National College of Art and Design

Key Highlights

• Independent statutory public art-and-design college governed by a ministerially appointed board
• Recognized college of UCD, with degrees awarded through the National University of Ireland
• Active institutional strategy covers 2026–2031
• Located at 100 Thomas Street in Dublin 8

Student Life & Environment

Student life is centered on a specialist creative community at the Thomas Street campus. The Students’ Union represents students in institutional governance and organizes social, cultural, and sporting activities. Student societies provide another route into campus participation, although their active lineup can change from year to year and should be checked after enrollment. NCAD offers academic and personal support alongside studio education. Its Access Service arranges individual needs assessments for registered students with disabilities or specific learning differences and may recommend assistive technology, examination accommodations, or modified library privileges. College documentation also identifies counselling, careers guidance, financial advice, and learning support among its student services. The Student Assistance Fund has historically helped eligible students facing unexpected hardship with costs such as rent, travel, books, materials, and utilities, but funding rounds and eligibility must be checked for the relevant academic year. Housing requires early independent planning. NCAD explicitly states that it does not operate on-campus accommodation. Students instead use private student residences, rented rooms, house shares, or other private options in Dublin. The college warns applicants not to transfer money for private accommodation without viewing the property and receiving a signed lease. That caution is especially relevant for international and other students arranging housing from outside Dublin.

Location & Surroundings

NCAD’s address is 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8. This places the college in an urban, historic part of Ireland’s capital rather than on a self-contained residential campus. Teaching, studio activity, library use, exhibitions, and student services are concentrated around the Thomas Street site, giving students direct access to city life while making commuting and housing central practical considerations. Dublin offers access to museums, galleries, cultural organizations, design businesses, and wider creative-sector activity. These surroundings can complement studio and visual-culture study, but applicants should evaluate the city as both an academic resource and a significant expense. NCAD’s exchange fact sheet specifically cautions that Dublin rents are expensive. Because the college has no on-campus residence, students must compare private purpose-built student accommodation, shared rentals, rooms, and commuting options. Some private student residences are located near NCAD, but the college does not operate or endorse them. International students should leave enough time to secure housing and follow NCAD’s fraud-prevention advice before paying a deposit.

Costs & Career Outcomes

NCAD had not published a 2026/27 fee schedule in the official material located as of 20 August 2026, so applicants should not treat the following 2025/26 figures as current prices. In 2025/26, the undergraduate schedule listed a €3,000 student contribution for all programs. Total EU fees were €7,574 for studio programs and €6,600 for Visual Culture, while non-EU or international fees were €16,500 and €13,500 respectively. The college noted that most eligible first-time EU undergraduates qualified for Ireland’s Free Fees initiative and paid only the student contribution. Eligibility depends on government rules and individual circumstances. Postgraduate prices varied by course and study mode. The 2025/26 schedule, for example, listed different EU rates for studio and non-studio research degrees and non-EU annual rates ranging from €12,500 to €16,500 for the research routes shown. Fees were generally payable in installments. Students should request the applicable 2026/27 or 2027/28 schedule before accepting an offer. Creative courses can involve costs beyond tuition. NCAD states that students pay for their own materials and equipment, and some departments may levy an additional materials charge. Housing is another major budget item because there is no college accommodation. The Careers Advisory Service supports career choice, employment, and postgraduate planning, including CV, interview, and presentation preparation. NCAD does not publish a verified institution-wide salary or employment rate in the sources used here, so applicants should assess individual program portfolios, placement opportunities, graduate exhibitions, and career support rather than rely on an unsupported earnings claim.