The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) is Ireland’s art and design college, at 100 Thomas Street in Dublin. Its origins go back to a drawing school that the Dublin Society took over in 1746.[1] NCAD describes itself as a Recognised College of UCD and has a community of about 1,500 students.[2] In the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject it placed 53rd in the world for Art and Design.[3]
For 2026/27, eligible EU undergraduates pay only the student contribution of €2,350.[4] Non-EU undergraduate tuition is €16,500 a year for studio programmes and €13,500 for BA Visual Culture.[5] Entry to studio courses depends on a portfolio; non-EU applicants apply through the NCAD website, not the CAO.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | National College of Art and Design (NCAD)[2] |
| Location | 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8, Ireland[2] |
| Type | Public art and design college[7]; a Recognised College of UCD (University College Dublin)[2] |
| Origins | 1746, when the Dublin Society took over a private drawing school; NCAD itself was established by an Act of the Oireachtas in 1971[1] |
| Students | About 1,500 undergraduate, graduate and part-time students[2]; students from over 40 countries[6] |
| Schools | Design, Education, Fine Art and Visual Culture[2] |
| Degrees awarded through | The National University of Ireland (NUI), according to NCAD’s undergraduate FAQ[8] |
| QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 | Art and Design: 53rd worldwide, 19th in Europe, 1st in Ireland[3] |
| EU students, student contribution (2026/27) | €2,350 for eligible first-time full-time undergraduates[4] |
| Non-EU undergraduate tuition (2026/27) | €16,500 studio programmes; €13,500 BA Visual Culture[5] |
| Non-EU postgraduate tuition (2026/27) | €12,500–€16,500 per year, depending on programme[9] |
| Application fee | €55 for applications made directly through the NCAD website[4] |
| English language | IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band, or an equivalent test[10] |
| Official website | ncad.ie |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About NCAD
NCAD’s origins date from 1746, when a private drawing school was taken over and run by the Dublin Society. The institution was renamed the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art in 1877 and became the National College of Art in 1936; the National College of Art and Design was established by an Act of the Oireachtas in 1971. Its history page says it became a Recognised College of the National University of Ireland in 1996.[1] Today NCAD describes itself as a Recognised College of UCD and is governed by a board appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills, as its page puts it.[2]
The campus on Thomas Street in Dublin is home to about 1,500 undergraduate, graduate and part-time students.[2] NCAD’s history page gives a different split, over 1,300 full-time and a further 700 part-time students,[1] and Wikipedia gives around 950 full-time and 600 part-time.[7] NCAD says its students come from over 40 countries.[6]
How is NCAD ranked?
NCAD is a specialist college, and we found no overall QS World University Rankings 2027 position for it in the sources we read. Its ranking claim is a subject ranking: NCAD reports 53rd place in the world, 19th in Europe and 1st in Ireland in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 for Art and Design.[3] The NCAD news item has no date of its own, and we could not confirm a 2026 edition result from a page we read. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at NCAD?
NCAD has four schools: Design, Education, Fine Art and Visual Culture. They offer courses from part-time classes to doctoral study, and the Centre for Continuing Education (CEAD) runs courses for adults. The college library houses NIVAL, the National Irish Visual Arts Library.[2]
- Undergraduate: most studio courses are restricted and need a portfolio. Named examples are AD215 BA Visual Culture, AD212 Product Design and AD222 Interaction Design.[8]
- Taught master’s: the 2026/27 postgraduate schedule lists, for example, MA Service Design, MA Graphic Design, MA Interaction Design, MSc Medical Device Design, MA Painting, MA Art and Social Action, MA Art and Ecology, MA Art and Health, MA Art in the Contemporary World and MA Design History and Material Culture.[9]
- Research: Master of Literature, Masters of Research and PhD Art and Design in Fine Art, Design, Education and Visual Culture.[9]
How much does NCAD cost?
NCAD publishes its fees by academic year. The figures below are for 2026/27.
Undergraduate
Under the Free Fees Initiative the Irish Government pays the tuition fee for eligible first-time full-time EU/EEA/UK/Swiss undergraduates, who then pay the student contribution, set at €2,350 for 2026/27. Applicants must hold EU/EEA/Swiss nationality or refugee status and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA state for at least three of the last five years. A full SUSI grant covers the contribution. NCAD warns that the Free Fees Initiative is under review and may not continue.[4] Students classified as non-EU pay the international rate:[4]
| Programme | Student contribution (EU, free fees) | Non-EU / international fee per year |
|---|---|---|
| All studio programmes (first year, Fine Art, Design, Education) | €2,350 | €16,500 |
| AD215 BA Visual Culture | €2,350 | €13,500 |
The schedule notes that EU fees are subject to final confirmation by the HEA and that students pay in two instalments, in September and January.[5] A materials levy set by individual departments can add to the cost; not all departments charge one.[4] Holding an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK passport does not automatically give the EU rate if you live outside the EU; NCAD offers a fee assessment.[4]
Postgraduate
NCAD’s 2026/27 postgraduate schedule (published as a final draft) lists full-time and non-EU/international fees by programme. Examples:[9]
| Programme | Full-time fee | Non-EU / international fee |
|---|---|---|
| MA Service Design, MA Graphic Design, MA Interaction Design, MSc Medical Device Design | €8,200 | €16,500 |
| MA Painting (1 year) | €9,800 | €16,500 |
| MA Art and Social Action; MA Art and Ecology; MA Art and Health | €8,200 | €14,500 |
| MA Art in the Contemporary World | €6,840 | €13,500 |
| Master of Literature | €4,200 | €12,500 |
International postgraduate applicants pay a €55 application fee and a €500 non-refundable deposit within 10 working days of an offer. Non-EU/EEA/Swiss/UK applicants are not eligible for the part-time programmes.[11]
How do you apply to NCAD?
Irish, EU/EEA/EFTA and UK undergraduates apply through the CAO. Most NCAD studio courses are restricted: NCAD does not use the Leaving Certificate points scheme for them, and offers go to applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements, ranked by portfolio score. The portfolio is submitted through NCAD’s portfolio platform. Product Design (AD212) and Interaction Design (AD222) take an optional portfolio worth up to 200 additional points, and BA Visual Culture (AD215) is allocated through the CAO without a portfolio.[8]
For a Leaving Certificate applicant, the minimum is six subjects with two at H5 or higher, including English and Irish. Applicants who studied outside Ireland have no Irish language requirement.[8]
International (non-EU) undergraduates apply through the NCAD website and do not use the CAO. You need a high-school qualification equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate, certified transcripts with a certified English translation and, for studio programmes, a portfolio; proof of English proficiency is also required.[6] Applications made directly through the website carry a €55 fee.[4]
International postgraduates apply through the website too; the requirements differ by programme, and a portfolio, statement of interest or research proposal is needed where the programme asks for one.[11] We do not repeat deadlines because they change each year; they are on the NCAD application pages.[6]
Which English level do you need?
All programmes are taught in English. Applicants who did not pass English in the Irish Leaving Certificate (H7/O6 needed) must show equivalent competence through their school-leaving exam or an accepted test. Results must normally be no more than two years old at the start of the course.[10]
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, at least 6.0 in each band |
| TOEFL iBT | 90, with at least 21 in writing and 19 in every other section |
| Duolingo English Test | 120, with at least 110 in each subscore |
| Pearson Test of English Academic | 63, with at least 59 in each communicative skill |
| Cambridge English scale | 176 or higher, with at least 169 in each paper |
NCAD also accepts other tests, such as the Oxford Test of English. For some graduate courses the requirement is higher than these minimums.[10]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does NCAD cost for international students?
Do EU students pay tuition at NCAD?
Eligible first-time full-time EU/EEA/UK/Swiss undergraduates pay no tuition under the Free Fees Initiative, only the student contribution of €2,350 for 2026/27.[4]
Is NCAD ranked?
NCAD reports 53rd place in the world for Art and Design in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, 19th in Europe and 1st in Ireland. We found no overall QS World University Rankings 2027 position.[3]
Do I need a portfolio to apply to NCAD?
Yes for most studio courses. Product Design and Interaction Design have an optional portfolio, and BA Visual Culture needs none.[8]
Do international students apply through the CAO?
No. Non-EU applicants apply through the NCAD website.[6]
What English score do I need for NCAD?
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band, or an equivalent such as TOEFL iBT 90 or Duolingo 120.[10]
More about studying in Ireland
- Ireland: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Ireland
- Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
- Dublin City University (DCU)
- Maynooth University
- Munster Technological University (MTU)
- RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM)
- South East Technological University (SETU)
- Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
- Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Cork
- University College Dublin
- University of Galway
- University of Limerick (UL)
Sources
[1] NCAD: NCAD History (page without a date)
[2] NCAD: College Structure (page without a date)
[3] NCAD: NCAD reaches 53rd place in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 (page without a date)
[4] NCAD: Fees (page without a date; headed 2026-27)
[5] NCAD: Undergraduate Fee Schedule 2026/27 (PDF for 2026/27; EU fees subject to HEA confirmation)
[6] NCAD: International Undergraduate Applications (page without a date; refers to 2027/2028 applications)
[7] Wikipedia: National College of Art and Design (secondary source; page last edited 2 Aug 2026)
[8] NCAD: FAQs, Undergraduate (page without a date; refers to 2027 entry)
[9] NCAD: Postgraduate Fee Schedule 2026/27 (PDF for 2026/27; file named “Final Draft”)
[10] NCAD: English Language Requirements (page without a date; mentions tests taken from January 2026)
[11] NCAD: International Postgraduate (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.