Creative Industries and Visual Culture Tionscail Chruthaitheacha agus Cultúr Físiúil

This course provides an industry-focused grounding in theories and practices of Creative Industries and Visual Culture. Creative Industries encompasses a broad range of cultural and economic activities from traditional arts to contemporary media. In Ireland this sector is valued at 3.73% of the Irelands economy and accounts for 80,000 jobs.

Visual Culture is the study of images and their various functions in the world today. It considers the changing nature of the production, distribution and reception of images from painting to photography to Instagram.

In the first year, you’ll study a wide range of contemporary issues, including arts policy, management, criticism, media law, and current discussions in the fields of art, design, film, photography, curating, museums, media, aesthetics, gender studies, and postcolonial studies.

In Years 2 and 3 you will study arts management, media law and cultural policy, art and design history, museums, exhibitions and curating. Common core modules throughout the course foster an understanding of the relationship between culture and society, and its impact on wider issues of policy, economics, and identity.

You will have an opportunity to customise your learning, taking advantage of a wide range of specialist optional modules provided by Schools across the University, including modules in Languages, Art and Design, Music and Drama, Architecture, Media, Hospitality and Tourism Management.

The teaching on the course applies theory to practice and features project-based learning, work placements, and visits by leading industry practitioners. You will often share classes with practice-based students in Art and Design, helping to develop future networks. In addition to Erasmus opportunities, you may choose to take the placement module (Real-World Engagement) in Year 2. Our recent placement partners include the Little Museum of Dublin, Poetry Ireland, 100Archive, Red Dog Design Consultants, IMMA, and Visual Artists Ireland. In Year 3 you will work as a team to organise and curate public events, based on your own independent research.

Leaving Certificate Requirements

QQI/FET Requirements

In addition to the QQI minimum entry requirements, QQI quotas and QQI points apply. The max QQI points awarded is 390. Further details at TU Dublin QQI FET Applicants.

Mature Applicants

Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome. Further details at TU Dublin Mature Applicants.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.

Click on the link below to view an indicative timetable for this course. Timetables are subject to change and up to date timetables will be provided to students on commencement.

View Sample Timetable

Graduates typically pursue careers across the cultural and creative sector, from event management to curation in Ireland and abroad. The program also prepares students for further study in areas such as journalism, arts administration, marketing and promotion, cultural policy.

My Qualification: What Next?

For more details about the career opportunities available after this course, please refer to our career-focussed guide: “My Qualification: What Next?”

Irish/EU Applicants

Applications from all Irish/EU citizens are made through the Central Applications Office (CAO).

Note: Applicants presenting with the Irish Leaving Certificate or a QQI FET award, regardless of nationality, should apply through the CAO.

The standard closing date to apply is February 1st. Late applications will close on May 1st. For restricted courses, the closing date is February 1st. Please see important dates on the CAO website. For a detailed guide on how to apply, please visit our CAO Hub.

International Students (Non-EU) 

Applications from international students are welcome for this programme. If you meet any of the following criteria, applications should be made directly to TU Dublin via the “Apply Now – Non-EU” link on each programme webpage.

• You hold Non-EU Nationality, and you live in a Non-EU country.
• You hold EU Nationality, but you have not lived in an EU country for 3 of the last 5 years AND you have not attended 5 years primary/secondary education in an EU country.
• You require a Student Visa to study in Ireland

Note: Applicants presenting with the Irish Leaving Certificate or a QQI FET award, regardless of nationality, should apply through the CAO.

For full details on How to Apply, Visa & Immigration Information, Accommodation Information and International Fees, please visit our International Hub.

Application Dates for Non-EU Applicants

Applications for undergraduate courses commencing September 2026 are now open and will close in June 2026.

Advanced Entry applications are accepted to this course. For further information on how to make an Advanced Entry application, please visit our CAO Hub. A full list of courses open for Advanced Entry are listed on the CAO website.

To qualify for Advanced Entry applicants must be currently studying, completing, or have successfully completed, studies at Level 6, 7 or 8 in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or an equivalent, in a related area. You must demonstrate by providing transcripts of results that you have achieved the learning outcomes for each stage you wish to advance past, for example:

• To enter Year 2 via Advanced Entry, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Year 1.

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website.

A thoroughly enjoyable course, covering multiple areas of design, history, and contemporary/digital culture. Throughout the course I was really able to improve my writing style and my ability to analyse from a critical perspective.

Joanna Begley, Graduate, 2019

This course is great for anyone who knows that they want to work in the creative field but is not sure exactly what they want to do. It allows you to explore art, design, media and film among other things and gives you the tools to direct your own learning towards the area you're most interested in.

Caoimhe Neeson

A selection of student work can be found here.

On graduation, you may proceed to postgraduate studies leading to the award of MSc, MPhil or PhD at research institutes and universities worldwide.

In addition, the focus on research-training provides an excellent grounding for advanced research qualifications including Masters and PhD, particularly in fields such as Museum Studies, Contemporary Visual Culture, Aesthetics, or the History of Art, Design or Material Culture.