Have you considered Ireland yet for studying abroad? Completing your English proficiency requirements by taking IELTS Academic is one step towards making this goal possible.
From Dublin to Cork, Ireland is an up-and-coming study destination for many international students across the globe looking to pursue higher studies and to be globally mobile.
Start preparing for IELTS early for the best chance at studying in Ireland. IELTS will also be key if you are looking to work in Ireland.
Minimum scores for Ireland universities
In general, international students need to secure a minimum IELTS overall band score of at least 6.5 to successfully enter an Irish university, including higher-ranking institutions.
These are the minimum English language requirements based on the top-ranked universities in Ireland.
Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings in 2026
Known as one of the world’s most renowned metrics for higher education assessment, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an invitation-only opinion survey of the world’s most prestigious senior, published academics, who are responsible for ranking the world’s universities every year in an impartial and balanced manner.
THE is measured through five performance indicators including teaching, research quality, research environment, industry income, and international outlook.
Rank | University | Global rank | IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programmes) | IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programmes) |
1 | Trinity College Dublin | 173 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
2 | University College Dublin | 201 – 250 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
3 | RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences | 251 – 300 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
4 | Dublin City University | 301 – 350 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=5 | University College Cork | 351 – 400 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=5 | University of Galway (previously National University of Ireland Galway) | 351 – 400 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=7 | Maynooth University | 501 – 600 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=7 | University of Limerick | 501 – 600 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
9 | Technological University Dublin | 1201 – 1500 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
QS World University Rankings in 2026
The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world rankings is another one of the world’s most prestigious ranking systems and the most widely read among all.
Based on this ranking system, each university is assessed based on eight key metrics including academic reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, international student ratio and international faculty ratio, international research network and employment outcomes.
This highly rigorous ranking methodology makes it one of the most reputable ones among its counterparts.
Rank | University | Global rank | IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programmes) | IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programmes) |
1 | Trinity College Dublin | 75 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
2 | University College Dublin | 118 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
3 | University College Cork | 246 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
4 | University of Galway | 284 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
5 | University of Limerick | =401 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
6 | Dublin City University | =410 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
7 | Maynooth University | 771 – 780 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
8 | Technological University Dublin | 781 – 790 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
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