Academic Year Courses (Study and Work in Ireland)

These long-term programmes, aimed at non-EU students, are designed to allow progression through one to two levels, over an academic year period and to gain a professional, internationally-recognised English qualification. Students also have the option of working part-time (see below). 

What is an Academic Year Programme?

The 15-hour programme provides a good foundation in the main linguistic skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking, with a strong focus on communication. Most students sit the Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) examination, so ISE exam preparation is incorporated into the curriculum. However, student may also take a 12 week IELTS preparation programme, allowing them to take the IELTS examination.

Other exam options include FCE and CAE. The 20-hour programme builds on the 15-hour foundation by offering 5 extra elective lessons, in a range of disciplines including conversation fluency, business English and examination preparation. The classes are integrated with our General English programmes, allowing for a greater nationality mix of EEA and non-EEA students. Morning and afternoon schedules are available, the afternoon programme is offered at a lower cost.

Duration

1 academic year (minimum 25 weeks study) with an 8-month visa

Start date

Any Monday of the year, excluding Christmas vacation and/or public holidays.

Hours

15 or 20 per week

Levels

A1 – C2.

SCHEDULE

Morning 09.00 – 12.15
Afternoon 13.30 – 16.40

Entry requirements

Students should be at least 18 years old on the course start date and should have a basic A1 level of English. Students tested at A0 level cannot enter the programme and should take one-to-one tuition until A1 level is reached.

Obligatory exit exam

Students are registered for an ISE exam upon their arrival. If they would like to change to an IELTS or Cambridge exam they have to pay an additional fee and notify the Academic team in the first two weeks of their course. Any questions or requests to change exams must be emailed to academic@isi-ireland.ie

Awards

All programmes include preparation for the Trinity ISE exam. Students can also choose to prepare for Cambridge Exams (FCE, CAE) or IELTS 6 or 7, but an exam fee supplement applies.

Right to work in Ireland

Students from outside the EU on Academic Year programmes have the right to work 20 hours per week during the course, and 40 hours per week only during holidays from June to September & December 15th to January 15th inclusive.

Levels

Council of Europe	ISI equivalent level	Approximate exam level
Basic User
A1	False Beginner-elementary
A2	Pre-intermediate	KET/IELTS (3)/TOEIC 220+/Trinity ISE Foundation
Independent User
B1	Intermediate	PET/IELTS (4)/TOEIC 380+/ Trinity ISE I
B2	Upper-Intermediate	FCE/IELTS (5)TOEIC 520+/Trinity ISE II
Proficient User
C1	Lower Advanced	CAE/IELTS (6)/TOEIC 800+/Trinity ISE III
C2	Very Advanced	CPE/IELTS (7)/TOEIC 900+/Trinity ISE IV

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email us directly info@studyinireland.ie or simply fill out the online form below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.