Photography Schools and Programs in Ireland

Photography Studies in Ireland

Photography in Ireland can be studied as a full university degree, as a part-time professional course or online. Teaching is in English. Our directory lists three institutions in Ireland with photography programmes, all based in Dublin: Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Griffith College Dublin and Warnborough College (Ireland). They differ widely in level, format and recognition, so it is worth checking exactly what each qualification is.

How qualifications are organised

Irish qualifications are placed on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). According to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the framework lets students compare qualifications, and every qualification included on it is listed in the Irish Register of Qualifications. Courses that a college certifies itself, outside the framework, are also offered in photography; they can build skills and a portfolio but are not degrees.

Degree study: TU Dublin

TU Dublin offers the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Photography (course code TU976) at its Grangegorman campus. It is a full-time Level 8 degree that takes 4 years and carries 240 ECTS credits, with 24 places. The university notes that the course is no longer restricted and has no portfolio requirement.

The course has three strands:

• Critical Studies: visual studies, history, theory and criticism
• Photographic Practice
• Professional Studies: study skills, law and business

Modules range from documentary and editorial photography, the photobook and curating to law for photographers, and students finish with a dissertation, a portfolio and a major project. The course includes a work placement element.

Professional and part-time courses: Griffith College

Griffith College Dublin has taught a three-year BA in Photographic Media, validated by QQI at NFQ Level 7. The college states, however, that applications for the full-time degree are closed indefinitely and that there is no September 2026 or September 2027 intake.

The college continues to run part-time photography courses. The Professional Diploma in Creative and Commercial Photography lasts one year and is taught in a blended format with evening classes and Saturday workshops; the next Dublin intake listed is October 2026. It covers studio and location lighting, portrait, documentary and commercial work, editing and a final portfolio and exhibition. Griffith College certifies this diploma itself and states that it does not sit on the national framework. Shorter options include a 12-week Certificate in Advertising and Editorial Photography and a 2-day course for beginners.

Online study: Warnborough College

Warnborough College (Ireland) is a distance-learning college. Its Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio Art or Photography is taught entirely online, with each student working independently under a mentor. The college gives a minimum duration of 8 terms (32 months), 140 ECTS credits and a fee of €100 per ECTS credit, and students can start in any month. Applicants need a recognised undergraduate degree in a related discipline and must submit a portfolio. The course page does not state an NFQ level, so students who need a state-recognised master's degree should check the Irish Register of Qualifications before enrolling.

Admission, language and fees

Irish and EU applicants to TU Dublin apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO); the standard closing date is 1 February. The CAO points range for the photography degree in 2026 was 300 to 465, and the minimum entry requirement is six Leaving Certificate subjects with two at grade H5. Non-EU applicants who need a student visa apply directly to TU Dublin. Applicants whose first language is not English need a minimum IELTS (Academic) score of 6 overall, with nothing less than 6 in each component.

TU Dublin lists fees of €3,000 per year for EU students and €13,500 per year for non-EU students on this course.

Non-EU and non-EEA students on a course of more than three months may need a long stay "D" visa, depending on nationality. Education in Ireland, the government's study portal, lists the main requirements: a letter of acceptance for a full-time course, proof that the fees are paid, evidence of €10,000 in funds and private medical insurance. An online course followed from abroad does not involve a student visa.

Careers

TU Dublin lists career paths for its graduates that include commercial, advertising and editorial photography, fashion, food and portrait photography, press photography, picture research and editing, and clinical photography. Other graduates move into education or postgraduate research. Much photographic work is freelance, which is why the degree and diploma courses include business, law and portfolio modules.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a portfolio to study photography in Ireland?

Not for the BA (Honours) in Photography at TU Dublin, which states that there is no portfolio requirement. Warnborough College asks all applicants to its MFA for a portfolio.

How long does a photography degree take in Ireland?

The honours degree at TU Dublin takes 4 years of full-time study and carries 240 ECTS credits.

What English level is required?

TU Dublin asks for a minimum IELTS (Academic) score of 6 overall, with nothing less than 6 in each component, from applicants whose first language is not English.

Are part-time photography courses in Ireland official qualifications?

Not always. Griffith College states that its Professional Diploma in Creative and Commercial Photography is certified by the college and does not sit on the national framework. Qualifications on the NFQ are listed in the Irish Register of Qualifications.