Arts Management
Turn your passion for the arts into a career! This course combines creativity and the arts with business skills. It teaches you event management, marketing, and the digital tools to succeed in the thriving arts and cultural sectors.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Institute of Art Design and Technology |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Institute of Art Design and Technology | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Min Entry Requirements
2 H5 + 4 O6/H7
English: O6/H7
Maths: F2/O6/H7
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Applicants with QQI/FETAC Level 5 or Level 6 Awards require distinctions in 3 (of 8) modules.
Careers / Further progression
What will I be able to do when I graduate?
Career opportunities are in areas such as music management, festival management, marketing, hospitality, heritage, museums, social media, human resources, as well as technology, recruitment and finance. Graduates work with major venues and festivals such as Madison Square Garden New York, Glastonbury, Electric Picnic and Body + Soul. Others have founded their own events companies and festivals. Graduates may progress to a diverse range of postgraduate study in Festive Arts, Event Management and Strategic Marketing including the MA Design for Change at IADT.
Further information
September 2026
Mature Students
We welcome applications from mature students, who must apply to the CAO.
More info for Mature https://iadt.ie/services/institute-student-services/access-social-inclusion/mature-students/
20
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
IADT’s Arts Management programme is the only undergraduate degree of its type in Ireland. By combining marketing, public relations and digital skills, with the study of the music industry, theatre, event management and the visual arts, students gain a multidisciplinary education with highly transferable skillsets.
Students learn the business skills necessary for a successful career in the creative and cultural sector. Develop the commercial instincts, knowledge and techniques to manage and promote cultural events and venues. They gain hands-on experience in running events, creating and managing marketing campaigns and setting up cultural businesses in areas including heritage, tourism, festivals and events.
What will I do?
Benefit from small class sizes, an industry experienced teaching team and 80% continuous assessment
Study the arts and the cultural industries from a business perspective
Develop a range of practical skills in event management, digital marketing and content curation
Gain hands-on experience in running events, managing marketing campaigns and setting up cultural businesses
Benefit from practical, industry-relevant continuous assessments, with very few exams
Learn through experience on cultural field trips, work placements and industry projects
Opportunity to go on Erasmus in Semester II of your 3rd year
Deepen your digital skills and know-how with lab-based classes in digital marketing, social media and software skills
What will I study?
In first year, you take the first steps in the music industry and events management, with modules in the music industry, arts and culture, financial management and marketing.
By second year, you further develop your knowledge of the music and event sector, and are introduced to law, digital marketing and market research. You complete an interdisciplinary project-based module to create and host an original cultural event or project.
In third year, study cultural economy, advanced music industries, performance studies, design thinking and communications and research methods. Take opportunities for work placement or choose to study abroad in Semester II.
In your final year, modules include Strategic Arts Management, Social Media, Law, Arts Impacts, Public Relations, Cultural Policy and Graduate Employability Skills.
What modules will I study?
Year 1
Semester 1
IT Skills
Management
Principles of Marketing
Semester 2
Introduction to Arts + Culture
Event Management
Introduction to Financial Management
Theatre + Performance
Music Industries
Year 2
Semester 1
Event Project 1
Financial Management
Market Research
Semester 2
Event Project 2
Law 1
Music Business
Year 3
Semester 1
Design Thinking + Communications
Advanced Music Industry
Research Methods
Applied Digital Skills
Performance Studies
Cultural Economy
Semester 2
Placement
Erasmus Studies
Year 4
Semester 1
Financial Strategy + Taxation
Irish Cultural Policy
Graduate Employability Skills
Public Relations
Semester 2
Social Media
Law 2
Arts Impacts
Comparative Cultural Policy
Strategic Arts Management
Erasmus
In Year 3 you’ll have the choice to partake in industry placement, Erasmus Traineeships or Erasmus study abroad (the last two through the Erasmus+ Programme). IADT has Erasmus partnerships with Universities in Italy, France, Spain and Estonia, amongst others.
International study opportunities
The Erasmus+ Programme provides many exciting opportunities. Students spend Erasmus semesters in Spain, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Estonia or Finland. Opportunities for Erasmus internships exist across the EU, while our international networks expand annually.
Blaithin McLoughlin
Course Co-ordinator
Email: blaithin.mcloughlin@iadt.ie