National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
The National College of Art and Design occupies a unique position in art and design education in Ireland. It offers the largest range of art and design degrees in the state at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
In the past many of the most important Irish artists, designers and art teachers have studied or taught in the college. It has long been the central and most important art and design educational institution in Ireland. The origins of the college date from 1746 when Robert West had a private drawing school in George's Lane, Dublin, which was taken over by the Dublin Society (later the RDS). In 1971 the National College of Art and Design in its current embodiment was established by act of the Oireachtas and is now governed by a board (An Bord) appointed by the Minister for Education and Science.
The college's campus is situated in Thomas Street, in the historic Liberties area of Dublin. In 1998 the College opened its new wing, the School of Design for Industry, and now houses all of its activities on the Thomas Street campus. The college has four faculties; Design, Education, Fine Art, and Visual Culture. With the exception of the Industrial Design course and the Faculty of education course, First Year (Core) provides the first year of all undergraduate courses.
The College has 1,000 full time students and a further six hundred students who are taking evening courses. A tutorial system operates throughout the college and many of the courses are project based. Students' progress is monitored at the end of projects, and by examination at the end of each year.
Activities
Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, evening classes.