Exam Required to Study in Ireland for Indian Students 2024

Study in Ireland: Even if you believe your dream of studying in Ireland is achievable, it is advisable to know the eligibility criteria for admission to Irish universities. Every university in Ireland has different admission criteria and requirements, so keep in mind that the top universities in Ireland will have higher score requirements than the averages shown here.

Two things you need to keep in mind are score requirements and language requirements. If your academic record has been strong, then you need not worry about the GPA requirement. However, it is advisable for every international applicant to appear for the IELTS or TOEFL exam as they reflect on your understanding of the English language. Even if your college waivers off language requirement exams, you should still give them as visa officers expect you to score really well in these exams to grant you an Ireland Study Visa.

First cycle studies – Undergraduate courses

There are no admission requirements at this point except for some subjects. For example, if you have applied for a mathematics course you need to have studied math in school. Undergraduate degree courses require a higher GPA in school while diploma courses are more lenient as far as academic records are concerned.

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Second cycle studies – Postgraduate courses

If you are applying for a postgraduate course at an Irish university, you need to have a relevant bachelor's degree or diploma. Your undergraduate course must be consistent and relevant to the course you wish to pursue your master's in.

GPA Requirements for Postgraduate courses in Ireland

A lot of times, candidates are confused about postgraduate admission requirements to universities in Ireland. Candidates can check out the admission requirements for universities in Ireland. Candidates should note that universities in Ireland accept 2.1 or 2.2 Equivalent depending on the program (specific to course). Public Universities in Ireland accept 2.1 for major programs.

Language Requirements for Ireland

For either visa or admission process, international students will have to prove their level of command of the English language. Most Indian students wish to skip appearing for the language exams and wish to get admitted to universities that- accept students without IELTS or TOEFL scores. From a neutral standpoint, we can tell you this isn’t the best way to go about it if you want guaranteed admission to Ireland.

The reason why we recommend you sit for language exams even if the University of your choice doesn’t ask for the scores is that the IELTS/TOEFL scores could prove to be critical for your visa application AND scholarship eligibility. There aren’t many standalone scholarships available in Ireland for international students, and universities automatically shortlist student applications for internal scholarships. Language exam scores are critical while shortlisting international students for those scholarships. So you can get admitted to the university without taking the IELTS or TOEFL exam but you will stand to lose on scholarships. Here are the language exams accepted across Irish universities.

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Is IELTS required for Ireland?

IELTS score is used as proof of English language proficiency by many Irish universities. This exam measures the four basic English language skills of the test takers - speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Students receive IELTS scores based on each of the four skills on a band of 1-9. An overall band score is also awarded. The overall average IELTS score required by Irish universities is 6.5. Note that the IELTS score is valid for two years from the date of the result declaration. Trinity College Dublin; University College Dublin, University of Galway, etc. are some of the universities in Ireland that accept IELTS scores.

If you do not wish to take the IELTS exam then, check the video below for the list of Irish colleges that do not require the IELTS test.  

Also Read: IELTS Score for Ireland

Is TOEFL accepted in Ireland?

TOEFL is another popular English language proficiency exam whose scores are accepted to study in Ireland. It stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is conducted by ETS. Four academic English skills are measured through TOEFL – reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The validity of the TOEFL score is two years after the declaration of the result. 

Is PTE accepted in Ireland?

PTE Academic is a computer-based English language test conducted for non-native English speakers who want to study abroad. The test is used to measure the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of the candidates.

Is OET accepted in Ireland?

Students applying to courses in healthcare are required to take OET in order to prove that they have the right English communication skills for the healthcare profession. The test has been developed especially for 12 healthcare professions like Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Speech Pathology, and Veterinary Science.

English Language Score Requirements at a Glance

The table given below provides details of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo Scores for Ireland.

GRE and GMAT Requirements for Studying in Ireland

One of the major reasons for a lot of students opting for postgradute studies in Ireland is the advantage that most of the universities and colleges in the country have relaxed GMAT and GRE scores. Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin (UCD) are the only two universities that require either GMAT or GRE scores for their MBA programmes. 

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• Cost of Living for International Students in Ireland
• MBA in Ireland