Ireland is one of the most magnificent European countries, home to thousands of international students.
However, non-native English international students take the IELTS English test to study in Ireland.
The minimum IELTS score for students set by the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service (INIS) is 5.0 in an overall band in the Academic type.
But the minimum IELTS score for Ireland and its universities is subject to change with time, courses and universities.
To study on the Irish soil of laureates, scholars, poets, and artists, the minimum IELTS score you need is 5.5.
Your IELTS scorecard plays a vital role in your admission and other official purposes such as visas, immigration, etc.
IELTS Score for Ireland: Minimum IELTS Score To Study in Ireland Universities
If you wish to take up long-term courses in Ireland that extend over a year, you will need to bag an IELTS score above 5.0.
The table below lists universities in Ireland and their respective minimum IELTS scores.
| University | Score Requirements |
| University College of Cork | Overall band – 6.5
Individual score – not less than 5.5 |
| NUI Galway (NUIG) | Need overall 6.5 and individual 6 |
| Dublin City University (DCU) | Overall 6.5 |
| National College of Ireland (NCI) | UG Computing – 5.5 overall
PG computing – 6.0 overall |
| Dublin Business School (DBS) | UG courses – 6.0 overall
PG courses- 6.5 overall |
| University College Limerick | Overall – 6.5
No individual scores less than 6 |
| ICD Business school | Overall 6.0 |
| University College of Dublin (UCD) | UG courses – 6.0 overall
PG courses- 6.5 overall |
| Griffith College | Overall 6.0 |
| Trinity College Dublin (TCD) | UG courses – 6.0 overall
PG courses- 6.5 overall Dental and Medical courses- 7.0 |
| Technological University Dublin | All Courses: 6.0, no less than 6.0 |
The above list sums up some of the best universities in Ireland.
Therefore, the minimum IELTS score for most of the top universities for undergraduate courses in Ireland is 6.0 and for postgraduate courses is 6.5.
Minimum IELTS Score Required to Secure an Ireland Student Visa
The IELTS exam is also important to get an Ireland student visa.
The minimum requirement set to secure a student visa is an IELTS score of 5.
Note: IELTS is not required for an Ireland student visa only if the acceptance letter from the admitted university mentions that you are exempt from it.
Keep in mind that this isn’t the score for seeking admissions at Irish universities.
Now that you’ve got the minimum IELTS score for Ireland, let’s also explore the other side of the coin. What if you didn’t take the IELTS at all?
Study in Ireland Without IELTS? Is it Possible?
The biggest obstacle to overcome to study abroad is to get a good IELTS score.
Taking an exam, and moreover, a language test can be overwhelming and intimidating for a number of students. Hence, it is only natural for students to look for a simpler alternative.
So here’s some good news – It is possible to study in Ireland without IELTS.
There are a few Irish universities accepting international students without the IELTS score or providing them with an alternate test choice.
How to study in Ireland Without IELTS?
It is common in most Irish universities to offer admissions to students without an IELTS score if the students have passed out from institutes with English as a medium of instruction and educational transaction.
In such cases, students need to provide a certificate from the previous institute proving that their education was in English.
Other than submitting the English certificate, the alternatives to the IELTS exam are PTE, TOEFL and Duolingo language proficiency tests.
Aspirants who want to study in Ireland without IELTS can take up these tests too:
PTE exam is one of the shortest exams that measures four skills – listening, speaking, reading, and writing in just two hours. Students over the age of 16 are eligible for this exam. The cost of the PTE exam is ₹14,700.
The TOEFL exam also tests your ability to listen, speak, read and write, especially in a classroom setting. This exam costs about ₹13,500.
Duolingo also offers English proficiency scores by means of adaptive testing and video interviews. It measures the candidates’ ability to listen, speak, read and write. The cost of the exam is ₹3,678 for a 45 minutes test. It can also be taken twice a month.
Duolingo is a comparatively easy test and cheaper but has a limited number of universities accepting its test score. So, ensure that you are taking the test your desired college accepts.
For a better understanding of the score equivalent of these language proficiency exams to IELTS, look at the table below:
| 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: 105 PTE: 75 |
| 7.5 | TOEFL: 105
Duolingo: 125 PTE: 80 |
With the above-mentioned language proficiency exams, you can apply to universities in Ireland without IELTS. Here are some of the universities:
- Maynooth University
- National University of Ireland, Galway
- University of Limerick
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- University College Cork
How to Apply Without IELTS to Ireland?
To apply to Ireland universities without IELTS, you can always start by shortlisting a number of universities exempting the IELTS scores, their ranks, and the courses they provide on their respective websites.
- While applying to any of the universities, you will be asked to appear for an online test or video interview to test your English language proficiency.
- This is the moment where you showcase your English verbal, communication/conversation skills.
- Clearing this interview will confirm your admission to an Irish university without the IELTS score. However, not all universities offer this option.
Various international student scholarships are available in Ireland, and students can apply for them if they fit the eligibility criteria.
Now that we are aware of the minimum scores required for Ireland universities, let us find out how we can study in Ireland without IELTS.
You can prepare for the IELTS exam with the help of these books:
- The Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS
- Cambridge IELTS 14 Academic Student’s Book with Answers with Audio
- Baron’s IELTS Superpack
Tips on Getting a Good IELTS Score:
Here are some quick tips on how to get the perfect score in your IELTS exam. The IELTS exam is scored based on listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- Familiarize yourself with British English by listening to news channels like BBC and other English TV shows, movies, etc, for the listening section.
- Keep a habit of reading newspapers, journals, novels, magazines, and anything written in English. This will help you acquire new words and meanings that will undoubtedly help you in your reading exam.
- For the writing test, students can look up model writing tasks online and practice them. This will help in organizing your ideas and polish your vocabulary.
- The final test is speaking. This is where you leave them impressed. Practice and only practice can make it perfect.
With all these tips in mind, students are advised to be prepared to give their best. The key is to be confident with your skills and body language during the exam.
Note: The cost of registering for the IELTS exam in India is ₹15,500.
The IELTS exam can be intimidating. The only solid advice worth following is to practice every day.
Practice will definitely get you that degree admission you have been dreaming of.
Since you’ve now understood the minimum IELTS score needed to study in Ireland, it is best you seek an expert’s guidance to face the IELTS test as well as to help you with scholarships.
Ireland is one of the top countries to study and work because of the ease of post-study work in the country too.
To make your Ireland study abroad dream come true, SelectRight experts have just the team to help you reach your goals.
So, start preparing for your admission in Ireland for 2023 now.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. What is the minimum IELTS score for Ireland universities?
Ans: The IELTS score to study in Ireland differs according to university and course type. However, having an IELTS band of 5.5 and above is the ideal score.
Q2. Are IELTS scores compulsory to apply for a visa in Ireland?
Ans: IELTS scores are mandatory for most universities in Ireland and applying for a visa.
Q3. Can I study in Ireland without IELTS or any other language proficiency exam?
Ans: Unfortunately, no non-native English speaker can study in Ireland without IELTS or any of its equivalents.
Q4. What are some of the alternative options to IELTS for studying in Ireland?
Ans: TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo scores are the alternative tests to study in Irish universities. Candidates who have passed the Cambridge Proficiency tests can also apply to certain universities.
Q5. How long does it take for an offer letter to arrive after applying to Ireland?
Ans: It takes around two working weeks for the universities in Ireland to respond with an offer letter after applying.
