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IELTS for Ireland: What Score Do You Need?

For an Irish study visa, Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) sets a minimum of IELTS Academic 5.0 for degree and other higher-level courses. That is only the visa minimum: your college sets its own admission requirement, which is usually higher. Your certificate must be issued within 2 years of your course start date, and the course must be on the official list of eligible programmes.

Last updated: 13 October 2026 · Written by the PrepEve team

Visa minimum (degree courses)

IELTS Academic 5.0

College requirement

Set by each college, usually higher

Validity

Certificate issued within 2 years of course start

Other tests

TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo and Oxford Test of English are also listed

Course

Must be on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP)

The study visa minimum

Irish immigration lists the English tests it accepts for study visas, with different minimums for preparatory courses and for degree and other courses. For degree-level study, the IELTS Academic minimum is 5.0.

ISD also lists TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test and the Oxford Test of English. Check the current table on the ISD page for the score each one needs.

Why your college’s score matters more

ISD says its minimums are for visa purposes only, and a college may set a different English standard for its course. In practice, the college requirement is the one you must meet, because without an offer there is no visa. Check the English requirement on your course page, including any minimum in each skill.

Rules to check before you apply

• 2 years. Your English certificate must be issued within 2 years of the expected start date of your course.
• Eligible course. Non-EEA students need a course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).
• IELTS Academic. Use the Academic version for study, not General Training.

Working in Ireland

Some professions have their own English rules. Nurses and midwives, for example, must meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland’s language requirements before registering. Check your regulator’s current rules, which can be much higher than the study visa minimum.

How to prepare

• Aim for your college’s requirement, not the visa minimum.
• Note any minimum in each skill. Writing is the one most often missed.
• Leave time for a retake before your application deadline.

Official sources

• English language requirements for study visas (Immigration Service Delivery, Ireland)
• Student visas to study in Ireland (Citizens Information)
• Language requirements (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland)

Rules and scores change. Check the official pages above before you book a test or apply.

Frequently asked questions

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