Competency in English

Students whose first language is not English are required to have an appropriate score in an approved examination in English language before they can register on a programme at NCI.

The English Language certificate must have been issued within 2 years of the expected start date of the NCI programme.

Student who have been taught and examined through the medium of English for their full degree in the following countries are exempt from NCI's English language requirements - Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. Applicants should note that they may still be required to show a recognised English language certificate for visa purposes with the Irish Immigration authorities.

Please note: English Language Requirements are subject to change from intake to intake.

IELTS One Skill Retake accepted: Details of the test are available at IELTS One Skill Retake

English Language Certificate Requirement:

IELTS Requirements

As a guide, the IELTS English language requirements for NCI programmes are listed below.

IELTS Requirements 

 Programme IELTS Level IELTS Level from Sep 2025 and beyond
Undergraduate Business 6.0 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any other band
Undergraduate Computing and the Higher Diploma in Science in Computing 6.0 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any other band
BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care 6.5 with 6.5 in Speaking and no less than 6.0 in any other band 6.5 with 6.5 in Speaking and no less than 6.0 in any other band
All School of Computing Masters Programmes (excluding MSc in AI for Business) 6.0 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any other band
All School of Business Masters Programmes (and MSc in AI for Business) 6.5   6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any other band

 

IELTS Equivalents

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

IELTS Equivalents

 IELTS Equivalents
IELTS
Academic 		 5.5 6.0 6.5
Duolingo Test of English (January 2025 intake and beyond) 95-104 105-120 120+
TOEFL Internet Based 46 60 79
PTE Academic 42 50 58
UK GCSE C C n/a

 

 IELTS Equivalents from Sep 2025 and beyond
IELTS
Academic 		 5.5 6.0 overall (no component of less than 5.5) 6.5 overall (no component less than 6.0)
Duolingo Test of English 95-104 105-120 overall
(no component less than 95)		 120+ overall
(no component less than 105)
TOEFL Internet Based 46 60 overall (no component less than 12) 79 overall (no component less than 15)
PTE Academic 42 50 overall (no component less than 40) 58 overall (no component less than 48)
UK GCSE C C n/a

 

English Language Requirements Policy

For further information on NCI's English Language Requirements, please visit the NCI Support Hub.