Online or in person
grangearts
9
17 Oct 2025
NCAD
5 ECTS
AD483PC-1
6 weeks, Mondays PM
€600 or €300*
Research encompasses a vital range of skills which can thoroughly invigorate artistic and design practice. In recent years many different research methods have been developed by artists and designers, often by drawing on the methods employed in other academic fields. Artists and designers have, for instance, turned to Ethnography or made use of techniques associated with Oral History.
Taught by expert researcher, Dr Lisa Godson, this course will introduce participants to a range of current methodologies both in terms of the practical methods they deploy as well as the philosophical and ethical issues that they raise.
This Professional Certificate has been designed for practicing artists and designers, research students who wish to develop methods of research that suit their practice needs. It can be taken with a current research project in mind or as approached as a rich tank of ideas that will fuel future practice.
In a series of workshops, you will be supported to understand different understandings of research and how to establish intellectual and practical relationships with other researchers in your field. You will develop a vocabulary for your own practice and learn how to shape a clearly defined research method.
High level research skills and critical understanding of research practices are vital skills for many artists and designers working today, as well as curators, arts writers and critics.
The professional certificate is also be an excellent foundation for a future research degree (MPhil, MLitt, MRes, PhD)
All applicants are expected to present an approved Bachelor degree at minimum level of 2nd class honours (2.2)
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.
Applicants who have not been educated through English must show proof of achieving IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 in the writing section on the Academic Version) or an equivalent score in another accepted test.
Duration: 6 x 3h classes – 3 November to 8 December 2025 inclusive
Monday afternoons, 2-5pm
Dates: 3 Nov, 10 Nove, 17 Nov, 24 Nov, 1 Dec, 8 Dec
Format: in-person and online
It is offered to both on-site learners and those who wish to participate remotely (via Zoom).
Seminars and workshops will be available to onsite and online learners in real time.
Places are limited. If the course fills sooner, applications will close/go to waitlist.
There is a fee of €600 for this programme (or €300 with the HCI funding)
Apply via NCAD
CFA Scholarship:
A CFA scholarship encourages the participation of learners from sections of society that are significantly under-represented in higher education by offering one free place on all of our CFA short courses.
Find out if you are eligible to apply HERE
Fill in the CFA@NCAD scholarship application form HERE
Joanna Crawley crawleyj@staff.ncad.ie
David Crowley crowleyd@staff.ncad.ie
Lisa Godson godsonl@staff.ncad.ie
Applicants to this course are eligible for Human Capital Initiative HCI Pillar 3 Micro-Credentials Subsidy funding. The subsidy for this course is 50% of the total course costs for eligible learners. Terms & Conditions apply.
HCI funding acceptance form is part of the NCAD registration survey for this programme.
Learners fill it out online in the MyNCAD portal AFTER they accept the offer and are then invited to register.
Payment (€600) is required upfront at registration. Once it is determined that the student qualifies for HCI, NCAD will then issue a refund for the amount covered by the funding.
