English Proficiency
English Language Requirements
Below you will find the English requirements for our undergraudate and postgraduate courses. Please confirm you meet the English language requirements before applying.
Undergraduate English Language Requirements
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
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
- TOEFL Minimum Requirements
- Cambridge Proficiency Exam
- Cambridge Advanced Exam
- Pearson PTE
| 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 (except School of BEES: MSc Marine Biology) | 6.5 Minimum individual sections 6.0 |
| School of BEES: MSc Marine Biology |
7.0 |
|
| College of Medicine and Health | All Programmes (except School of Clinical Therapies: MSc Audiology) | 6.5 Minimum individual sections 6.5 |
| School of Clinical Therapies: MSc Audiology | 7.0 Minimum individual sections 6.5 |
| 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 (except School of BEES: MSc Marine Biology) | TOEFL 90 Listening - 20; Reading - 19; Speaking - 21; Writing 20 |
| School of BEES: MSc Marine Biology | TOEFL 100 Listening - 23; Reading - 21; Speaking - 22; Writing 27 |
|
| College of Medicine and Health | All Programmes (except School of Clinical Therapies: MSc Audiology) | TOEFL 90 Listening - 23; Reading - 21; Speaking - 22; Writing 23 |
| School of Clinical Therapies: MSc Audiology | TOEFL 100 Listening - 23; Reading - 21; Speaking - 22; Writing 23 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 (except School of BEES: MSc Marine Biology) | Minimum Score of 63 with no section score below 59 |
| School of BEES: MSc Marine Biology | Minimum score of 67 with no section score below 63 | |
| College of Medicine and Health | All Programmes (except School of Clinical Therapies: MSc Audiology) | Minimum Score of 63 with no section score below 59 |
| School of Clinical Therapies: MSc Audiology | 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