English schools in Ireland with visa-eligible courses

    If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, your English course has to be on an official list for you to get a study visa and Stamp 2 student permission. These are the 75 schools in our directory with English language courses on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). A school on the list has at least one eligible course, so confirm that the course you book is on it before you pay.

    Sources: ILEP (Irish immigration service) · TrustEd Ireland (QQI) · Student permission FAQs

    Schools with the TrustEd Ireland quality mark

    TrustEd Ireland is replacing the ILEP. These schools already hold the mark:

    Dublin (50)

    Cork (8)

    Bray (2)

    Galway (2)

    Limerick (2)

    Athlone (1)

    Ballinode (1)

    Bundoran (1)

    Cahersiveen (1)

    Drogheda (1)

    Killarney (1)

    Naas (1)

    Schull (1)

    Tralee (1)

    Waterford (1)

    Wexford (1)

    The rules in brief

    Which English courses in Ireland qualify for a student visa?

    If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and want to study in Ireland for longer than 90 days, you must enrol on a course from the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) or the TrustEd Ireland list of eligible programmes. English language programmes on these lists last at least 25 weeks.

    Can I work while studying English in Ireland?

    Yes. With Stamp 2 student permission you can work up to 20 hours a week during term time, and up to 40 hours a week in June, July, August and September and from 15 December to 15 January.

    How long can I study English in Ireland?

    Student permission for English language programmes lasts up to two years in total, which is three programmes of eight months each. Your total time as a student in Ireland can't exceed seven years.

    What is TrustEd Ireland?

    TrustEd Ireland is a quality mark awarded by QQI, Ireland's qualifications authority. It is replacing the ILEP: the ILEP stays in use until QQI has decided the remaining applications, expected by the end of 2026, after which only schools with the mark can enrol students who need a study visa.

    For documents, fees and how to apply, see our student visa guide.