Art and Design (Common Entry) – BA (Hons)

CAO Points: 785 (Including Porfolio)
Location: Clare Street, Limerick City
years: 1

Course Code US800
Level 8
Course Type Undergraduate
Study Mode Full Time
Department Design

Course Overview

The programmes at Limerick School of Art & Design (LSAD) aim to assist students to become confident, articulate, informed, creative and expressive practitioners, who will be capable of making significant contributions in their own particular fields of contemporary culture.
The Year One Art and Design (Common Entry) programme begins this process by providing students with the necessary stimuli to encourage self-confidence, self-motivation, and an appetite for knowledge, which will drive their creative practice. Year one recognises the wide variety of backgrounds from which it draws its students. It recognises ethnic, cultural and gender diversity which are the basis of individual originality. The programme provides students with the necessary skills, vocabulary and contextual knowledge to progress to 2nd year of honours degree studies in one of the following – Painting; Print Contemporary Practice; Sculpture & Combined Media; Animation & Motion Design; Ceramics in Expanding Practice; Fashion; Graphic Design Communication.
LSAD is the largest centre for Art and Design outside of Dublin and has an award-winning reputation both nationally and internationally.

Contact Details

Des McMahon

Email: Des.McMahon@tus.ie

What are the entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate

A minimum of 2 H5 & 4 O6/H7 grades in six Leaving Certificate subjects, including English or Irish.

QQI FET/FETAC

TUS accepts QQI-FET/FETAC awards for entry on all courses of study. Please refer to our Admissions information for details.

Mature Applicants

Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.

International Applicants

International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application. Find out more here.

Portfolio

As well as meeting the Leaving Certificate/QQI FET/FETAC requirement, students will also need to pass a portfolio assessment. The portfolio is scored out of 600 with a minimum score of 240 required to pass. The portal for uploading portfolios will open from 14th to 28th March 2025 inclusive and applicants will be contacted the week commencing 11th March with the link. Check out the portfolio requirements here.

Course Modules

Year 1 – Semester 1

Semester One Studio Project

Credies: 25

Semester one is designed to introduce students to the working methodologies, the vocabulary, and the contemporary context of Art and Design. This is achieved through engagement in a broad-based, practical Studio Project. This project is introduced to students during Orientation Week. Throughout the project, students are introduced to a series of skills, technical processes, and conceptual considerations, by means of Seminar/Demonstrations each week. Students are encouraged to apply these skills, processes and concepts to the development of their studio project where applicable. Core areas in Semester 1 are 2D Studies, Digital Media, Concept Development and Contextual Research Studies.
Critical & Contextual Studies

Credits: 5

History of Art and Design (1400-1900). This module explores the history of art and design from 1400 to 1900, teaching students how to analyse, interpret, and discuss artworks. Students will learn key ideas, debates, and methods to understand and contextualize visual culture in relation to their own studio-based practice.

Year 1 – Semester 2

Elective Module

Credits: 10
At the end of semester one, and following tutorial advice, students select three specialisations from the seven B.A. Programmes on offer.

Fine Art
1. Painting
2. Printmaking & Contemporary Practice
3. Sculpture and Combined Media
Design
1. Ceramics in Expanded Practice
2. Fashion with Specialist Pathways
3. Graphic Design Communication
4. Animation and Motion Design
During this six-week module students work on a common project, which they develop through their three elective choices. Throughout the module there will be workshops, discipline related activities and tutorial advice, all aimed at helping students to make an informed choice for their discipline selection. At the end of the module, students will receive the necessary advice to assist them to make their final selected discipline choice.
Selected Module

Credits: 15

This module aims to further develop students’ knowledge of their selected discipline choice. which will form the basis of their further studies at LSAD and in turn their future careers as artists and designers. The Selected Discipline module, through discipline specific projects, allows students explore ideas and areas of interest through the process and practices related to their discipline selection. This experience is designed to assist students to confirm their discipline choice, before moving forward to Year Two.

Discipline specific projects increase students’ knowledge of their chosen specialisation and provides students with an enhanced experience of the contemporary issues and working methodologies relative to their chosen discipline area. Students should use these experiences to test any preconceptions they may have about the area. During this module, students should ask any questions or seek any advice they might need, to confirm their choice of discipline there will also be ongoing tutorial advice given to students throughout this stage of the programme.
Critical and Contextual Studies 2

Credits: 5

History of Art and Design (1400-1900). This module continues exploring the history of art and design from 1400 to 1900, further developing students’ ability to analyse, interpret, and discuss artworks. Students will deepen their understanding of key ideas, debates, and methods, allowing them to critically engage with visual culture as it relates to their creative practice.

What can you do after this programme?

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme work in a wide variety of areas within the Art & Design sector. The career paths graduates take will depend on the area they sepcialise in during their 2nd, 3rd and 4th years.

Further Study

Students who successfully complete this one year programme will choose to specialise in one of the following eight disciplines from 2nd year to 4th year.

Additional Information

The programme – an inside view
At LSAD we recognise the wide variety of backgrounds from which we draw its students and support ethnic, cultural and gender diversity as being the basis of individual originality. On completion you can choose to specialise in one of eight disciplines from 2nd year to 4th year. We offer Active Learning at its best with practical, hands-on studio where learning becomes the fusion of theory and practice.

In Semester One we introduce you to the vocabulary and working methodologies that allows you to engage with the contemporary context of Art and Design in a broad-based Studio Project. Each week your skillset builds as you engage with core studies based on principles of, 2D Studies, 3D Studies, Digital Media, Concept Development and Contextual Research.

In Semester Two you choose a path that will form the basis of your future career as an artist or a designer. At the end of the first semester one you select three elective specialisations and you get to experience an intensive practical introduction in each. After feedback and tutorial advice, on your experiences, you select the area of specialization, which you will pursue for your final three years. Provisional places are offered in specialized disciplines, based on grade point averages and are made official subject to students successfully passing the Year One programme.

Extra Costs: Students will be required to pay an extra €100 for class material fees.