Install Findmino as an app for the best experience!
Creative Arts & Design
Duration
4 years
Level
Bachelor
Outlook
Growing
A degree in Visual Communication or Graphic Design teaches you to communicate ideas, stories and information through visual means — combining typography, image-making, colour theory and layout. You will explore specialisms such as branding and identity, motion graphics, digital illustration, UX/UI design and publication design. Studio-based learning is central: a typical week involves critiques, software workshops using tools like Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and independent project development. Many programmes include live briefs set by industry clients, and some offer Erasmus exchange opportunities in European design schools. By graduation you will have a professional portfolio that reflects your creative voice and technical competencies across print and digital platforms.
Entry typically requires the Leaving Certificate with a minimum of six subjects including English; Higher Level Art is strongly recommended and, at portfolio-based colleges such as NCAD and IADT, a strong creative portfolio is often the primary selection criterion alongside CAO points. CAO points for these courses are generally moderate to high, with NCAD and IADT being particularly competitive. Higher Level Maths is not usually required, though logical thinking and visual problem-solving are important. Applicants without a Leaving Certificate may qualify through a QQI Level 5 or 6 PLC award in Art and Design, Multimedia or a related discipline, with QQI progression routes available to most institutions. Mature applicants (aged 23 or over) may apply through the mature student CAO pathway, and HEAR and DARE schemes support access for students from socioeconomic disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities.
Demand for skilled visual communicators in Ireland remains strong, driven by the growth of digital media, e-commerce, tech multinationals and a vibrant domestic creative sector. UX/UI skills in particular are highly sought after, with technology companies based in Dublin regularly recruiting design graduates. Freelancing and portfolio careers are common, and many graduates build varied practices combining agency work, self-initiated projects and teaching. Salaries for graduate designers typically start in the region of €28,000–€35,000 gross per year, rising significantly with experience and specialisation.
AI-powered tools such as generative image platforms, automated layout software and AI-assisted prototyping are already changing how visual designers work, speeding up early-stage ideation and production tasks. Rather than replacing designers, these tools are shifting the role towards strategy, concept development and creative direction, areas where human judgement and cultural understanding remain essential. Students on these programmes are increasingly expected to engage critically with AI tools, understanding both their creative potential and ethical implications around copyright and visual bias. Designers who can work fluently alongside AI while bringing original thinking and a strong concept-led approach will be most competitive in the evolving job market.
Providers and indicative points are curated with AI support. Always double-check with the institution itself.
CAO points (indicative): 240-430 (2024)
* Indicative only: CAO points change every year. Always check the current points on cao.ie and with the institution.
How to apply
Most BA (Hons) Visual Communication and Graphic Design programmes at publicly-funded institutions are accessed through the CAO (cao.ie), with applications opening in November each year; portfolio interviews or assessments are also commonly required by art and design colleges such as NCAD and IADT. Private providers such as Griffith College accept direct applications and set their own entry requirements and fees.
We use functional cookies and — with your consent — cookies for preferences, statistics and marketing.