Design History & Material Culture

The Design History and Material Culture MA programme is taught through seminars and guided research, equipping students with the skills to research, analyse and write about the material world in its various historic and contemporary contexts. Students conduct supervised research and write a dissertation, which they submit at the end of the programme.

Students explore a wide range of topics such as fashion and textile history from the eighteenth century to the present day; histories of urban space and architecture; histories of technology; digital materialities, histories and practices of making; nineteenth-century decorative arts; the material culture of everyday life in the eighteenth century; twentieth-century Irish material culture; contemporary design writing and more.

We welcome graduates from a range of backgrounds, including art/design practice, architecture, art history, history, sociology, anthropology, literature and film studies/production. DHMC alumni are working in respected positions across the university, museum and cultural sector, as well as design firms and in independent practice.

Opportunities to Engage

External Partners
MA DHMC students benefit from the programme’s close partnership with the National Museum of Ireland as well as a range of other joint initiatives with a wide range of museums, cultural institutions and historic properties such as The Little Museum of Dublin, the National Library of Ireland, NUI Maynooth Department of Anthropology and others.

Internships
Students who wish to gain relevant work experience have been assisted by the DHMC course team in organising internships at appropriate institutions.

Public events
The programme regularly hosts public lectures, workshops and conferences. Information about forthcoming events will appear on NCAD's In Public website.

Education Standard
All applicants are expected to present an approved Bachelor degree at minimum level of 2nd class honours (2.2)

Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements may be considered on the basis of prior work or learning experience (RPEL). Candidates may be required to pass a qualifying examination set by the relevant department before being accepted to a Masters degree programme. Attendance at selected undergraduate lecture courses at NCAD, together with related written work may be prescribed.

You may apply for the programme if you are currently completing your Undergraduate Degree. NCAD will review the rest of your application If necessary, we can make you a Conditional Offer. When your degree is completed and you send us final transcripts we will upgrade this to a Full Offer.

Essential Supporting Documents
A Statement of Interest - 300-500 words framing your reasons for applying to the programme

A recent CV

Certified transcripts of previous programmes followed

Certified copies of degree/ certificates and/or other appropriate third level qualifications bearing the official stamp of the institution.

Reference 1 (Academic)

Some referees prefer to submit the reference directly to the college. If this is the case, please instruct your referee to email a standard reference to postgraduate@ncad.ie. Please make sure all references contain the letterhead and the institution contact email address for the referee

Reference 2 (Tutor or Current/Recent Employer)

Applications now open.

The priority deadline for receipt of applications to postgraduate programmes starting in Sept. 2024 is Friday 31st March 2024. Applications made by 31st March are guaranteed to be reviewed by NCAD. If you apply after this date, we may not be in a position to review your application.

There is an application fee of €55.00*

2 years part-time. In 2024 the MA will run as a part-time course i.e. one day a week in class.

The programme runs on a two year intake cycle. The next intake will be in September 2024.

After Your Degree
The programme consistently receives excellent feedback from both external examiners and students. Students on the programme have received internationally recognised awards for their work and many have gone on to pursue doctoral research at NCAD and elsewhere. Graduates have published their work in peer reviewed journals and many are working within education (second and third level), art / design practice, galleries, museums, historic houses, film, theatre, publishing and government bodies responsible for arts/craft promotion.