Non EU Applicants

If you are not a citizen of the EU/EFTA who has been living in the EU for 3 of the last 5 years then you will apply directly to NCAD via our website. The application Process is the same as applying to Year 1. You will select Year 2 when you are making your application. If you are a Non-EU applicant then you can visit this Link Here. If you are unsure if you are if you should apply as a Non EU applicant please contact feesandgrants@staff.ncad.ie

EU Applicants

All Advanced Entry applications to NCAD should be made online through the Central Application Office (CAO) www.cao.ie. On the CAO application form you are asked to indicate the year and programme you are applying into and to provide details of your previous education including School Leaving exam results as well as any Further or Higher Education you may have completed. You are also asked to provide details of any previous work or other experience that may be relevant to the programme you are applying for and asked to provide a reference from a tutor or other person.

You may put a choice of up to nine programmes on the CAO Advanced Entry application form, these can be from a mixture of  NCAD and other HEI programmes. When considering which programmes at NCAD to apply for you are advised to study the NCAD Prospectus carefully and to consider how your previous educational and other experiences relate to the programme of study you are applying for.

Entry Requirements

Entry to year 2/3 of a programme is on a case-by-case basis; there is no automatic entry based on any specific previous qualification; all applications are reviewed individually. Advanced Entry Applicants will submit details of previous education and other relevant information as well as a small portfolio displaying samples of their work. Some programmes may require applicants to have professional experience in the relevant field/industry.

Supporting documents

All Supporting documents should be sent by post to CAO. Make sure to include your CAO number on each document. Staff at CAO wil scan your socuments and upload them to your application. This can include transcripts, certificates, CV, personal statement to the CAO at the address below:

Adanced Entry, Central Applications Office,
Tower House, Eglinton Street,
Galway, Ireland

Note on applying to AD204 Fine Art

If applying to AD204 Fine Art, you MUST indicate a choice of either one or two preferences within the Fine Art pathways (Painting, Sculpture, Print, Media, or Applied Art).

After you make your application please email us admissions@ncad.ie telling us

• Your CAO Application Number
• Your one or two preferences

We will email you back to acknowledge your email. 

Results

All Correspondence on Advanced Entry Offers will come from the CAO by email. NCAD do not send notice of offers/rejections by email or post. Offers for Advanced Entry will be made in Round 0 the first week of August. 

For further information on making an Advanced Entry application please contact the Admissions office:

admissions@staff.ncad.ie

CAO Deadline

Applicants are required to submit a Portoflio if applying for any of our Studio Programmes. Applicants will be invited after the 31st of March 2025 to upload their Portfolio to our Portfolio Submission Platform online. 

What to include?

• 10 images/videos of your work
• 500 words to accompany your portfolio, in PDF.

Click for more information regarding Portfolios here: Key Portfolio Information