The Ultimate Guide to Study in Ireland without IELTS!

Study in Ireland without IELTS:- Ireland has recently become one of the most popular study-abroad destinations for international students. Ireland is an island country located in Europe. Many international students who cannot afford to study in the USA, Canada, Australia, or other English-speaking countries choose a European country.

The countries in Europe offer a high quality of education at a  low cost. The only hindrance is that the language of some European countries like Germany is not English. English, as well as Irish, are the official languages of Ireland.

This means that you can easily take all the benefits of studying in a European country without having to learn a new language. Many students want to know the ways by which they can study in Ireland without IELTS. This is possible! 

In this blog, we will discuss all the ways by which you can study in Ireland without giving the IELTS.

Steps for Study in Ireland Without IELTS 

These steps will ensure that you can study at a world-class university in Ireland without giving the IELTS. We will also discuss some of the exemptions and alternatives to studying without IELTS. The steps are as follows:

1. Shortlisting universities
2. Taking an online test/interview
3. Pay tuition fees
4. Look for alternate options
5. Apply for a student visa

Now let us walk through each step and understand how you can study in Ireland without IELTS.

Which Universities to Shortlist?

The first step is to shortlist some universities. Many universities require you to give IELTS as courses are in English, but some universities don’t require IELTS. You need to shortlist these universities and apply for them. There is a range of courses offered by Irish universities, however, you should remember that studying without IELTS may result in less choice of courses. These are some top universities in Ireland that do not require IELTS in many of their course:

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
• Maynooth University
• Trinity College Dublin
• The National University of Ireland
• The University of Limerick
• University College Dublin

All of these universities allow you to study in Ireland without IELTS. You should check the official websites of all these universities and go through the courses offered. If your preferred course is offered by them, then check the language of instruction. If it is English then check the English requirements. All the courses that don’t require IELTS will require some sort of proof of your English proficiency. Some may require you to take an online test of English which will be by the university, or you may have to appear in an interview in which the faculty members will talk with you to check your English. The second step explains this in more detail.

Online Test/Interview

The second step to study in Ireland without IELTS is giving an online test/interview. As mentioned above there is no clear-cut way to avoid English tests. However, there are simpler ways by which you can study in Ireland without IELTS. When you apply to these universities, they may ask you to appear in an online test or an interview. This interview will check your academic and English knowledge. To clear this interview you do not need to prepare for months like for the IELTS. You just need to develop some interview skills and your speaking skills. If needed, listen to some English podcasts which will help you gain new words which you can use in the interview. If you are not giving the IELTS then you must score very well in this test/interview, as this is the only way the universities are checking your proficiency. 

Pay your Tuition Fee

Once you give the test and score well, you will receive an offer letter from one of the universities in which you have been accepted. If you have received admits from more than one university then compare both the courses and select the one which is best for you. The next step for study in Ireland without IELTS is to pay the tuition fee for the course you have been accepted to. The fees can range from EUR 10,000 to EUR 25,000. This is a lot less when compared to the USA. 

Read More: How to Study in Australia Without IELTS?

Look for Alternate Options

There is a possibility that you don’t pass the English test taken by the university or it is not accepted by the university to which you want to apply. In this case, you have to look for alternate options for studying without IELTS. These options are as follows:

PTE: If you have taken the IELTS before and couldn’t clear it then there is a possibility that the format of the IELTS is not suitable for you. If this is the case then you should try some other English testing exams like the PTE. The Pearson Test of English is one of the most recognized English language tests. Go through the format of the exam and look for some mock tests, if you are scoring well then consider giving the PTE. Similarly, you can also look at the format of the TOEFL. This is also one of the most accepted exams, however, the format of TOEFL and IELTS is more or less the same. 

Duolingo English Test: There is one English test that has recently become popular. The Duolingo test has a different format than most English tests. The best part about the Duolingo test is that you can take the test from home at any time. This creates an option for students who are not able to book the IELTS or TOEFL because of less seat availability. This is also a great option if you were looking for cheaper alternatives. The Duolingo tests are a lot cheaper than the IELTS or any other major English test. The Duolingo Test is accepted by a lot of universities in Ireland. However, you should first check if the universities you are applying to accept the Duolingo test or not.  

Pre-sessional English Program: This is probably the best alternative and the best way to study in Ireland without IELTS. A pre-sessional English program is a short course that lasts 1-2 months. The motive of this program is to develop English skills for international students coming to Ireland. These programs are mostly conducted when you are accepted by the university and when you start your studies in Ireland. However, if you have been admitted on the condition that you must score well in the pre-session English program then you must attend this session regularly and score well, or your admission can be canceled by the university. Some universities also offer these programs online, so that students are prepared when they land in Ireland. 

Exemptions: This is another way to study in Ireland without IELTS. If you have acquired your last qualification in English then you are exempted from taking IELTS in many Irish universities. This means that if you are applying for a bachelor’s program then your high school must have English as the language of instruction. Similarly, if you are applying for a master’s program then you must have a bachelors in English medium. This has to be proven by an official language from the institution of your kast qualification, stating that your course was English taught. 

Apply for a Student Visa

After you have secured a place in a university from any of the options above, you need to apply for a student visa for Ireland. Sometimes the alternative way which you have chosen to study in Ireland without IELTS affects your student visa application. 

For instance, if you have chosen to give the PTE or the Duolingo test or any other English test which is globally accepted then your visa process will be smooth. If you have not given any other test/interview then you should show excellent English proficiency in your visa interview.

If the interviewer thinks you are not proficient enough in English then they may reject your visa. 

Some general documents required for a student visa are as follows:

• A passport that has been issued in the last 10 years is required.
• Receipt of visa application fees paid.
• An acceptance letter from a recognized Irish university.
• Health insurance that will be valid till your studies and covers all your expenses at the time of emergency.
• You may have to take an appointment for giving your biometric details.
• Academic transcripts.
• Proof of no criminal record. This can be acquired from your nearby police station.
• Proof of available funds. The exact amount of funds required can be checked on the official website of the Irish embassy. 

Conclusion

Most students have a misconception that they can’t study in Ireland without giving the IELTS. It is possible to study in Ireland without IELTS and there are several ways by which you can do this. You should have information about all of them and identify the best. 

All the alternate ways by which you can prove your English proficiency are listed in this blog. You can identify which suits you the best and go for it. Remember that you cannot study in Ireland with no knowledge of English. You will always require good English proficiency but the ways of proving your proficiency can be different and easier than IELTS. 

There are also a lot of scholarships for studying in Ireland which you can avail of whether or not you give IELTS. For more details about study in Ireland keep your eyes on Course Mentor. Best of luck with your application!

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