Student Support
STUDENT SUPPORT
Disability Services
NCAD is committed to helping you achieve your academic goals. If you are a student who has a disability, mental health condition, a significant ongoing illness or a specific learning difficulty, the NCAD Access Office encourages you to come and register with us. Students are required to submit verification of their disability or learning difficulty from a Medical Consultant / Specialist or Educational Psychologist. Further information can be found here: Disability Support at NCAD
Learning Support Service
The Student Learning Support Service, provided by the National Learning Network, is a full-time, confidential learning and support service for students with specific learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia/DCD and other associated specific processing / learning difficulties such as Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and Attention Deficit Disorders. The service also supports students with mental health difficulties, significant ongoing medical conditions, physical mobility and sensory disabilities.
The service provides specifically tailored individual study support sessions to registered students so they can improve their academic skills and better manage college life. The service also provides skills based seminars and lectures to the wider student body on topics such as essay writing and planning/organisation. The disability service can also assist students with disabilities who require specific in class and exam-based supports.
Room G16, Ground Floor, School of Design
Telephone: + 353 (01) 636 4314
Email: learningsupport@staff.ncad.ie
Assistive Technology Service
The Assistive Technology Service provides students with software, IT facilities, advice and training to use AT hardware and software, to assist them with writing and research. Specialised software and support is available for students with specific learning difficulties or disabilities.
Examples of software include:
- Mind-mapping programs for planning essays and projects.
- Text to Speech programs which read text aloud through a computer.
- Software that converts a page of printed text (i.e. a library book) to editable digital text in Microsoft Word.
- Speech recognition software – type faster by speaking into a microphone.
- Proofreading software.
- Help with thesis formatting and computer skills training can also be availed of through the AT service.
Assistive Technology Seminars are held regularly and demonstrate how to integrate free software into your essay writing and research. All students are free to book an appointment to see what is on offer to them.
Room G16, Ground Floor, School of Design.
Telephone: +353 (01) 6364314
Email: assistivetechnology@staff.ncad.ie
There are two Calm spaces across campus to support neurodiverse students.
ACCESS AND OUTREACH
Get involved - Make a Difference!
NCAD’s Access Programme forms part of the College’s overall commitment and social responsibility to promoting equity of access and opportunity to NCAD. The pre-entry programme is designed to provide experiential art and design engagement opportunities to pupils from both primary and post-primary school, Youthreach and community groups that are linked to NCAD. This includes Access Day, Student Shadowing Projects, Artist Mentoring Projects, the Primary School Access Programme and other outreach initiatives working with community groups across Dublin.
More recently NCAD works closely with HEIs across Dublin, Cork and Sligo on the Creative Arts Summer School, Dublin Learning Festival, I Can Teach and Community Mentoring initiatives, as part of the national Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH).
As a student at NCAD you have the opportunity to get involved in the Access Programme. You will need to be Garda vetted and this can be organised through the Access Office.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Student Medical Service
A doctor attends the college during term time on three days each week.
Student Counsellor
A counsellor provides a confidential counselling service.
Careers Advisory Service
The NCAD Careers Advisory service is available to all our students and provides information and advice relating to career choice, employment and postgraduate study. The service will help you identify the skills you have gained at NCAD, and provide information and advice on CV preparation as well as interview and presentation techniques.
Students’ Union
The representative student body, the National College of Art and Design Students’ Union, holds elections annually. Students have representation at Board level and on Academic Council and School boards. During the year the Union organises events including concerts, films, balls and other social and sporting activities.
Students’ Union Contact details:
Telephone: + 353 (01) 6264269
Email: ncadsu@gmail.com
Instagram: @ncadsu
Add NCADSU as a Facebook friend
Mentoring
The College provides a voluntary mentoring service whereby Second Year students mentor small groups of new entrants during Semester 1 to assist them in settling in to the college and dealing with any problems they may encounter.
Accommodation
NCAD does not offer on-campus accommodation. A number of dedicated student residences are located close to our Thomas Street campus, as well as private rented accommodation and student house shares. NCAD Accommodation Network is a Facebook group operated by NCAD Students’ Union, connecting accommodation seekers with people offering accommodation in the Dublin area.