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English Proficiency

Below you will find the English requirements for our undergraudate and postgraduate courses. Please confirm you meet the English language requirements before applying. 

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency through the following recognised tests: IELTS or TOEFL. English language tests must be undertaken no more than two years prior to commencement of a programme. 

IELTS Minimum Requirements

College Programmes  IELTS
College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences All Programmes  6.5 
Minimum individual sections 5.5
College of Business and Law Business Programmes 6.0 
Minimum individual sections 5.5
Law Programmes 6.5 
Minimum individual sections 5.5
College of Science, Engineering and Food Science All Programmes (Except Architecture) 6.0 
Minimum individual sections 5.5
Architecture 6.5 
Minimum individual sections 6.0
College of Medicine and Health All Programmes (Except Speech and Language Therapy) 6.5 
Minimum individual sections 6.5
Speech and Language Therapy 7.0 
Minimum individual sections 6.5

 TOEFL Minimum Requirements

College Programmes  TOEFL
College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences All Programmes  TOEFL 90  
Listening - 17; Reading - 18;
Speaking - 20; Writing 17
College of Business and Law Business Programmes TOEFL 80  
Listening - 17; Reading - 18; 
Speaking - 20; Writing 17
Law Programmes TOEFL 90 
Listening - 17; Reading - 18; 
Speaking - 20; Writing 17
College of Science, Engineering and Food Science All Programmes (Except Architecture) TOEFL 80  
Listening - 17; Reading - 18; 
Speaking - 20; Writing 17
Architecture TOEFL 90  
Listening - 20; Reading - 19; 
Speaking - 21; Writing 20
College of Medicine and Health All Programmes (Except Speech and Language Therapy) TOEFL 90  
Listening - 23; Reading - 21; 
Speaking - 22; Writing 23
Speech and Language Therapy TOEFL 100
Listening - 23; Reading - 21; 
Speaking - 22; Writing 23

UCC English Language Centre

The UCC Language Centre can help you to acquire the English language skills you will need in your undergraduate studies. For more information on the English courses which are offered at the Language Centre, please follow the link: http://www.ucc.ie/en/esol/

Postgraduate English Language Requirements

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency. English language tests must be undertaken no more than two years prior to commencement of a programme.

The following approved English language qualifications are currently accepted at UCC:

IELTS Minimum Requirements

College Programmes  IELTS
College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences All Programmes  6.5 
Minimum individual sections 5.5
College of Business and Law All Programmes  6.5 
Minimum individual sections 5.5
College of Science, Engineering and Food Science All Programmes  6.5 
Minimum individual sections 6.0
College of Medicine and Health All Programmes (except Speech and Language Therapy) 6.5 
Minimum individual sections 6.5
Speech and Language Therapy 7.0 
Minimum individual sections 6.5

TOEFL Minimum Requirements

College Programmes  TOEFL
College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences All Programmes  TOEFL 90  
Listening - 17; Reading - 18; 
Speaking - 20; Writing 17
College of Business and Law All Programmes  TOEFL 90  
Listening - 17; Reading - 18; 
Speaking - 20; Writing 17
College of Science, Engineering and Food Science All Programmes  TOEFL 90  
Listening - 20; Reading - 19; 
Speaking - 21; Writing 20
College of Medicine and Health All Programmes (except Speech and Language Therapy) TOEFL 90  
Listening - 23; Reading - 21; 
Speaking - 22; Writing 23
Speech and Language Therapy TOEFL 100  
Listening - 23; Reading - 21; 
Speaking - 22; Writing 23

Cambridge Proficiency Exam

College Programmes  Cambridge Proficiency Exam
College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences All Programmes  Grade C
College of Business and Law All Programmes  Grade C
College of Science, Engineering and Food Science All Programmes  Grade C
College of Medicine and Health All Programmes  Grade C

Cambridge Advanced Exam

College Programmes  Cambridge Advanced Exam
College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences All Programmes  Grade B
College of Business and Law All Programmes  Grade B
College of Science, Engineering and Food Science All Programmes  Grade B
College of Medicine and Health All Programmes  Grade B

Pearson PTE

College Programmes  Pearson PTE
College of Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences All Programmes  Minimum Score of 63 with no section score below 59
College of Business and Law All Programmes  Minimum Score of 63 with no section score below 59
College of Science, Engineering and Food Science All Programmes  Minimum Score of 63 with no section score below 59
College of Medicine and Health All Programmes (except Speech and Language Therapy) Minimum Score of 63 with no section score below 59
Speech and Language Therapy Minimum score of 67 with no section score below 63

UCC English Language Centre

The UCC Language Centre offers a range of English Language courses, which may assist students to meet the required standard of English language and thus be eligible for entry to postgraduate study at University College Cork. For more information on the English courses which are offered at the Language Centre, please follow the link: http://www.ucc.ie/en/esol/.

Other tests/qualifications may be accepted as equivalent to the qualifications listed above. Please contact the relevant Admissions Office for further information.

Certain tests (e.g. IELTS and TOEFL) have a two year time limit in their validity and these will be applied.

Please note that Secure English Language Test (SELT) scores must be achieved from one sitting of the relevant qualification (e.g. IELTS). We will not accept a combination of individual component scores from multiple tests.

Pre-Masters Preparatory Pathway

UCC is pleased to announce its new Pre-Masters/Preparatory Pathway which will allow students whose first language is not English the opportunity to develop English language proficiency, whilst at the same time taking modules from those offered across the University in their chosen discipline. Further information is available at http://www.ucc.ie/en/esol/courses/pre-masters/#d.en.748967

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