About the university
IADT is a small public institute in Dún Laoghaire, south County Dublin, that calls itself Ireland's campus for the creative industries. It was established in 1997 from the former Dún Laoghaire College of Art and Design and became an awarding body in 2020.
IADT is best known for film, animation, design, photography and media, and its campus houses the National Film School. It also teaches creative computing, user experience (UX) design, business, digital marketing and applied psychology.
Indian students usually look at IADT for animation, film, UX design and creative technology. The non-EU fee for 2026/27 is €13,500 a year for every undergraduate course and €16,000 for most master's programmes, including the 18-month MA and MSc in User Experience Design.
Dún Laoghaire is a seaside town in south County Dublin, linked to the city by the DART train and buses. IADT tells students to budget at least €15,000 a year for living costs, so plan carefully.
- Founded
- 1997, from the former Dún Laoghaire College of Art and Design
- Type
- Public institute; awarding body since 2020
- Students
- About 2,500 full-time and part-time (QQI profile, 2021/22)
- Nationalities
- 54 countries represented (QQI profile, 2021/22)
- Campus
- One campus on Kill Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, home to the National Film School
- Intakes
- September only for postgraduate courses; September for undergraduate courses
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €10,667
- Duration
- 18 months full time (three semesters)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (week of 20 September)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 or Duolingo 120
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €10,667
- Duration
- 18 months full time (three semesters)
- Intakes
- September 2027 (week of 20 September)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 or Duolingo 120
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €10,667
- Duration
- 1.5 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 or Duolingo 120
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €10,667
- Duration
- 1.5 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 or Duolingo 120
- Postgraduate
MA in Screenwriting for Film + Television
- Fee / year
- €10,667
- Duration
- 1.5 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 90 or Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- €13,500
- Duration
- 4 years
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5), TOEFL iBT 79 or Duolingo 110
- Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Business + Digital Technology
- Fee / year
- €13,500
- Duration
- 3 years
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5), TOEFL iBT 79 or Duolingo 110
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- €13,500
- Duration
- Full time; see course page
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5), TOEFL iBT 79 or Duolingo 110
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc in User Experience Design | 18 months full time (three semesters) | €10,667 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| MA in User Experience Design | 18 months full time (three semesters) | €10,667 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| MA in Animation | 1.5 years full time | €10,667 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| MA in Design for Change | 1.5 years full time | €10,667 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| MA in Screenwriting for Film + Television | 1.5 years full time | €10,667 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| BSc (Hons) Creative Computing | 4 years | €13,500 | ≈ ₹14.3 lakh |
| BA (Hons) Business + Digital Technology | 3 years | €13,500 | ≈ ₹14.3 lakh |
| BA (Hons) Animation | Full time; see course page | €13,500 | ≈ ₹14.3 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology with similar universities in Ireland.
Scholarships
- Master's and PhD (NFQ level 9 or 10)
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)
Value: Funding for one year of full-time study; see the HEA scheme page for the award
Eligibility: 60 awards a year nationally for non-EU students at Irish institutions; IADT expects September 2027 applications to open between January and March 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Non-EU applicants apply directly to IADT with the international undergraduate form; the Admissions team assesses foreign qualifications using the CAO scoring guide and NARIC.
- Applications open on 5 November. Portfolio courses close on 1 February (portfolio by 2 March 2027); other courses close on 1 May.
- Visa-required students pay 100% of the first-year fee before 1 June or before applying for the visa.
Postgraduate
- Master's courses usually ask for a level 8 honours degree with at least second-class honours; the UX Design master's also needs a portfolio, assessed pass/fail.
- There is one postgraduate intake a year, in September; applications for September 2027 open in November 2026.
- Foreign degrees are assessed against IADT's published criteria using NARIC.
Documents
- Passport copy
- Detailed, up-to-date CV
- Personal statement of 400–600 words
- Proof of English
- Official academic transcripts (certified English translations if needed)
- Portfolio for portfolio-based courses
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 (no band below 5.5) for undergraduate; 6.5 (no band below 6.0) for postgraduate |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 for undergraduate; 90 for postgraduate |
| Duolingo | 110 for undergraduate; 120 for postgraduate |
| Cambridge | B2 for undergraduate; C1 for postgraduate |
| Waiver | Possible if you completed a full qualification of at least one year taught in English at NFQ level 5 or higher; ask IADT whether your Indian degree qualifies. PTE is not listed. |
Accommodation and living costs
IADT does not publish its own room prices. Students find housing through the IADT Student Pad and private sites, and IADT advises choosing an area on the DART line or the E2 bus route, viewing a room before paying and avoiding 5-day lets.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| IADT's suggested living budget (excluding fees)IADT says to budget at least this much, with rent the largest cost | €15,000per year | ≈ ₹15.9 lakh |
| Money you must show for living costs (visa)For stays over 8 months | €10,000per year | ≈ ₹10.6 lakh |
Campus and location
IADT's single campus is on Kill Avenue in Dún Laoghaire, built around Róisín Hogan House with later buildings including the Media Cube and the National Film School building.
- National Film School with film and TV studios.
- Workshops and studios for art, design and animation.
- A 7,300 sq m digital media building was planned for the campus (QQI profile).
- About 2,500 students, so classes are small.
- Seaside location in south County Dublin, served by the DART and the E2 bus.
Careers and graduate outcomes
IADT courses are linked closely to the screen, design and digital industries in Dublin. A level 8 or level 9 IADT award is a recognised Irish qualification, so graduates can usually apply for the Stamp 1G stay-back route; see our Ireland guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Computing graduates employed within 6 months | 80% | IADT Creative Computing course page (2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey) |
Studying in Ireland
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Ireland. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
What are IADT's fees for Indian students?
For 2026/27 IADT charges non-EU students €13,500 a year for any undergraduate course and €16,000 for most master's programmes, including the 18-month UX Design and Animation master's. The 2027/28 fees are under review.
Does IADT accept Duolingo?
Yes. IADT asks for Duolingo 110 for undergraduate courses and 120 for postgraduate courses.
Is there a January intake?
No. IADT has one postgraduate intake a year, in September, and undergraduate courses also start in September.
Do I need a portfolio?
For courses such as Animation, Film, Graphic Design and the UX Design master's, yes. Creative Computing and Business + Digital Technology do not need one.
When do I pay the fee?
Visa-required students pay the full first-year fee before 1 June, or before applying for the visa if the offer comes later.
Sources
- IADT: postgraduate fee schedule 2026/27 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- IADT: undergraduate fee schedule 2026/27 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- IADT: international students (opens in a new tab)
- IADT: international admissions and English requirements (opens in a new tab)
- IADT: MA/MSc User Experience Design (opens in a new tab)
- IADT: BSc (Hons) Creative Computing (opens in a new tab)
- IADT: BA (Hons) Business + Digital Technology (opens in a new tab)
- IADT: about (opens in a new tab)
- QQI: IADT institutional profile 2022 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: iadt.ie (opens in a new tab)
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