What's not published yet
2027/28 prices and application dates haven't been published. Figures shown are for 2026/27 and will change.
Check the college's accommodation page before paying. Prices and dates change each cycle.
At a glance
NCAD is at 100 Thomas Street in the Liberties, Dublin 8, in a converted whiskey distillery, and describes excellent public transport access by bus, Luas and DART. NCAD is a CAO Level 8 provider (code AD8).
Where to get accommodation
NCAD has no on-campus housing. Its accommodation page lists nearby purpose-built residences (Highlight, Binary Hub, Heyday at Carman's Hall, The Loom, Here!), the free house-finding service Student House, University Living listings, and rental sites. The Students' Union runs an accommodation network and helps first years find housing. Page: https://www.ncad.ie/study-at-ncad/student-accommodation/
Who to contact
| Office | Phone | Page | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAD main office (100 Thomas Street) | [email protected] | +353 1 636 4200 | https://www.ncad.ie/study-at-ncad/student-accommodation/ |
| NCAD Students' Union | [email protected] | (01) 636 4269 | https://www.ncadsu.ie/faq |
| Access Office (accommodation assistance funding) | [email protected], [email protected] | +353 1 636 4200 | https://www.ncad.ie/students/support-services/financial-advice-and-support/ |
| Student Assistance Fund | [email protected] | n/a | https://www.ncad.ie/students/support-services/financial-advice-and-support/ |
| Learning Support Service | [email protected] | +353 1 636 4200 | https://www.ncad.ie/students/support-services/student-learning-support-service/how-to-register-1/ |
On-campus / college-owned accommodation
NCAD does not operate on-campus housing (NCAD accommodation page); the main office on +353 1 636 4200 or [email protected] can direct you.
Partner and purpose-built accommodation
NCAD's page lists these blocks within walking distance: Highlight, Binary Hub, Heyday at Carman's Hall, The Loom and Here!. Listed at about 20-minute walks: The Residence, Grangegorman House and Highlight Parkgate. Highfield House and Aspen House are listed at 25 to 30 minutes by bus, and Hazelwood Student Village at 50 minutes to 1 hour.
Published price (operator's own site, academic year 2026/27), Highlight Thomas Street, 30 & 32-36 Thomas Street, Dublin 8 (D08 R76P), operated by Fresh:
- Weekly rates: Heritage Non En Suite €264; Bronze En Suite €295; Bronze Plus En Suite €314; Bronze Plus Deluxe €318; Silver En Suite €330; Gold En Suite €342; Platinum En Suite €347; Platinum Plus En Suite €353. Most rooms offer 41 or 51 week contracts, with select options of 52 weeks; check the contract length for your room on the operator's page.
- Contact +353 85 876 7012 (Mon-Fri 8:00-18:00). The operator's page says 2026/27 availability is by waitlist. Book directly with the operator of each block.
Private renting and digs
NCAD lists Daft.ie, Rent.ie, CollegeCribs.ie, Uniplaces, Arbicle and Spotahome, plus the matching services Student House and University Living. For short stays it lists Airbnb.ie, Hostelworld.com and Staycity.com. The Students' Union offers free help finding housing, especially to first years, and runs a Facebook network where accommodation is advertised. Rent context (RTB Rent Index, Q1 2026, whole-property average for new tenancies): Dublin City Council area €2,301 per month; Dublin overall €2,335.
Getting around
NCAD's international guide describes public transport access by bus, Luas and DART. Transport for Ireland: Young Adult (19 to 25) and Student Leap Card holders get 50% off adult fares in Dublin; Zone 1 caps are €3.00 per day and €12.00 per week, and the 90-minute fare is €1.00.
Supports
- NCADSU: [email protected], (01) 636 4269, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, off the Concourse (turn right from the front gates); no appointment needed.
- Student Accommodation Assistance (2026/27): funding for students from the Traveller and Roma communities, and students with experience of the care system between ages 12 and 18 who do not receive an aftercare allowance, towards the cost of purpose-built student housing, private rentals, shared accommodation or digs. Closing date 16 October 2026; arrange a meeting with the Access Office at [email protected] or [email protected].
- Student Assistance Fund (2026/27; covers rental expenses among other costs): open to registered full-time and part-time students; round one closes 23 October 2026, round two 5 February 2027; decisions take up to six weeks after closing; [email protected].
- NCAD warns: never hand over money for private-sector student accommodation without viewing it in person and receiving a signed lease. Threshold gives free housing rights advice.
Accessibility
Learning Support Service: [email protected], +353 1 636 4200, 100 Thomas Street (needs assessment, then a Profile of Needs). NCAD runs an access scheme page for HEAR and DARE: https://www.ncad.ie/undergraduate/undergraduate-year-1/ncad-access-scheme/ . DARE: https://accesscollege.ie/dare/
International students
NCAD's international guide says to budget for one month's rent as a deposit.
Timeline for Sept 2027 entry
- CAO: the 2027 application cycle opens on 5 November 2026. The last cycle's published dates (2026 cycle) were: standard deadline 1 February 17:00, late deadline 1 May 17:00, Leaving Cert results 21 August, first offers 26 August. 2027 deadlines will be on the CAO timetable page.
- 2026/27 operator figures are shown above; book directly with the operator.
Key facts before you pay
Before paying anything: confirm whether the document is a tenancy or a licence. The RTB says student-specific accommodation should run no longer than 41 weeks unless you request otherwise in writing, deposits are capped at one month's rent, and deposit plus rent in advance is capped at two months' rent (a student-tuition exception applies when rent and tuition go to the same provider). Deposits must be returned at the end, with deductions only for arrears, damage beyond wear and tear, or unpaid bills (RTB; Citizens Information).
National guides: https://rtb.ie/renting/types-of-tenancies/student-specific-accommodation/ ; https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting-a-home/tenants-rights-and-responsibilities/tenants-rights-and-obligations/ SUSI applies the adjacent rate of maintenance grant when your normal residence is under 30 km from the college and the non-adjacent rate at 30 km or more, measured by SUSI on Google Maps (SUSI adjacency page). This affects how much grant support you have toward rent.
Official sources
- https://www.ncad.ie/study-at-ncad/student-accommodation/
- https://www.ncad.ie/global/studying-and-living-in-dublin-ireland-1/
- https://www.ncadsu.ie/faq
- https://www.ncad.ie/students/support-services/financial-advice-and-support/
- https://www.ncad.ie/students/support-services/student-learning-support-service/how-to-register-1/
- https://www.thisisfresh.com/dublin/highlight-thomas-street/rooms
- https://www2.cao.ie/points/l8.php
- https://rtb.ie/renting/types-of-tenancies/student-specific-accommodation/
- https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting-a-home/tenants-rights-and-responsibilities/tenants-rights-and-obligations/
- https://rtb.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/RTB-Rent-Index-Q1-2026.pdf
- https://www.transportforireland.ie/fares/leap-card/
- https://www.transportforireland.ie/fares/leap-card/tfi-90-minute-fare/
- https://www.susi.ie/eligibility-criteria/income/adjacency/
- https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=timetableevents&bb=importantdates
How to ask the college
- How long is the contract, and what are the exact move-in and move-out dates?
- What's included in the rent (electricity, heating, Wi-Fi, bins, insurance)?
- How much is the deposit, and when and how is it refunded?
- What are the cancellation terms if you don't get your CAO offer or change course?
- Are there rules for first years (priority, distance rules, age limits, lotteries)?
If you don't get a room
- Ask the accommodation office about waiting lists and late availability.
- Use the college's own listing service or students' union listings shown on this page.
- Consider digs (a room in a family home): see the digs and rent-a-room guide.
- Work out whether commuting is realistic using the transport details on this page.
- Start looking in spring. Don't wait for CAO offers in August.
Scam warning
Report any listing with an overseas address, a request to pay before a viewing, or no RTB registration. Read the tenancy rights and scams guide.
National accommodation guides
Last verified 1 Oct 2026 · data year 2026/27 Report an error