Study in Ireland Without IELTS

Located in Europe, Ireland is one of the top emerging study abroad destinations in the world today. Like any other nation, students need to meet the eligibility and admissions requirements to get admitted to an Irish university. This article covers details on studying in Ireland without IELTS. 

Ireland presents some of the top universities in the world where students can study at an affordable cost. This island country provides a good quality of life, a welcoming and safe environment, affordable living costs and vibrant student life. Students can make their dream of studying in Ireland true by fulfilling the eligibility and admissions requirements for the universities and visa authorities. 

Meeting language requirements comes off as the first thought when Indian students plan to study abroad. Different countries have different language requirements based on their official/native/spoken language or the language of instruction and training in most of their institutes. However, students nowadays seek to get into universities that don’t require IELTS as proof of proficiency in the English language. 

One of the most common reasons for this decision is that the IELTS exam fee is quite high for Indian students and there is no surety of good results even after months of regular preparation. Even though the IELTS exam allows a one-skill retake that allows students to improve their scores, top universities in Ireland or elsewhere don’t accept applicants who take the one-skill retake. Hence, we have come up with this article that provides details on how to study in Ireland without IELTS.

How to Study in Ireland Without IELTS?

Competition for enrolment among international students is pretty high for the popular courses in Ireland. Universities in Ireland may waive their IELTS score requirements based on several factors. To study in Ireland without IELTS, check if your chosen university offers exemptions based on factors like the years of official education gained in English by the applicant, acceptance of other English tests or the university’s own language assessment test.

To study in Ireland without taking the IELTS exam, check:

1. If your university provides an exemption for the IELTS test based on your previous education in English. There may be two ways to qualify for this - 
• You have completed your previous education in an English-speaking country.
• You have completed your school and college/university education in English. You may provide a letter from your previous institution or your English-taught degree as proof to the Irish university.
2. If your university accepts other standardised English tests like TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo. The minimum scores required in each of these tests to get admitted to the top Irish university are 90-100, 59-64 and 100-105 respectively.
3. If the university of your choice offers its own course or test in English, upon completion, you may be exempt from the IELTS score requirement. However, these pre-sessional preparatory courses may require you to have some level of English proficiency. You can discuss the same with your university thoroughly before reaching any conclusion. 

Top Irish Universities that Don’t Need IELTS Scores

Below is the list of top universities in Ireland that don’t require IELTS scores for admissions and the conditions/alternatives that the students may be asked for in place of the IELTS exam. 

Top Universities in Ireland that don’t Require IELTS
Universities	Alternatives/Conditions on which IELTS Exam can be Waived
Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)	Students may be asked to complete the International Foundation Year Programme (IFP) after which they are guaranteed a seat in the UG program of the student’s choice.  Note:- Indian students may be required to take an English proficiency test, make sure to check with the university before proceeding.
Trinity College Dublin	English tests are mandatory to prove proficiency in the language. Students can opt to choose alternative English tests for the sa
University of Galway	Students can take an English test other than IELTS if English is not their first language.
University College Cork	Students can either take other English tests such as TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo; or must have completed their UG or PG from a university in the country that UCC acknowledges as a majority English-speaking country.  In exceptional instances, a candidate who has successfully completed his master’s degree and submitted and presented their dissertation in English may be eligible for an English test waiver, the decision of which lies entirely on the admission committee. You will have to submit your thesis and take an additional interview if required.
University of Limerick	Students can take TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo tests to prove their English proficiency.  Alternatively, students can take pre-sessional English language classes at the UL Language Centre if they do not meet the above requirements.
Maynooth University	Students can take alternative English tests to prove their proficiency.
National College of Ireland	English tests like TOEFL, PTE Academic, Duolingo and UK GCSE can be taken in place of IELTS.
University College Dublin	English tests like TOEFL, PTE Academic or Duolingo can be taken in place of IELTS.
Dublin Business School	English tests like TOEFL, PTE Academic or Duolingo can be taken in place of IELTS.
Griffith University	Candidates can take TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic tests to be eligible for admissions or must have previously studied in English, in which case, you must discuss the university if your course requires English test results or not.
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)	Candidates can take TOEFL, TOEIC, PTE, Cambridge CAE and Cambridge CPE tests in place of IELTS.

How to Apply to Universities in Ireland without IELTS?

To get admitted to one of the universities in Ireland without IELTS, you will have to follow the below-given steps:

1. Select the programme and university of your choice in Ireland. If you do not wish to take the IELTS test, you may choose to study at one of the universities in Ireland without IELTS. 
2. Check the application deadlines of your chosen course. You can apply within the stipulated application window online as most Irish universities now accept online applications from international students. 
3. Take the required subject and language tests like SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo. Check the course requirements before paying the exam fees.
4. If you need a scholarship to cover your living and studying expenses in Ireland, then, you can mention your interest and need for a scholarship in the application itself. Universities in Ireland may offer you a scholarship if your application is eligible and strong enough for the same. Talk to our admission counsellors if you want tips on how your application to Irish universities can be strengthened. 
5. Gather all the necessary documents like school and college mark sheets, consolidated marksheet, UG/PG degrees if required, LOR, SOP, resume, certificate of participation/appreciation in any extra-curricular activity and letter of recommendation. 

IELTS Alternatives

Based on the English language requirements of various Irish universities, below are some common alternatives that students can opt to choose in place of IELTS.

1. TOEFL
2. PTE
3. Previous education pursued from a school/college/university located in a country where the primary language of communication is English
4. Attend a pre-sessional course in English which helps to improve your proficiency in the language to get admitted to an undergraduate course for which you’re eligible.

Remember, while you can get admitted to an Irish university without having to take the IELTS exam, you may still be required to take the IELTS or other suitable English proficiency test to apply for the Irish student visa. 

Top Study in Ireland Scholarships Without IELTS

To get a scholarship to study in Ireland without IELTS, you must fulfil some set of eligibility requirements such as:

1. You must be a citizen of India or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
2. Strong application with both subject and language requirements fulfilled. 
3. Some scholarships are limited to specific courses and hence, you must check whether your preferred subject or course is eligible for the scholarship you’re applying to.
4. Some scholarships may also pose age restrictions. Hence, check the age limit for different scholarships to study in Ireland. 
5. Having work experience is not a requirement but is considered a strong pointer during the analysis of scholarship applications. Hence, you must mention all sorts of work that you’ve done during or after your previous qualifications in your scholarship application. 

Check out the top scholarships to study in Ireland below. 

Scholarships to Study in Ireland
Scholarship	Course Level	Amount
K.C. Mahindra Scholarships For Post-Graduate Studies Abroad	PG	Rs 10,00,000
JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship	PG, PhD and Postdoctoral courses	Rs 10,00,000
Young Women in Public Affairs Awards	UG, PG and PhD	USD 5,000
Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. candidates- (All countries except UK)	PG and PhD	USD 17,010

How to Get an Ireland Student visa without IELTS?

Proof of English proficiency for an Ireland student visa is generally required to check whether you will be able to hold conversations in English in an academic setting and during your time outside of the classroom. 

It is to be noted that the minimum requirements or passing marks on the English tests for getting an Irish student visa or getting admitted to your desired Irish university may differ. If a student is taking an English preparatory course before the start of their higher education or degree courses in Ireland, then they are not required to provide an English test score. However, your visa officer may ask you to submit the proof of your basic understanding of the English language. 

You can get an Ireland student visa without IELTS by undertaking alternative English tests or opting for a pre-sessional English course. The minimum scores required in different English tests other than IELTS for getting an Ireland student visa are given below.

English Test Scores Required for Irish Student Visa
Test	Minimum Required Score for UG and Above Level of Studies
PTE Academic	30
TOEFL iBT	61
Duolingo	75

You can also check some fully-funded scholarships to study in Ireland if budget is a concern for your Irish higher education dream. 

This was all about Irish scholarships and universities for 2025 to study in Ireland without IELTS. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.