🇮🇪 Study English in Ireland
English Language Schools in Dublin — a directory for international students
21 language schools across the Greater Dublin Area, the course structure from elementary to advanced, indicative fees, and the Stamp 2 student visa basics — in one place.
Schools listed
21
CEFR levels covered
A1 – C2
Typical course length
25 weeks
Study English in Ireland
A–Z directory of Dublin language schools
Pick a school to see its address, courses, CEFR levels, contact details and indicative course fees.
Pick a school above
Address, courses, CEFR levels, contact details and indicative course fees will appear here.
This directory is informational, not an endorsement
Details were checked against each school's own website where possible, but course availability, fees and contact details change. If your goal is the Stamp 2 student visa, professional accreditation (ACELS, Eaquals, MEI, IALC) is a good sign but is not the same as a course being listed on Ireland's official Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) — confirm the specific course is currently ILEP-listed directly with the school, and check the official register, before you enrol or pay a deposit.
Course structure
From elementary to advanced — how the levels map together.
Dublin schools build their syllabus on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and the same Oxford and Cambridge coursebooks, so a level at one school lines up with the same level at another. Most 25-week courses move a genuine beginner up roughly one CEFR level.
| CEFR | Level | Oxford coursebook | Cambridge coursebook | Cambridge exam | IELTS target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner / Starter | English File Starter / Headway Beginner | Empower A1 | — | Band 2.0 – 3.0 |
| A2 | Elementary / Pre-Intermediate | English File Elementary / A2–B1 | Empower A2 | A2 Key (KET) | Band 3.5 – 4.0 |
| B1 | Intermediate | English File Intermediate | Empower B1 / Complete IELTS 4.0–5.0 | B1 Preliminary (PET) | Band 4.5 – 5.5 |
| B2 | Upper-Intermediate | English File Upper-Intermediate | Empower B2 / Complete IELTS 5.5–6.5 | B2 First (FCE) | Band 6.0 – 6.5 |
| C1 | Advanced | English File Advanced | Empower C1 / Complete IELTS 6.5–7.5 | C1 Advanced (CAE) | Band 7.0 – 8.0 |
| C2 | Proficiency | English File Advanced Plus | Objective Proficiency | C2 Proficiency (CPE) | Band 8.5 – 9.0 |
A1 — Beginner / Starter
Basic everyday expressions, simple introductions, slow speech.
A2 — Elementary / Pre-Intermediate
Routine needs, basic shopping, family background, simple travel tasks.
B1 — Intermediate
Main points of daily work/school, travel situations, simple connected text.
B2 — Upper-Intermediate
Understands complex texts and technical discussion; converses fluently without strain.
C1 — Advanced
Flexible, spontaneous language for academic, social and professional purposes.
C2 — Proficiency
Near-native precision; effortlessly understands almost all written and spoken English.
Mandatory exit exam
Under ILEP rules, every non-EEA student on a 25-week course must register for and sit an external exit exam — IELTS, a Cambridge exam, or the TIE (Test of Interactive English) — before completing the course. Exam fees are usually €150–€260 and are often billed separately from tuition.
Visa & immigration basics
The Stamp 2 permission, in plain terms.
Almost every non-EEA student studying English in Dublin does so on a Stamp 2 Student Permission. Here is the shape of it — always confirm your own case with the official source linked below.
Permission length
8 months
Per enrolment cycle
Course structure
25 + 8 weeks
25 weeks tuition (15+ hrs/week), 8 weeks scheduled holiday
Maximum stay
3 courses / 24 months
Then progress to higher education or depart
Proof of funds
€6,665
Accessible funds required on arrival
Entry rules by nationality
EU / EEA nationals
e.g. Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Poland
- Freedom of movement — no visa or Stamp 2 permission needed.
- Valid passport or national ID card is enough to travel and enrol.
- No proof-of-funds minimum and unlimited work rights.
Non-EEA, visa-waiver nationals
e.g. Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Japan, South Korea
- No entry visa needed before travelling to Ireland.
- At Dublin Airport, present your passport, ILEP letter of acceptance, medical insurance and proof of funds to border control.
- Register for Stamp 2 in person at Burgh Quay after arrival.
Non-EEA, visa-required nationals
e.g. Venezuela, Colombia, China, Turkey, Pakistan
- A long-stay "D" study visa must be approved via the AVATS portal before you travel.
- Apply with your full tuition payment receipt, bank statements and medical insurance.
- Register for Stamp 2 at Burgh Quay after you arrive on the visa.
Work rights
20 hours/week during term time and 40 hours/week during holiday periods (1 June – 30 September and 15 December – 15 January).
Mandatory insurance
Private medical insurance covering the full 8 months, plus Protection for Enrolled Learners (PEL) — a legal requirement that refunds or relocates you if a school closes unexpectedly.
Renewing for year 2 or 3
Requires ≥85% attendance on the previous course, your exit exam certificate, a new 25-week ILEP enrolment letter, valid insurance, and the €300 registration fee.
Registering in Dublin — step by step
- 1
Arrive and clear border control
Passport, insurance and funds checked at the airport.
- 2
Register on the digital portal
Create your ISD digital portal account.
- 3
Book your appointment
Book a Burgh Quay registration slot.
- 4
Attend with your documents
Bring your passport, ILEP letter, insurance and funds proof.
- 5
Pay the fee and give biometrics
€300 by card, plus fingerprints and photo.
- 6
Receive your IRP card
Posted to you within 10–15 working days.
First-time registration for the Greater Dublin Area is centralised at the Burgh Quay Registration Office, Dublin 2.
Verify current rules before you apply
Visa rules, financial thresholds and fees change. AIMarketer is not an immigration adviser — this page is general information, not immigration or legal advice. See our Student Information Disclaimer and always confirm your own case on the official Immigration Service Delivery site before enrolling, paying, or travelling.
Irish Immigration Service DeliveryStudent enquiries
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