do ireland still needs ielts for students opting higher education in ireland ?

 

No — having IELTS is not always strictly required for Indian students wanting to do higher education in Ireland, as of 2025. But whether you need it depends a lot on the university, program, and your academic/English background. Here’s a breakdown of how it works + what to check for your specific case.

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What I found out

• Many Irish universities accept alternative proofs of English proficiency besides IELTS: TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo English Test, etc. Scholarships.com.pk+3Eleevate Overseas+3Leap Scholar+3

• Some universities waive the English test requirement if your previous education (school or college) was in English medium. They may require a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate or similar documentation. Leap Scholar+2Anaad Worldwide+2

• Some schools offer pre-sessional English courses, which if you complete, you may be admitted without IELTS. Scholarships.com.pk+2Leap Scholar+2

• However, many programs — especially more competitive or technical/postgraduate ones — still ask for IELTS (or equivalent). The required band scores can vary. For example, many undergrad courses require ~ IELTS 6.0 overall and postgraduate courses ~ 6.5, though there are variations. IDP IELTS+2Edugo Abroad+2

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What you should check

To know if you personally need IELTS, do this:

1. Check the official university website for the program you’re applying to: go to the admissions section, read “English language requirements” or “language proficiency.”

2. See if they accept alternatives (TOEFL, Duolingo, PTE) or an MOI certificate as proof.

3. Look at whether they have pre-sessional English or pathway courses.

4. Also see visa requirements — sometimes the immigration authorities consider proof of English from university offer letters etc. as sufficient.

5. If your previous degree or schooling was fully in English, check whether that “waives” the requirement.