MA in Circular by Design (Part Time)
14 Sep 2026
Places
15
When
Sept 2026 - June 2028
Applications open soon
Apply By
31 Aug 2026
Apply To
NCAD
ECTS Points
90 points
Course Code
AD 471P
Fees
€4,500
15
Sept 2026 - June 2028
31 Aug 2026
NCAD
90 points
AD 471P
€4,500
Through a combination of taught seminars, workshops, and independent study, participants will be invited to question and critique consumption and purpose and explore alternative methods for designing, producing, selling, using, and disposing at the end of the value chain.
Using their own design practice, research, and experience as a guide, participants will develop a critical perspective on the local and global challenges that industry faces, and begin to shape and articulate their unique roles within it as change makers.
Through live, industry-informed projects, participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with peers and external partners, such as designers, retailers, manufacturers, circular innovators, social enterprises, and local councils. These collaborations aim to innovate and test new circular systems, tools, products, and services.
NCAD and CFA recognise the critical need to build the circular innovation capacity within Ireland’s design sector and equip the next generation of changemakers with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to rethink the purpose, processes, and outcomes of design. Therefore, NCAD is developing a new suite of programmes for current and future professionals eager to investigate and challenge the prevailing ‘linear’ state-of-play.
The Circular by Design MA focuses on rethinking alternative design processes, ecosystems, and creative tools to impact change. This part-time MA is designed for those who want to build a deep and nuanced understanding of sustainability and circularity within the creative sector and apply that knowledge practically to their own practice or to tackle key ecological and social challenges across a value chain within ecosystems. The programme integrates theory and practice, emphasising collaborative and pre-competitive processes.
The circular economy is an economic and industrial model based on the principles of reducing consumption of natural resources, designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible, and recycling the materials at the end of life.
However, the transition from a linear to a circular requires new and additional attitudes, knowledge and skill-sets. An estimated 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage, before production even begins. Therefore, designers have a pivotal role to play in reshaping all aspects of the industry – from materials, to products, to services, to systems.
For example, the fashion and textiles industry is the joint third highest emitter of greenhouses globally, responsible for 10% of carbon emissions, more than all international flights and shipping combined. Operating in a largely linear take-make-use-waste system, textiles is one of the most pollutive and wasteful industries on earth.
In March 2022, the European Commission presented an “EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles”, which sets an ambitious vision that ‘by 2030 textile products placed on the EU market are long-lived and recyclable, to a great extent made of recycled fibres, free of hazardous substances and produced in respect of social rights and the environment”.
This part-time MA is for two years, running from September 2026 until Summer 2028.
There will be an online Introduction session for the Circular by Design students on the evening of the 9th of September.
Induction for all Postgraduate courses will take place on Friday, 12th September (12pm, in person, main campus)
The classes will commence the following week, Tuesday, 16th September.
Learners are required to commit +20hrs per week to successfully complete the programme. Learning hours per week vary, but typically, learners can expect up to 1 day per week (7-8 hrs) of contact time, and the remaining time (10-12 hours) will consist of individual and self-led work and study.
The programme will be delivered through a blended model, with both online and offline learning, to accommodate a diverse group of learners. Types of learning and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, masterclasses, workshops, small group presentations and tutorials. In general, learners will be expected to be on the NCAD campus for in-person delivery, once every three weeks.
Collaboration is a key element of the circular economy, since it is essential to work together throughout the supply chain, internally within organisations and with the public sector to increase transparency and create joint value.
Therefore, the part-time MA has a considerable emphasis on collaborative engagement with peers, as well as with private and public stakeholders from across the textiles value chain.
Throughout the programme, learners will receive input, in the form of lecturers, panel discussions and coaching from a number of international experts, companies and innovators, whose work is advancing the field of circular textiles and apparel.
Former visiting lecturers and guests to the Circular by Design 2022 programme with the Design and Crafts Council Ireland included:
Furthermore, a number of modules has been design specifically with the collaborations in mind;
The MA aims to prepare graduates for careers in the textiles and fashion industry, independent circular design consultancy, start-up ventures, creative practice and academic research. You will have the knowledge, skills, and attitude to develop and implement novel circular design and business model concepts. With the skills to develop circular design solutions related to material and product innovation and systems and service innovation, graduates have a wide range of local and global opportunities available to them. Potential career pathways for graduates include:
Graduates are also supported to progress to PhD level.
This MA is perfect for anyone looking to pursue careers or tackle problems related to the ecological, ethical, social and economic sustainability of the fashion and textiles industry.
Perhaps you are only starting out in this area and looking to gain a foundational understanding of the field and your potential role within it. Or you might already be dedicatedly working in this field, and looking to deepen your knowledge and become more effective in your changemaking.
Either way, this MA will enable you to apply the latest knowledge and tools to live ecological, social problems within the textiles value chain, and connect with a community of like-minded peers and professionals.
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.
For information on tuition fees please follow this Link
There is an application fee of €55.00*
The fee for the programme is €4,500 per year.
APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN SOON
Places are limited. If the course fills sooner, applications will close/go to waitlist.
Bernie McCoy: mccoyb@staff.ncad.ie
Joanna Crawley: crawleyj@staff.ncad.ie
All new and continuing students will receive information by email on how to register and pay fees. For information on Fee Payment and Grant Eligibility go to NCAD Fees & Grants.
NCAD Students Handbook
The Handbook is available for download here
Continuing students and new postgraduate students who accepted the offer will start receiving ‘Invitation to Register’ emails from the week beginning 19th August.
More on the NCAD website.
