courses should be age 21 before January of the year study starts and have a level 5 Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent. Applicants should have completed a foundational credit or non-credit art, design or photography programme (such as one of NCAD’s summer or autumn short courses or with another course provider), and learnt the basic skills in a related disicipline. Applicants should provide evidence of a commitment to developing their practice and an interest in contemporary approaches to visual art, design or photography. Students on accredited courses are required to undertake a minimum of four hours of self-directed study on a weekly basis outside of class and will have to complete written assignments for visual culture.
Course Fees
Students are required to pay their fees in September on registartion. Current course fees are available on the CEAD website pages and any increases for the academic year 2025-2026 will be modest.
When do courses commence?
Typically autumn courses start the in the third week of September. Most VAP are 21 or 22 weeks long and finish in March. DVI, PDI, JOD and the Higher Diploma are longer. VAP and the Autumn Non Credit course start at 6.30pm to 9pm; the Higher Diploma, PDI, JOD and DVI courses start at 6.15 to 9pm.
Where are courses located?
CEAD courses are located on the NCAD campus, 100 Thomas Street, D08 K521 campus or in the adjacent Grace Gifford building.
What Faculty or Department do I belong to?
Continuing Education in Art and Design (CEAD) is a Centre within the Faculty of Education at NCAD.
What is registration?
Registration is when you are formally recorded as a student of the college. Only students undertaking accredited certificate or diploma courses are required to register. Registration takes place in September each year. Registration requires students to log into their MyNcad account and complete a form, pay fees, provide ID in the form of an indate passort or birthcert along with a passport style photo. If you do fail to register with the college in a timely manner you cannot continue to attend and proceed to assessment or examination.
When will I get a student card?
You will be issued with a student card shortly after you have fully completed registartion. Your student card will distributed by your tutor in class. Year one students receive a student card automatically, year two or three students can request a card if wanted. The student card is important in accessing the library and for student discount with retailers.
What happens if I lose my student card?
You will have to pay a fee of €15 to get a replacement student card issued by the college, contact the cead office at 01 636 4214 or cead@staff.ncad.ie
What college facilities can I avail of as a part-time student registered?
Once registered you will have access to the Edward Murphy Library EML and photocopying facilities. The EML has a collection of over 70,000 books and exhibition catalogues and subscribes to about 300 serials and is the foremost visual art and design library in the country.To check opening hours please use this link. Anyone can visit the National Irish Visual Art Library NIVAL. Access to NIVAL is strictly by appointment only and students researching may visit the Library by appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 5pm during semester.
Contact NIVAL on 01 636 4347 or 01 636 1103 or nivalinfo@staff.ncad.ie
What materials should I buy for the course?
Students who have been accepted onto a course will receive a materials list from CEAD, along with a list of materials suppliers.
What are the College and CEAD opening hours during semesters?
The college is open from 8.30am until 9pm Monday to Friday during each semester. The student Information desk is open from 11am until 4pm throughout the year excepting holiday times. The student Information desk closes for lunch between 1pm to 2pm each day. CEAD students can also make contact by calling 636 4214 or emailing cead@staff.ncad.ie.
What are modules and ECTS credits?
Modules are units of learning and they contain learning outcomes (statements indicating what students will be able to know or do on successful completion of the module), and involve assessment. Successful completion of modules or a certificate course will result in students being awarded ECTS credits. The European Credit Transfer System ECTS provides students with credits which they can transfer and accumulate within an accredited programme and across qualification frameworks. Students embarking on part-time accredited courses can accumulate credits toward a level 8 qualification. For further information on credits and qualifications visit www.nqai.ie
Who awards NCAD Unoversity Certificates and the Higher Diploma?
NCAD is a recognised college of University College Dublin.
When does assessment take place?
The course tutor will advise you in advance of assessment dates and procedures. Normally assessment takes place at least twice during courses, at the end of the first block and before the end of the course.There are penalties for students who submit course work late unless they have medical reasons for not submitting on time.
What will I be expected to do for assessment?
You are required to present course work in response to set assignments and deadlines given. Tutors will distribute handouts on assessment including guidelines for assessment, assessment criteria and weighting in advance and discuss these with students. Students will also participate in studio critiques and reviews where they will be involved in making presentations within a group. Credit courses require students to achieve 40% to pass the module. All credit courses require students attend 80% of the course. Students who are unable to submit course work on medical grounds should submit relevant documentation at the time of illness. Tutors will provide students who present a medical certificate with a revised deadline for submission of work.
When can I expect to get feedback on my progress?
Tutors will advise students when studio critiques will take place, following assessment they will provide students with feedback on their learning and progress. The assessment marks allocated to students are subject to moderation at examination time. Exam Boards meet t ratify results in May and June.
What if I fail an assignment?
Students should submit all course work on the date specified by their tutor. Work will be assessed and graded in accordance with college academic procedures. Students who do not achieve a pass mark of 40% can repeat the assignment in their own time. Should a student fail the assignment a second time, they have the option to repeat the whole module. Student’s who fail an assignment and repeat it, will be marked as pass or fail only.
What happens if I get sick, or I have a problem at home or work and cannot attend the course?
If you are unwell and cannot attend please notify the course tutors as soon as possible. Students should submit a medical certificate if they cannot attend on a regular basis or for assessment. Students who do not attend regularly will receive a letter from the college reminding them of the course requirements and the implications for assessment.
Withdrawing from a course or deferring a place
If you intend to withdraw from the course please notify the Head of Continuing Education in writing. If you are proposing to defer your place on an accredited course you should liaise with the Head of CEAD. Deferring a place on a course does not guarantee a place in a subsequent year, re-entry is conditional not automatic. Deferring students may be entitled to a part refund of fees and a record of their marks, accumulating credits will be kept on file. Deferring students will have to indicate their intention to re-enter the programme by May 30th prior to the course commencing and a place will be offered subject to space. Students who seek to defer a place on a course cannot do so after the mid point of the course.
When are exam results released and how can I access them?
Students final exam results can be accessed on-line using your student number or by coming into the college. Exam results are posted on a college notice board and students can establish their result once they have their student number. Normally results are available to students during the last week of May each year but check with the CEAD administrator cead@staff.ncad.ie for exact dates. Exam results are posted for one week and if you cannot access your results at the designated time you will have to make an alternative arrangement with the administrator. Students can obtain a more detailed break down of their results from the head of continuing education but you will have to book an appointment.
How can I feedback on my learning experience of the course?
The Quality Assurance office at NCAD carries out evaluations of Departments formally every five or more years. Following peer review by an external panel a report is issued and the college posts the report on the college website for viewing. However students’ comments, insights, concerns, can be raised with the Head of Faculty, the Head of the Department or a tutor during the course or at the end of the academic year.
Is there a student representative for part-time students?
Yes, there is a part-time student representative on the college Board and there is a voluntary exhibitions committee who organise the student exhibition each year. Information on the evening students union will be available to continuing education students through email, facebook, information notices and student union members will visit most courses during the year.
How do I find out about other CEAD courses that offer progression?
Check the college website and look for continuing education and see the full listing on the CEAD homepage. Also CEAD holds an open day each year, usually in February, which is designed to offer more information to students who wish to progress to CEAD Certificate or Higher Diploma level. For more information on progression in CEAD, or to book an appointment to explore progression options, please email cead@staff.ncad.ie
How can I find out about the CEAD exhibition?
The evening students have traditionally organised the end of year CEAD exhibition. The exhibition takes place during the first week of July normally on campus in the School of Design in Thomas Street. Students will have to submit work for selection by a panel, which usually takes place in April each year. Guidelines on submission requirements, selection processes, pick-up times, are available to students in the form of a handout distributed by the exhibition committee early in the new-year. The exhibition committee is a voluntary group of part-time students.
If I complete a part-time accredited course, when can I expect to get a Certificate?
Certificates are issued in the post toward the end of the same calendar year in which you completed the course. Students should notify the college of any change of address, failure to do so could result in your post not arriving at the agreed address. Where transcripts have to be re-issued a fee will be charged.
More information
Email cead@staff.ncad.ie
Tel + 353 1 636 4214
