This full-time course provides a solid foundation in the necessary skills required for higher education or a career in art, craft or design. By covering a broad mix of disciplines, you will have the opportunity to find your own strengths.
We encourage the development of ideas through drawing and personal research. On completion of the course, you should have a portfolio reflecting a wide range of skills and experience but also a sense of focus and direction.
In the second and third terms of the year, many of the students will apply to third level colleges of art and design. We will assist these students in selecting and organising their work into the best possible portfolio to achieve acceptance on their chosen course.
Course Coordinator: Eoghan O’Reilly
Course content may be revised for educational or organisational reasons.
QQI Level 5 Art 5M1985
Minimum Entry Requirements
Leaving Certificate: O6/H7 in 5 subjects
Leaving Certificate Applied
QQI Level 4
Equivalent qualifications will be accepted
Mature Applicants
Mature applicants who have relevant experience and may not meet the above requirements may also apply.
Interview and Portfolio
Entry to the course is by interview and portfolio.
In particular, the portfolio should include some examples of observational drawing from real items, not copied from photographs or images.
We are also interested in seeing examples of sketchbooks, finished paintings, prints, sculptures, photography. Please note, your portfolio need not contain all of these.
All applicants will be interviewed.
Recent Graduates have gained places in NCAD, TU Dublin, IADT Dun Laoghaire, ATU Galway, TUS – Limerick School of art and Design.
Many students have progressed to higher education through the Higher Education Links Scheme which allows students to use their QQI qualification to gain CAO points.
Graduates of Inchicore College have subsequently secured employment in art teaching, arts institutions, graphic design, costume design, and also practice as art-ists and craft producers.
“At the time I was considering going back to college to study a degree in art and had heard from a few different people that the portfolio course in Inchicore was the one to go for if I was serious about getting accepted. From day one the tutors had us thinking and approaching projects like they do in college. It was definitely challenging at the beginning because they really pushed us to create work outside of our comfort zones but by the end it was amazing to see the difference and just how much my art had improved.
The tutors were all so friendly and because they all come from an art background they understood exactly what the colleges were looking for. I was accepted into NCAD, which was my first choice on my CAO list and thanks to the course in Inchicore I didn't find the workload or projects daunting in first year because we had already been working in a very similar way. The course was also invaluable in teaching me to approach art in my own way and develop ways of exploring ideas that I still use in projects i'm doing at the moment. Honestly my only regret about the course is that I had to leave once I graduated. I made such great friends while I was there and everyone was so nice, it was really an amazing experience and I can't recommend them enough.”
Sabrina Dunne (Sabrina progressed to NCAD to study Fine Art Textile Art and Artifact)
“The college as a whole was so welcoming, from the tutors to the staff in the canteen.
The tutors were so encouraging and supportive, and I really feel they invested a lot of extra time and energy in helping me progress and succeed on completing the course.
It was great to be in a creative and positive environment, gaining new friendships with like minded people.”
Emma Hopkins (Emma gained a place in IADT)
This 1 year PLC Art Course is designed to help students build their portfolio for applying to Art College.
