Language Courses Schools and Programs in Ireland

Language Courses Studies in Ireland

Language courses in Ireland are, in practice, English courses. Ireland is an English-speaking country in the European Union, and most of its language schools teach English as a foreign language to visitors of all ages: adults on year-round courses, teenagers on summer programmes, teachers on training courses and professionals who need English for work. Our directory lists 22 active schools in Ireland that offer language courses.

How English courses in Ireland are organised

Language schools in Ireland are mostly private and award their own certificates of attendance; a language course is not a university degree. Students who want an external certificate take an international exam, and many schools prepare for these. Emerald Cultural Institute in Dublin, for example, lists IELTS and Cambridge examination courses, and the Atlantic School of English & Active Leisure in West Cork offers the Cambridge Linguaskill exam on its adult courses.

The usual course types are:

• General English, from beginner to advanced levels
• Exam preparation (IELTS, Cambridge exams)
• Business English and one-to-one tuition
• Long-term "work and study" programmes of 25 weeks
• Junior summer programmes with activities and excursions
• Teacher training and Erasmus+ courses for teachers

International House Dublin, founded in 1998, offers year-round adult courses in General English, exam preparation, Business English and one-to-one, plus summer camps for ages 9 to 17. Many schools let adults start on any Monday; Mackdonald Language Academy in Kilkenny states this for its adult courses. University-based centres also exist: DCU International Academy teaches on the Dublin City University campus, 5 km from Dublin city centre, and combines General English and IELTS preparation with pathway programmes such as an International Foundation Year.

Quality marks: ACELS and TrustEd Ireland

For years the state recognition scheme for English language schools was ACELS, run by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), and many schools still state it. It is being replaced by TrustEd Ireland, a statutory quality mark that QQI awards to higher education and English language education providers that meet national standards for international learners. QQI states that there is no automatic transition from ACELS to the new mark: each school has to complete the full application, including a site visit. Schools with the mark must also contribute to a statutory Learner Protection Fund.

The mark matters most for students from outside the EU and EEA. According to Ireland's immigration service, the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), the list used until now for student permissions, is closed and will be superseded by TrustEd Ireland. Before paying, ask the school which recognition it holds and check the official lists.

Visas and immigration rules

Citizens of the EU, the EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom can move to Ireland freely and need no immigration permission to study. For everyone else the rules depend on the length of the course:

• Less than 90 days: the student is treated as a visitor. Nationals of visa-required countries apply for a short stay "C" visa, and all students must enrol and pay for the course in full before travelling.
• More than 90 days: the course must be on the ILEP or on the TrustEd Ireland list of eligible programmes. For English, these are programmes lasting at least 25 weeks. The student registers after arrival and receives an Irish Residence Permit.

Education in Ireland, the government's study portal, lists the main requirements for a long stay "D" visa: a letter of acceptance for a full-time course with at least 15 hours of study per week, proof that the fees are paid, evidence of €10,000 in funds and private medical insurance. A single journey visa costs €60 and registration after arrival costs €300. Whether a visa is needed at all depends on nationality, and Ireland is not part of the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa is not valid there.

Non-EU students with a valid Stamp 2 permission may take casual work: up to 20 hours per week during term time and up to 40 hours per week from June to September and from 15 December to 15 January, according to Education in Ireland.

Where to study

Half of the schools in our directory are in Dublin (11), followed by Bray and Kilkenny with two each. Single schools are found in Cork, Dún Laoghaire, Ennis, West Cork, Ferrycarrig, Dunmore East and Westport. Dublin offers the widest choice, including long-established schools such as The Linguaviva Centre, founded in 1977.

Most schools arrange accommodation. Host families are the standard option, and some Dublin schools add student residences; The Linguaviva Centre offers two city centre residences as well as host families.

When comparing schools, look at the lessons per week, class size, exam preparation, accommodation and the recognition the school holds.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for an English course in Ireland?

EU, EEA, Swiss and UK citizens do not. Other students may need a visa depending on their nationality, and anyone from outside the EEA who stays longer than 90 days must register with the immigration service.

How long does an English course have to be for a long stay?

English language programmes eligible for a stay of more than 90 days last at least 25 weeks, and the visa rules ask for at least 15 hours of study per week.

Can I work while studying English in Ireland?

Non-EU students with Stamp 2 permission can work up to 20 hours per week in term time and up to 40 hours per week in the designated holiday periods, according to Education in Ireland. EU citizens can work without a permit.