The general rule
The university's English language requirements page says you need an IELTS score of at least 6.5 overall, with no section below 6.0, and that some courses require higher scores. Everything below is as read on 31 October 2026. Requirements can change, so confirm the figure on your own course page before you book a test.
IELTS scores by programme group
These are the groups the page lists. Where a course is not named here, do not assume it follows the general rule: look at its course page or ask the admissions office.
| Programme group | Overall | Lowest allowed in a section |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Business, Law; Science, Engineering | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Medicine (incoming first-year undergraduates only) | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Taught MSc and Higher Diploma programmes | 6.5 | 6.5 in Writing, 6.0 in the others |
| BSc Podiatric Medicine | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| BSc Occupational Therapy | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Shannon College: Bachelor of Business Studies; BCom International Hotel Management | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| BSc Nursing Science (General and Mental Health); BSc Midwifery | 7 | 6.5 |
| MSc Clinical Research; MSc Cellular Manufacturing & Therapy | 7 | 6.5 |
| MA in Literature and Publishing, English, Global Media & Communications, Journalism; MA Film Studies | 7.5 | 7.0 |
The page names these taught MSc and Higher Diploma examples: Biomedical Science, Biotechnology, Health Data Science, Computer Science, Adaptive Cybersecurity, Software Design and Development, Applied Multilingualism, and Childhood Speech, Language and Communication.
The page also lists scores for other Shannon College programmes, but the layout does not clearly match each figure to its label. Confirm those directly with the college rather than relying on this page. Some other programmes, such as foundation courses, have their own scores on the page too, so look up your own course.
What the page says about the test itself
- Test type: the page names Academic IELTS. It does not say whether General Training is accepted, so ask the university if that is your plan.
- IELTS Online: the page says IELTS Online is also accepted. It is not fully clear whether that applies to every course, so check your own course before booking it.
- Validity: IELTS results are valid for 2 years.
- Single sitting and One Skill Retake: the page does not state a rule on either. If your scores come from more than one sitting, or from a retake of one skill, ask the university before relying on them. Our page on IELTS One Skill Retake in Ireland explains the retake itself.
Other ways to show your English
IELTS is not the only route. The page lists recognised English tests with their own equivalent scores and recognised secondary-level exams from majority English-speaking countries. It also lists the university's Pre-Sessional or Pre-Masters Programme, completed with an overall score of at least 70% and at least 65% in each module. For the MA group above, the page shows this route beside the 7.5 requirement. Check the page for which routes apply to your course.
If you need a study visa
The page says students who need a study visa must also check that their English qualification meets Irish immigration rules, and points visa-required students to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. The university's admission score and the visa rule are separate questions. Our page on the Ireland student visa and IELTS covers the visa side. This is general information, not personal advice: check the official pages for the current rule.
Comparing with other Irish universities
Each university sets its own rules, and some treat retakes or sittings differently. For the others, see the overview of IELTS scores at Irish universities and the pages on UCD and UCC.
Booking the test
Band Booster IELTS does not register candidates or set exam fees. To find a test centre, date or fee, use the IELTS providers' own pages, which our pages on test centres in Ireland and dates and fees point to. For Galway and nearby cities, see IELTS in Cork, Galway and Limerick.
How lessons with Mike can help with this
Several of the groups above name a section minimum, often Writing or a 6.5 or 7.0 floor. A single weak section can matter as much as the overall score, so practice that finds the weakest section is useful. Mike is a Cambridge CELTA-certified teacher based in Hanoi, with 12+ years teaching English and IELTS in Vietnam, Turkey and Iran, and 8.5 in Speaking in his own IELTS result. He teaches every session himself, one-to-one, live on Google Meet in English. He marks Writing Task 1 and Task 2 against the public band descriptors and runs Speaking Parts 1 to 3 in the real format, with feedback in the moment.
No band is promised: progress depends on your starting point and the work between sessions. Read about Mike, then book a lesson; the calendar shows each slot in your own time zone and the exact price before you pay.
