Education - Research

The School of Education has a broad research remit in art, design and visual education including all levels of educational provision and is especially interested in encouraging innovative research approaches.

The School of Education has a broad research remit in art, design and visual education including all levels of educational provision and is especially interested in encouraging innovative research approaches.

While the PhD through Education is normally by written thesis, the School considers applications which employ alternative media. Contacting the College in advance of submitting a proposal allows discussion of research themes with staff.

Current Education PhD research topics include:

The interactive relationship between the visual art curriculum and the gallery experience at the primary school level through a blended learning approach while exploring the Froebel ethos of learning (working title)

'Posthuman material literacy' - A tool for early childhood visual art education

Inclusive education policy and practice in mainstream post-primary school art room, from the perspective of the art teacher

Building sustainable education reform: Can a design-led approach to teaching and learning support highly effective and responsive teaching practices?

Cross curricular opportunities observed in the secondary school visual art classroom

An Investigation to Process-led Sustainable Approaches to Teaching Art in Initial Teacher Education

What does it mean to teach and make art that is of and for our time? Establishing new ways of thinking to conceptualise an art and design curriculum framework that will reflect the current pedagogical shifts that are occurring in the post primary visual art curriculum in the ROI

PhD study normally requires a minimum of three years full-time study (but may require longer, given the high level of achievement required). The PhD thesis is typically 80,000 to 100,000 words in length.

The PhD programme at NCAD is a structured programme involving significant interdisciplinary and discipline specific input in the early stages of the research project, and active engagement with a community of researchers within and beyond NCAD.

The NCAD's training, supervision and support processes for PhD candidates include:

Access to international PhD networks and exchange programmes

Supervised access to internal and, where appropriate, external experts in the relevant field

Support to participate in national PhD conferences in art and design

Public symposia and conferences in PhD research areas

Cross-institutional collaboration involving multidisciplinary research teams

Training in appropriate research methods.

Opportunities to join taught postgraduate modules which serve research needs

Applicants for a PhD through Education are encouraged to identify members of college staff they would wish to work with as supervisor(s) to offer guidance in developing their research proposal. Details of staff research profiles can be found here (scroll down to 'Education'). Further enquiries can be addressed to creaghc@staff.ncad.ie / admissions@ncad.ie

Applicants for a PhD through Education are encouraged to identify members of college staff they would wish to work with as supervisor(s) to offer guidance in developing their research proposal.

The application process
NCAD operates an online application process which carries a fee of 55 Euro. NCAD graduates or those applying to more than one area should contact the Assistant Student Recruitment and Admissions Officer admissions@ncad.ie prior to completing an online application.

Prior to applying using the online system, applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposed research with the appropriate School.

An offer of a place to undertake research follows an interview.

NCAD operates a rolling closing date for applications to undertake a research degree (PhD and MLitt). Students can commence studies at the start of the autumn, spring or summer trimester. PhD Scholarships (see below) are typically awarded to allow an autumn start.

Students can be registered full time or part time.