18 Best Masters in Design Courses in Ireland You Should Know in 2024
Design is a broad field covering various specialisations. Masters in Design in Ireland has a wide range of courses for you to pick from. Its bucket includes everything from software design to architecture and 3D modelling to medical device design.
Compared to other destinations to study abroad for a Design Masters, Ireland provides a wide range of courses and high-quality training at affordable cost.
Innovation and creativity are the future of tomorrow. So get ready to get well-equipped for your dream career with a Masters in Design in Ireland.
Why Study Masters in Design in Ireland?
- Wide range of options:
You will be surprised if you start researching for a Masters in Design in Ireland. This country offers more than 20+ design specialisation courses for international students.
- High-quality education:
Industry experts design and teach Master programs in Ireland under their guidance. Design courses in Ireland offer practical-based training, thus making your future shaped and transformed by creativity.
- Huge opportunity:
Did you know that Ireland is home to over 5000+ design-related firms? Now, this sets how evident the opportunity for graduates to grab their dream careers in this pool is.
- A decent payscale:
The average base pay for Designers in Ireland starts from €30k per annum in Ireland. This varies with specialisation and can fall between €48 – €44k per annum.
- Post-study work visa:
Would you like to settle in a country that is evergreen, peaceful, and high paying? Then this country should be Ireland. Ireland offers a 2-year post-study work visa to help you reap the best fruit of your graduation.
- Critical skill set:
Getting a job listed in the critical skill occupation list lets you settle with a PR sooner. There are around 8+ design roles listed under the critical skill list currently.
Best Universities for Design Masters in Ireland:
There are 7 best globally ranking universities to study Masters in Design in Ireland:
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Dublin
- University of Galway
- University of Limerick
- Maynooth University
- Munster Technological University
- Technological University of Dublin
Read more: Top Universities in Ireland for Masters
Best Colleges for Design Masters in Ireland:
There are two best colleges in Ireland that offer a Design masters course in Ireland:
- Griffith College Dublin
- National College of Art & Design (NCAD)
Read more: Best Colleges for Masters in Ireland
Best Courses for Masters in Design in Ireland:
These are the 21 best Design Masters courses in Ireland for 2023:
| Design Masters Course in Ireland | Where to study |
| MSc Interactive Digital Media | Trinity College Dublin, Griffith College |
| M.F.A Stage Design | Trinity College Dublin |
| MA Digital Art, Design and Cultures | University of Galway |
| MSc Software Design and Development | University of Galway |
| MSc/MA Interaction and Experience Design | University of Limerick, NCAD |
| MSc Design for Health and Wellbeing / MSc Medical Device Design | University of Limerick, NCAD |
| MSc Design Innovation | Maynooth University |
| PME Art & Design | Munster Technological University, NCAD |
| MSc Software Architecture and Design | Munster Technological University |
| MA Creative Arts (3D Design) | Technological University Dublin |
| MA Art and Environment | Technological University Dublin |
| MA Graphic Design Practice | Technological University Dublin |
| MA Interior Design | Technological University Dublin |
| MA Visual and Critical Studies | Technological University Dublin |
| MA Visual Communication | Technological University Dublin |
| MA Service Design | National College of Art & Design |
| MA Communication Design | National College of Art & Design |
Read more: Top 10 Courses in Ireland
Best Masters in Design in Ireland: Overview & Fees
1. MSc Interactive Digital Media:
Fee: €25,240
Helps you understand, plan, design, and build digital media applications and content.
The course content covers the programming languages, applications, a range of techniques, modalities, and critical thinking used for content creation.
2. M.F.A Stage Design:
Fee: €22,290
Students can specialise in one area of stage design or learn a combination of disciplines.
The course covers three stage disciplines set, costume, and lighting. During their final semester, professional directors and theatremakers expose students to master classes. This semester will culminate with a professional production staged in one of The Lir’s performance studios.
3. MA in Digital Art, Design and Cultures:
Fee: €17,780
This is for graduates who want to start a career in the creative and cultural industries.
You will enhance your skills in understanding, planning, and implementing working procedures and policies related to digital art, design and culture.
With this, you can kick start a journey in multimedia production and content creation, media innovation and entrepreneurship, cultural heritage and education, and digital and communication technologies skills in other industries.
4. MSc Software Design and Development:
Fee: €32,200
This two years MSc program is open to graduates from any background.
The core modules include subjects in software development tools and techniques.
A unique concentration is showered in a specific ICT domain by giving you a solid grounding in research and its application.
5. MA/MSc Interaction and Experience Design:
Fee: €18,078
This course is chosen by students who wish to pursue technological competence with design/artistic endeavour.
It is an exciting course that lets you to explicit new areas of interest. Modules range across various activities, such as digital multimedia, software development, interactive installations, human-centred research and education.
6. MA Interaction Design:
Fee: €16,500
This Design Masters in Ireland is a studio-based course in NCAD.
The course pattern is structured with lectures, seminars, workshops, fieldwork and independent and group projects.
Students set out to focus on the interdisciplinary nature of Interaction Design. This covers topics ranging from human-computer interaction and psychology to product design and experience prototyping.
7. MSc Design for Health and Wellbeing / MSc Medical Device Design:
Fee: €18,078/€16,500
This course trains students to solve various healthcare challenges using their design approach.
Students are set to focus on developing human-centred medical devices, products, services and experiences.
Overall, this program gives design solutions to the rapidly changing healthcare environment. Thus students are trained to think critically and design as being the voice of the user.
8. MSc Design Innovation:
Fee: €14,000
This is the first program of its kind in Europe. It is best suited for professionals who want to upskill their positions in Innovation leadership, Innovation management, Product management, Strategic marketing, Market research, and Design strategy.
As the name suggests, graduates are trained to deliver differentiating and competitive new design solutions to organisational strategies and capabilities.
9. Professional Master of Education (PME) Art & Design:
Fee: €33,400 – €29,000
This is a two years Masters in Design in Ireland that leads to a professional qualification as a post-primary teacher of Art and Design.
The course modules are structured to facilitate your personal, social, intellectual and practical growth and prepare you for a professional career as a teacher.
10. MSc Software Architecture and Design:
Fee: €6,500
This course is a complete package to train students on a wide range of software-related in its design aspects.
You become a complete software geek with the skills to design software architecture, algorithms, programming languages, malware, microservices, and data analytics. Please be informed that this course is rendered in a part-time online mode.
| Top Read: 17 Benefits to Study in Ireland for Indian Students |
11. MA Art and Environment:
Fee: Not disclosed
This Design Masters in Ireland works on a ‘world-centred’ pedagogical framework.
This framework offers specialisation in a mix of practical and critical disciplines.
The primary objective concerns contemporary arts and its relationship with varied environments. These environments include ecological, spatial, political, and economic studies. All these modules strongly emphasise a historical understanding of environmental art.
12. MA Graphic Design Practice:
Fee: €13,500
This course educates you about contemporary design subjects through research, practical studio work and the development of relevant technology and entrepreneurial skills.
Entrepreneurial skills are included to transform students to lead today’s competitive and demanding design industry.
The practical studio project, governed by an industry expert in a relevant field, is a double checkmark for course quality.
13. MA Creative Arts (3D Design):
Fee: €13,500
MA Creative Arts in 3d Design best fits graduates with research interests. It is a Practice-Based Master’s where candidates undertake a self-directed, studio-based major project and written thesis alongside several taught modules.
This course introduces you to a structured framework for creating creative and innovative three-dimensional objects/products.
14. MA Interior Design:
Fee: €13,500
This studio-based course covers design history, movements, and the theories and principles underpinning successful interior design.
It places a particular emphasis on practice engaged with critical and historical debate.
Students will benefit from state-of-the-art printing and 3-D workshops, off-campus Project Spaces, and individual on-campus studios during the end semester.
15. MA Visual and Critical Studies:
Fee: €13,500
The MA in Contemporary Visual Culture targets individuals who have obtained a degree in visual culture, art history, design history, or philosophy of art.
The program intends to offer postgraduate students a chance to concentrate on studying contemporary visual culture with archival and textual research backing.
16. MA Visual Communication:
Fee: €13,500
The program aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of visual communication theory and practice that is up-to-date and well-informed. This course’s key areas are typography, editorial design, branding, visual identity, public awareness campaigns, social design, digital technology narrative and space, and web and screen-based design.
17. MA Service Design:
Fee: €16,500
Students in this program learn to design effective, efficient, and user-friendly services, focusing on meeting users’ needs.
The modules cover various topics, including design research, design thinking, user-centred design, systems thinking, and co-creation.
18. MA Communication Design:
Fee: €16,500
This Design Masters in Ireland focuses on developing advanced skills and knowledge in communication design.
This course covers various topics, including graphic design, typography, branding, advertising, digital media, and user experience design.
Program Requirements
UG score: A minimum bachelorette score of 60% on an Indian scale is required.
Work experience: Work experience is not mandatory for all the courses. Some of them look for graduates from a relative background. If not, at least have a keen interest in advancing your career in a design or creative field.
Portfolio: Most of the Masters in Design in Ireland requires you to submit a work portfolio and sit for an interview.
English language requirements: An IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent is expected if your first language is not English.
Financial requirements: Your tuition fee can cost around €13,500 – €27,000 for a 1-year master’s. If you have planned for a two years course, you need a finance arrangement of up to €33,000 – €53,000.
Read more: Complete Requirements to Study in Ireland
Scholarships for Design Masters in Ireland:
All universities and colleges in Ireland financially support their international students through scholarships. You can check our Postgraduate Scholarships in Ireland for more details on this.
The Ireland government also offers a full-tuition fee waiver scholarship with €10,000 as a stipend for the first year of studies.
Scholarships are subject to the date of application and the number of eligible candidates the crew members decide.
Read more: A Guide to Scholarships in Ireland
Need further Help?
A Masters in Design in Ireland is a wise choice for individuals seeking to expand their creativity, sharpen their skills, and broaden their professional opportunities. With top-notch universities and a thriving design industry, Ireland offers an unparalleled experience for aspiring designers.
So why wait? Take the leap and embark on a transformative journey that will elevate your career to new heights!
