Entry Requirements

Academic Entry Requirements

Please see Your Country for country specific entry requirements

English Language Requirements

All applicants, whose first language is not English, must present one of the following qualifications in the English language.   

Examples of English Language Equivalences for Programmes

*Subject: Programmes which may have specific English language requirements are listed below. Please note this list is indicative, and may not be wholly inclusive of every programme that has a particular English language requirement.

• Visa Required Students: Please check with The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) for specific visa requirements.   
• English tests must be taken within two years of the start date of the programme.
• MSc Biomedical Science 1MV1, MSc Biotechnology 1MT1, and the Higher Diploma (Medical Technology Regulatory Affairs and Quality) 1MTD1.7:
  IELTS: Overall 6.5 with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in any other band.
  TOEFL: Overall 88, Listening 12-19, Speaking 18-19, Writing 24-26, Reading 13-18
  PTE: Overall 58, all other bands 5                                                                                              Duolingo 110                                                                                                                                                                  
• MSc Computer Science - Data Analytics 1 year full-time, 1CSD1, and the MSc Computer Science - Artificial Intelligence 1 year full-time, 1MAI1:
  IELTS: Overall 6.5 with 6.5 in writing and no less than 6.0 in any other band
  TOEFL: Overall 88, Listening 12-19, Speaking 18-19, Writing 24-26, Reading 13-18
  PTE: Overall 58, Writing 58, all other bands 50                                                                            Duolingo 110                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
• BSc in Speech and Language Therapy:
  IELTS: Overall of 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any other band.
  TOEFL: Overall 95, Listening 20-23, Speaking 20-22, Writing 24-26, Reading 19-23
  PTE: Overall 65 and 58 in any other band
  If using Cambridge C1 or C2 Advanced (CAE), the requirement is 185 overall.                          Duolingo 120                                                                                                                                         
• MA (Journalism) 1AJ1:
  IELTS: Overall score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any other band.
  TOEFL: Overall 79-93, Listening 12-19, Speaking 18-19, Writing 21-23, Reading 13-18
  PTE: Overall 58, all other bands 50                                                                                              Duolingo 110                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
• MA (Global Media & Communications) 1GMC1 
  IELTS Overall score of 7.0 IELTS, with no less than 6.5 in any other band.
  TOEFL: Overall 94-101, Listening 20-23, Speaking 20-22, Writing 24-26, Reading 19-23
  PTE: Overall 65 and 58 in any other band                                                                          Duolingo 120
• H.Dip Software Design & Development (1SD1) and the M.Sc Software Design & Development (1MF1)
  IELTS: Overall of 6.5 IELTS, with no less than 6.5 in the writing ability band and no less than 6.0 in the other bands.
  TOEFL: Overall 79-93, Listening 12-19, Speaking 18-19, Writing 24-26, Reading 13-18
  PTE: Overall 58, Writing 58, all other bands 50                                                                          Duolingo 110
• Shannon College of Hotel Management’s Bachelor of Business Studies and Bachelor of Commerce in International Hotel Management
  IELTS: Overall of 6  
  TOEFL: Overall 60-78
  PTE: Overall 50                                                                                                        
• International Foundation Business Programme 
  IELTS: Overall of 5
  TOEFL Overall: 35-45
  PTE: 36

The NUI Galway TOEFL institution code is 8861 

 English Language Courses at the National University of Ireland Galway

NUI Galway’s English Language Centre is committed to providing high quality English Language courses including our pre-sessional and pathway options to help our students prepare for academic study at NUI Galway.

You can review the programmes on offer here.

Foundation Programmes

National University of Ireland, Galway works with a number of providers who offer foundation programmes for students who do not currently meet the University’s English language requirements.

The following courses are open to students who receive a conditional offer of admission to a select number of undergraduate and taught postgraduate degree programmes at NUI Galway, subject to meeting the University’s usual English language requirements.

Courses Offered:

• General English >
• Programme for IELTS and Academic English Studies [PIAS] >
• IELTS Programme >
• English Language for Groups >

Atlantic Language

Atlantic Language is an English Language School, providing a range of educational services in purpose designed centres in Galway and Dublin for almost 20 years. In recent years, Atlantic Language has expanded to offer a number of University Foundation Programmes to assist international students who wish to study at Irish universities.

 Galway Cultural Institute

Programme Name: University Foundation

Lessons per week: 30 x 45min

Programme Name: University Premasters Programme

Dublin International Foundation College (DIFC)

Based in Dublin, the Dublin International Foundation College (DIFC) delivers specialised NCUK –accredited foundation courses preparing international students for entrance into partner universities in Ireland and the UK. In particular, NUI Galway has accepted students who have completed the NCUK International Foundation Year (IFY) and NCUK Graduate Diploma (formerly the Pre-Masters programme – PMP) at DIFC.

Castel Education

Castel Education provides foundation programmes for students wishing to study Medicine and Medicine related programmes at NUI Galway.

For further details, please visit Castel Education website or contact Dr Joe McGarry, Director of Academic Affairs