Burren College of Art

• Location: Burren, County Clare, Ireland,
• Established: 1994,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type: mixed.

Burren College of Art is an internationally recognized Irish college specializing in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate courses in the field of fine arts.

Since its inception, since 1994, the college has been accepting local and international students. Representatives of many countries come here to develop creativity and gain international learning experience. Thanks to cooperation with more than 40 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, exchange programs are being implemented that last for one to two semesters.

To date, Burren is educate visual artists. In addition to higher education degree programs, there are free courses on campus in collaboration with ReSource, in which students explore the connection between art and ecology, law, archaeology, business, and other fields.

The small size of the Burren allows students to receive maximum personalized attention from qualified educators both in and out of the classroom.

The Burren College of the Arts offers accommodation to international students, visiting professors and seminar participants: they live in an 11-room residential building and an adjoining four-bedroom bungalow. The residence is located in a vast area with inspiring views of the Burren, a 10-minute walk from campus and 35 minutes from Ballivon Village. Its 11 bedrooms with private bathrooms are prepared for 1-2 people; Common areas include a large living room with fireplace, dining room, well-equipped kitchen, laundry room and toilets. Throughout the residence there is Wi-Fi, rooms equipped for guests with disabilities.

The bungalow, adjacent to the residential building, consists of two double bedrooms and two more for single occupancy. The rooms are equipped with bathrooms, and residents have access to common seating areas, a kitchen and a laundry room.

The campus is also home to Newtown House, one of the original buildings located next to the castle of the same name, where classes are held. The house offers six double rooms for students: two bedrooms have their own bathrooms and four have two shared showers. The house has a fully equipped kitchen, living room and Wi-Fi throughout, and a laundry room is nearby. 

The Food of the Arts café offers a cozy atmosphere and amazing quality dishes from professional chefs: hot lunches, snacks, drinks and desserts that satisfy a variety of dietary needs. Meal plans are available to students that reduce the cost of lunches and create an individual menu based on the student's tastes and preferences.

The main extracurricular activity of Burren College students is the preparation and participation in exhibitions. Art events are regularly organized in modern campus spaces: studios and conference rooms. Students can broaden their horizons by attending master classes and seminars with invited experts in the field of art.

• Multinationality among students,
• The programs are accredited by the University of Galway,
• It is possible to study on exchange in Canada and the USA,
• Regular seminars with invited speakers from different countries,
• There are two formats of the program: full-time and part-time.

Located on the west coast of Ireland, in the County of Clare, Burren College of Art is a great place for creative people looking to develop their skills. The premises of the College of Arts provide students with a variety of tools, resources and spaces necessary for experimentation and further development of creative practices. Among the many rooms are:

• Studios are the key objects of learning. They are adapted for group lessons, but also provide students with their own spaces with round-the-clock access. Each individual studio is small in size, well lit and connected to the internet. Its walls are on rails, which allows you to convert the room into an exhibition hall,
• The printing house is a large hall with an etching machine that allows you to implement ideas in high quality: monoprinting, woodcuts, engravings and other forms of art,
• Photo studio - a classroom with black and white photo enlargers, an ultraviolet illuminator, a room for developing film, a photo studio with backgrounds and lighting and other tools that give students access to creativity,
• 3D laboratory – designed for processing wood, stone and metal and has table and band saws, plasma cutters, welding machines and other equipment,
• A computer class in which Apple 5G, photo editing software, audio and video recordings, a large-format inkjet printer are available for use,
• Sculpture Park in the open area – prepared for the creation and demonstration of large-scale installations and sculptures,
• The library is a book depository with more than 6000 copies of books, videos by artists, international periodicals dedicated to art,
• Lecture theater, built in the middle of the XIX century and specialized for an audience with a capacity of 85 people. It hosts annual conferences, symposia and meetings of the cinema club,
• Drawing studio is a large room with natural light and wide windows, in which drawing classes, master classes,
• Newtown Castle is a tower building of the XVI century, equipped for living quarters and having exhibition halls.

There are several semesters in the academic year:

• Spring: January-April,
• Summer: May-August,
• Autumn: September-December.

During the summer months, short-term courses are held in the study area. The academic year includes several exam weeks, vacations and holidays on national and international holidays.

Students can choose the most suitable format for themselves: full-time or part-time. Depending on the type chosen, a lesson schedule will be built and their regularity will be established.

An approximate list of additional costs consists of the following services:

• Activity fee,
• Trips to London, Berlin under the guidance of a teacher,
• Prom
• Materials and books,
• Accommodation and meals,
• Off-campus leisure activities, including public transportation, activities, and more.

Applicants need to fill out an online form, pay the registration fee, and submit the required documents. After receiving a positive response from the admissions committee, the applicant receives assistance in obtaining a visa, booking accommodation and arriving on campus for entrance examinations. Admission is carried out based on the results of viewing the portfolio and interview.

Talented graduates of Burren College of Art have a fast-paced career path that, on average, begins within six months of graduation. Students begin their creative journey with on-campus exhibitions, then raise the bar to city and national events.

Admission requirements differ depending on the program chosen, however, candidates must meet the general admission criteria:

• Personal documents: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit,
• Bachelor's Degree/Master's Degree,
• Certificate confirming the level of English proficiency at the level of IELTS 6.5 and above,
• Portfolio of works,
• Essay on art in the amount of about 1000 words,
• A 500-word personal statement containing the goals and ambitions of the prospective student,
• Two letters of recommendation.

Burren College offers students in Ireland and the EU a 50% discount covering tuition fees. The institution also has a scholarship fund that provides funding for international students.

• Michael Green Scholarship – provided to applicants for merit, dedication at the previous stage of study; it is also possible to obtain it on the basis of financial needs,
• Sean Scully Foundation – €9340 award for new students enrolled in master's programs,
• Bernice P. Shaughnessy and Janet M. Schoannecy Scholarship – €5000 award given to international graduate students with outstanding ability,
• The BCA Housing Scholarship is financial assistance to pay for housing for the duration of your studies at Burren College of Art.

Students can also apply for external funding, such as the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, the Association of Arts Colleges, the Department of Education, and other public and private organizations.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision