Award University Certificate in Visual Arts Practice
Credits/Level 30 ECTS credits, Level 7 NFQ
Admission Requirements Places are allocated on a first come basis to applicants with the following basic requirements; age 21 before January 1st, Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent, English proficiency and a foundational, introductory or non credit art, design or photography course such as an NCAD short summer course in a relatable subject.
Portfolio Not Required
Duration 22 weeks, evenings, autumn to spring. Students can complete the certificate over 1 to 3 years
Fee 2025-2026 payable in September and January
Programme Code AD094
Applications to start in September 2025 will Open 1st July 2025 at 12 noon
Things you Need to Know Before Applying
To achieve the full award students must complete 30 credits over 1 to 3 years
Students complete one module from Group A and one module from Group B plus both mandatory modules, see table above
Students must complete a studio module before taking Professional Practice CEAD1002, unless completing the VAP Certificate in a single year
Make an individual application to each module you want to study this coming academic year, only
You will complete an application form to apply, sample below
You will also be asked to upload your Leaving Certificate or equivalent. If you do not have this to hand, upload a page stating where and when you sat your Leaving Cert and results as best as you can remember. If you have a qualification that supercedes Leaving Cert, use that instead
Applications to be made in the student name and details only
Modules offered will be subject to availability of spaces and level of demand
Applications are made online only, use a desk or laptop screen
If you have been at NCAD previously use your MyNCAD account
To reset your password contact studentrecords@student.ncad.ie and include your name, date of birth and 8 digit student ID/reference number, and do this now
New Students click to apply, then select New Account & record your password, you will need it later on
Please note that all students are required to have access to a computer, Internet and be familiar with Canvas which replaces Google Classroom (its easy)
Fees are due September and January
Classes start week 3 in September 2025
VAP classes run 6.30pm to 9pm
Admission Requirements
Places are allocated on a first come basis to applicants after the following basic requirements are met; mature students age 21 before January, an Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent and have completed an introductory, foundational or non-credit course in art, design or photography in a subject that relates to their chosen CEAD module. This is an intemediate level programme and not suitable for beginners. Certain modules require students to already have specific skills. To apply for entry to the programme, applicants must complete the online application form. Applicants must also demonstrate that they will be able to manage the academic writing elements of the programme and need English proficiency. To have Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) or previous experience recognised to fulfil entry criteria, applicants may also submit a portfolio. Students can also apply for RPL for any of the modules to a maximum of 10 credits of the programme.
What are Audit or Credit courses
Two options are available for students taking Visual Arts Practice modules.
Audit option students participate in the module but do not submit their work for formal assessment and do not gain credit for accumulation purposes.
Credit option students submit their work for assessment by tutors and gain appropriate credit which is certified and may be used for accumulation purposes towards the completion of a certificate, diploma or degree.
A key pillar of CEAD programmes is
Progression within arts and design education. On successful completion of the Visual Arts Practice certificate, students are eligible to apply to the part-time Higher Diploma in Art NFQ Level 8. Higher Diploma in Art graduates are then eligible to apply, via advanced entry, to the final year of NCAD's undergraduate BA Degree studies.
