Applying from NI/UK
All First Year applications to NCAD are made through the Central Applications Office (CAO), www.cao.ie. The CAO opens for applications in November each year. The closing date for on-time applications is 1st February each year. The online application form will ask you for your name, address, date of birth and contact details. You will also be asked to provide details of your education.
GCE/GCSE/BTEC examinations already taken: You must post to the CAO certified photocopies (certified by a school stamp) of the appropriate certificate for any GCE/GCSE examinations you have taken in previous years.
GCE/GCSE/BTEC examinations to be taken: You will be asked to provide details of the Examination Board, Centre Number, your Candidate Number, the subjects to be taken and the level. You will be asked to enter up to 10 course choices using a course code.
For applicants with other qualifications such as BTEC, HNDs etc. please post copies of your results to the CAO along with your CAO application number.
A list of all NCAD Programmes and the course code can be found here
Applications must be made through the CAO by the 1st February each year. Late application is only possible for courses not requiring a portfolio submission. All Studio based programmes require a portfolio submission by the end of the first week in February each year. Details of the portfolio submission requirements and deadlines can be found here Portfolio Submission
To be eligible for an offer of a place in First Year on an Art,Design or Education studio programme you must submit a portfolio and meet minimum academic entry requirements.
Minimum Academic Entry Requirements
GCE A-Level & AS Level / GCSE O-Level
A pass in at least six subjects including English and either Art or a second language. Candidates must obtain:
GCE Advanced Level (A Level) –
At least Grade C in two Subjects
and
GCE AS Level /GCSE Level –
At least Grade C in four other recognised subjects
BTEC Entry Requirements - First Year - BTEC Extended National Diploma/Level 3 (formerly the BTEC National Diploma)*
BTEC Extended National Diploma acceptable as matriculation requirement for NCAD with a minimum achievement of DDM
BTEC Entry Requirements - Advanced Entry (Year 2) - BTEC Higher National Diploma/Level 5*
*BTEC qualifications should be awarded from a cognate area.
For AD212 Product Design and AD222 Interaction Design maths must also be included as one of the subjects passed.
Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio submission must be in accordance with the NCAD Portfolio requirements:
www.ncad.ie/study-at-ncad
Studio Degrees ( All Art, Design and Education degrees):
Place offers are made based on portfolio score to applicants who meet minimum academic entry requirements. We will write to you between March and May with your portfolio result letting you know where you are on the offer list.
AD215 Visual Culture
Offers are made based on final school examination results. See applicant resource section www.cao.ie
The CAO will receive your current year GCE/GCSE results from the UK/NI Examination authorities. For previous years examinations you should send copies of your results to the CAO. Offers are made formally in August through the CAO after GCE/GCSE results are released.
