IELTS Score Requirement for Ireland: IELTS Score for Top Ireland Universities, Courses & Student Visa

Ireland is the 6th most preferred study abroad destination in the world for international students. Ireland is home to more than 32,000 international students representing countries like China, India, Malaysia, etc. Over 2,000 students from India are studying in Ireland. The language of instruction in Ireland is English which is why your IELTS scores are very important for immigration and admission. For starters, higher IELTS scores can help you cut the competition and get into one of the top institutions in Ireland.

So, if you have made up your mind to study in Ireland, you must definitely read this guide to understand everything you need to know about Ireland IELTS requirements.

Table of Contents: Minimum Band Required for Ireland Courses What is the Required Minimum IELTS Score for Top Universities in Ireland? What are the Minimum Band Requirements for Ireland Student Visa? IELTS Score vs Alternative English Language Proficiency Scores to Study in Ireland? Frequently Asked Questions About IELTS Requirements for Ireland

 

Minimum IELTS Band Required for Ireland Courses

IELTS score required for Ireland varies for different institutions, levels of study and choice of program. Usually, an IELTS score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 or equivalent is expected for admission to universities in Ireland. Let us understand the minimum band required for various course in Ireland:

 

1. Bachelor’s Degree

 

You can earn an ordinary bachelor’s degree in Ireland within 3 years while you require up to 4 years to complete a honours bachelor degree. The former is classified at NFQ Level 7 while the latter at NFQ Level 8. The Ireland IELTS requirement for a bachelor’s degree program is 6.0-6.5 and usually remains the same for all programs.

 

IELTS Requirement	6.0-6.5
Other Requirements	●     Pass Grade XII Examination ●     Overall average of 70-80%

 

2. Master’s Degree

 

A master’s degree in Ireland can be completed in 1-2 years duration and is classified as a NFQ Level 9 qualification. An IELTS score of 6.5 is ideally required for admission to master’s degree programs. However, universities may require an IELTS score of 7.0 for admission to some master’s degree programs.

 

IELTS Requirement	6.5-7.0
Other Requirements	●     Hold 2:1 or 2:2 bachelor’s degree (honors) ●     Overall average of 50-55% for 2:2 equivalent or 65-70% for 2:1 equivalent

 

3. Higher Diploma Programs

 

The higher diploma programs in Ireland are classified as NFQ Level 8, similar to honours bachelor’s degree. These programs can be completed within 1 year. You can apply for a higher diploma program only after completing a general or honours bachelor’s degree.

IELTS Requirement	6.0
Other Requirements	●     A general or honours bachelor’s degree ●     Overall average of 50-55%

 

4. Postgraduate Diploma

 

You can apply for a postgraduate diploma in Ireland after completing an honours bachelor’s degree. The standard course duration is 1 year. This qualification is classed as NFQ Level 9, similar to a master’s degree program.

IELTS Requirement	6.0-6.5
Other Requirements	●     A general or honours bachelor’s degree ●     Overall average of 50-55%

 

What is the Minimum IELTS Score for Top Universities in Ireland?

 

IELTS exam is scored on 4 categories: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Here you need to understand that there might be different minimum thresholds for the overall score and the score for any of the 4 components.

 

Take a look at the table below to know more about the IELTS requirements for various level of courses offered by some of the top ranked institutions in Ireland:

 

University	IELTS Requirement
Trinity College Dublin	Undergraduate: 6.5, no band less than 6.0 Postgraduate: Overall 6.5 Dental and Medical courses: 7.0, no band less than 7.0
University College Dublin	All courses: 6.5, no band less than 6.0
National University of Ireland, Galway	All courses: 6.5, no band less than 5.5 Medicine courses: 6.5, no band less than 6.5
University College Cork	Undergraduate: 6.5, no band less than 6.0 Postgraduate: 6.5, no band less than 6.0
Dublin City University	All courses: 6.5, no band less than 6.0 Dublin Business School: 6.5 with 6.5 in speaking and writing
University of Limerick	All courses: 6.5, no band less than 6.0
Maynooth University	All courses: Overall 6.5 Business degrees: 6.5 with 6.0 in reading and writing MSc in Immunology and Global Health: 7.0 with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in other components
Technological University Dublin	All courses: 6.0, with no band less than 6.0

 

What are the Minimum Band Requirements for Ireland Student Visa?

 

You must check the minimum band requirements that satisfy English language requirements for Ireland student visa. The minimum IELTS score for Ireland is 5.0 which is applicable for all courses except 2nd level or English preparatory courses. However, keep in mind that these minimum requirements are for immigration purposes only. The institution where you are seeking admission may have different score expectations.

 

Note that your English language certificate must be issued within the last 2 years from your expected course start date. This requirement has also been altered in view of the pandemic situation. Now certificates issued within 3 years of your expected course start date will be accepted for admission in 2021.

 

IELTS Score vs Alternative English Language Proficiency Scores to Study in Ireland?

 

Apart from IELTS, the most commonly accepted English language test scores for institutions in Ireland are TOEFL, Pearson and Duolingo. Let us take a look at the other English language test scores equivalent to IELTS score for Ireland:

 

IELTS Band	Equivalent Scores
5	TOEFL: 45 Duolingo: 75 PTE: 55
5.5	TOEFL: 60 Duolingo: 85 PTE: 60
6	TOEFL: 80 Duolingo: 95 PTE: 65
6.5	TOEFL: 92 Duolingo: 105 PTE: 70
7	TOEFL: 100 Duolingo: 115 PTE: 75
7.5	TOEFL: 105 Duolingo: 125 PTE: 80

 

If you are looking to study in Ireland there are other alternatives to the IELTS as well.  For example, if you happen to have completed higher secondary education in Ireland, your Irish leaving certificate, GCSE result, or GCE-O level results can be your alternatives to IELTS.

 

We hope you find this guide of IELTS and other language proficiency test options for Ireland helpful. For more information about part-time jobs, internships, accommodation, and other questions, you can check out our extensive page on studying in Ireland.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About IELTS Requirements for Ireland

 

1. Can I apply for admission to Ireland without IELTS?

 

Ans. Yes, you can apply for admission to Ireland without IELTS by submitting scores of exams that measure your ability to read, write and speak English.

 

2. Is 6.5 a good IELTS score for admission in Ireland?

 

Ans. Yes, 6.5 is a good IELTS score for Ireland as most universities require this score for admission.

 

3. Are IELTS scores compulsory to apply for a visa in Ireland?

Ans. Yes, IELTS scores are compulsory to obtain a visa to study in Ireland.

 

4. What are the Ireland IELTS requirements for a student visa?

 

Ans. The minimum IELTS score for Ireland student visa is 5.0. However, fulfilling the IELTS score required for Ireland student visa does not guarantee admission to universities. The score requirements for universities and specific courses are higher than the score required to apply for a visa.

 

5. What are the alternative test scores accepted for admission to institutions in Ireland?

 

Ans. You can submit TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo scores or Cambridge English Language Assessments (CELA) certificate instead of IELTS for admission to institutions in Ireland.