Competency in English

International students whose first language is not English are required to have an appropriate score in an approved examination in English language (such as IELTS) before they can register on an academic course.

We can also accept degrees from selected other English-speaking countries as evidence of English proficiency. 

As a guide, the IELTS English language requirements are as follows:

 Course IELTS Level
 Undergraduate Business  6.0
 Undergraduate Computing  5.5
 Masters Business  6.5
 Masters Computing  6.0 (MSc in Fintech requires 6.5)

 

 We gladly accept a range of alternatives to IELTS, which you will find in the table below.

 

 IELTS Equivalents
IELTS  4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5
TOEFL Computer  150 173 196 213 232
TOEFL Paper Based (pre October 2017)  475 500 525 550 575
TOEFL Paper Based (after October 2017)  53 64 70 78 86
TOEFL Internet Based  53 64 70 78 86
PTE Academic  29 35 42 50 58
Cambridge European Framework  B B1 B2 B2 C1
Cambridge Exams  PET FCE FCE FCE CAE+CPE
Irish Leaving Certificate  Ordinary Grade D Ordinary Grade D Ordinary Grade D Ordinary Grade D Ordinary Grade C
UK GCSE  Pass Pass Pass Pass n/a

 

For International students living in Ireland for more than 12 months, we offer the opportunity to undertake an English language assessment. For more details, please email international@ncirl.ie