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Postgraduate English Language Entry Requirements

UCC Postgraduate English Language Entry Requirements

UCC Postgraduate English Language Entry Requirements

Postgraduate English Language Tests/Exams

Minimum Requirements

The minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.

There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.

Time Limit for Certain English Language Tests/Exams

Certain tests/exams have a 2 year time limit on their validity.  Where such a time limit is indicated this means that the test/exam must be undertaken no more than two years prior to the commencement of the postgraduate course.  

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced
  • B2 First

176 overall with no less than 169 in each element of the test.

No time limit
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit

Duolingo English Test (DET)

 

  • DET 120 (with a minimum score of 110 in each sub score)
2 Years
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELCA International English Language Competency Assessment 

35 overall with a minimum score of 33 in sub-skills (academic version) 

2 Years
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELTS
  • 6.5 Overall
  • 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
LanguageCert IESOL
  • B2 Communicator High Pass with no less than 33 in each skill.

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

No time limit
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
LanguageCert Academic

70 Overall with 65 in each skill

No time limit
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
LinguaSkill General
  • 176 Average Score
  • Minimum 169 individual skills
No time limit
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit

Occupational English Test 

  • Minimum 250-299 in each sub-skill 
2 Years
  • Note this is only applicable to Nursing programme applicants.
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
Oxford Test of English 
  • Minimum 140 overall 
No time limit 
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum score of 63 with no section score below 59.

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
PSI Skills for English: SELT

B2 Pass with Merit in all components (4 component test) 

2 Years
Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit

TOEFL iBT

 

Note: UCC does not accept the Home Edition.  

90 Overall

  • Listening 20
  • Reading 19
  • Speaking 21
  • Writing 20

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years


 

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional at the UCC Language Centre.

Year of completion

Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement

Minimum English language requirements for MSc AudiologyCollege of Medicine & Health

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELTS 
  • 7.0 Overall
  • 6.5 Individual Skills (academic version)

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years
TOEFL iBT

100 Overall

  • Listening 23
  • Reading 21
  • Speaking 22
  • Writing 23

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years



Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced

185 overall with no less than 176 in each element of the test

No time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional or the Pre-Masters and Pre-PhD Pathway at the UCC Language Centre

Year of completion
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum score of 72 with no section score below 63
2 Years
LanguageCert IESOL
  • C1 Expert Pass with no less than 25 in each skill

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted

No time limit
LanguageCert Academic
  • 75 Overall with 70 in each skill
No time limit

DET (Duolingo English Test)

 

 

  • DET 130 
  • Minimum individual sub score 120
2 Years
LinguaSkill General
  • 185 Average Score
  • Minimum 176 individual skills
No time limit
IELCA International English Language Competency Assessment 40 overall with a minimum score of 35 in sub-skills (academic version)  2 Years
PSI Skills for English: SELT C1 Pass in all components (4 component test)  2 Years

Minimum English language requirements for MSc Diagnostic RadiographyCollege of Medicine & Health

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELTS 
  • 7.0 Overall
  • 7.0 Individual Skills (academic version)

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years
TOEFL iBT

100 Overall

  • Listening 24
  • Reading 24
  • Speaking 23
  • Writing 27

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years

 

Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced

185 Overall with no less than 185 in each element of the test.

No time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional or the Pre-Masters and Pre-PhD Pathway at the UCC Language Centre.

Year of completion
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum score of 72 with no section score below 72.
2 Years
LanguageCert IESOL
  • C1 Expert Pass with no less than 33 in each skill.

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

No time limit
LanguageCert Academic
  • 75 Overall with 75 in each skill
No time limit

 

DET (Duolingo English Test)

 

  • DET 130
  • Minimum individual sub score 130
2 Years
LinguaSkill General
  • 185 Average Score
  • Minimum 185 in Individual Skills
No time limit
IELCA International English Language Competency Assessment 40 overall with a minimum score of 40 in sub-skills (academic version)   2 Years
PSI Skills for English: SELT C1 Pass in all components (4 component test)   2 Years 

Minimum English language requirements for MSc Human Nutrition & DieteticsCollege of Science, Engineering & Food Science

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELTS 
  • 7.0 Overall
  • 6.5 Individual Skills (academic version)

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years
TOEFL iBT

100 Overall

  • Listening 23
  • Reading 21
  • Speaking 22
  • Writing 23

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years



Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced

185 overall with no less than 176 in each element of the test.

No time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional or the Pre-Masters and Pre-PhD Pathway at the UCC Language Centre.

Year of completion
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum score of 72 with no section score below 63.
2 Years
LanguageCert IESOL
  • C1 Expert Pass with no less than 25 in each skill.

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

No time limit
LanguageCert Academic
  • Overall 75 with 70 in each skill
No time limit

DET (Duolingo English Test)

 

  • DET 130

  • Minimual Individual sub score 120
2 Years
LinguaSkill General
  • 185 Average Score
  • Minimum 176 individual skills
No time limit
IELCA International English Language Competency Assessment 40 overall with a minimum score of 35 in sub-skills (academic version)   2 Years
PSI Skills for English: SELT C1 Pass in all components (4 component test)   2 Years 

Minimum English language requirements for MSc Marine BiologyCollege of Science, Engineering & Food Science

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELTS 
  • 7.0 Overall
  • 7.0 in Writing and
  • 6.5 all other Individual Skills (academic version)

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years
TOEFL iBT

100 Overall

  • Listening 23
  • Reading 21
  • Speaking 22
  • Writing 27

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years

 

Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced

185 Overall with no less than 185 in Writing and 176 in each other element of the test.

No time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional or the Pre-Masters and Pre-PhD Pathway at the UCC Language Centre.

Year of completion
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum score of 72 with no section score below 63
2 Years
LanguageCert IESOL
  • C1 Expert Pass with no less than 25 in each skill.

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted

No time limit
LanguageCert Academic
  • 75 Overall with 75 in writing and 70 in other skills

No time limit

DET (Duolingo English Test)

 

  • DET 130
  • Literacy & Production - Minimum sub score 130
  • Comprehension & Conversation - Minimum sub score 120
2 Years
LinguaSkill General
  • 185 Average Score
  • Minimum 185 in Writing and 176 in all other individual skills
No time limit
IELCA International English Language Competency Assessment

40 overall with a minimum score of 35 in sub-skills* (academic version) 

*Writing must be 40

2 Years
PSI Skills for English: SELT  C1 Pass in all components (4 component test)  2 Years

Minimum English language requirements for Medical Imagining and Radiation Sciences

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELTS 
  • 7.0 Overall
  • 7.0 Individual Skills (academic version)

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years
TOEFL iBT

100 Overall

  • Listening 24
  • Reading 24
  • Speaking 23
  • Writing 27

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years

 

Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced

185 Overall with no less than 185 in each element of the test.

No time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional or the Pre-Masters and Pre-PhD Pathway at the UCC Language Centre.

Year of completion
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum score of 72 with no section score below 72.
2 Years
LanguageCert IESOL
  • C1 Expert Pass with no less than 33 in each skill.

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

No time limit
LanguageCert Academic
  • 75 Overall with 75 in each skill
No time limit

 

DET (Duolingo English Test)

 

  • DET 130
  • Minimum individual sub score 130
2 Years
LinguaSkill General
  • 185 Average Score
  • Minimum 185 in Individual Skills
No time limit
IELCA International English Language Competency Assessment 40 overall with a minimum score of 40 in sub-skills (academic version)   2 Years
PSI Skills for English: SELT C1 Pass in all components (4 component test)   2 Years 

Minimum English language requirements for MSc Radiation TherapyCollege of Medicine & Health

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELTS 
  • 7.0 Overall
  • 7.0 Individual Skills (academic version)

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years
TOEFL iBT

100 Overall

  • Listening 24
  • Reading 24
  • Speaking 23
  • Writing 27

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years

 

Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced

185 Overall with no less than 185 in each element of the test.

No time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional or the Pre-Masters and Pre-PhD Pathway at the UCC Language Centre.

Year of completion
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum score of 72 with no section score below 72.
2 Years
LanguageCert IESOL
  • C1 Expert Pass with no less than 33 in each skill.

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

No time limit
LanguageCert Academic
  • 75 Overall with 75 in each skill
No time limit

DET (Duolingo English Test)

 

  • DET 130

  • Individual sub score minimum 130
2 Years
LinguaSkill General
  • 185 Average Score
  • Minimum 185 in Individual Skills
No time limit
IELCA International English Language Competency Assessment 40 overall with a minimum score of 40 in sub-skills (academic version)    2 Years
PSI Skills for English: SELT C1 Pass in all components (4 component test)    2 Years 

Minimum English language requirements for Postgraduate Diploma Public Health NursingSchool of Nursing & MidwiferyCollege of Medicine & Health

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELTS 
  • 7.0 Overall
  • 7.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
  • One Individual Skill can be 6.5

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years
TOEFL iBT

100 Overall

  • Listening 24
  • Reading 24
  • Speaking 23
  • Writing 27

However, one of the following lower individual scores can be accepted.

  • Listening 23
  • Reading 21
  • Speaking 22
  • Writing 23

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years

 

Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced

185 Overall with no less than 185 in each element of the test.

However, one of the elements of the test can be as low as 176.

No time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional or the Pre-Masters and Pre-PhD Pathway at the UCC Language Centre.

Year of completion
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum score of 72 with no section score below 72.

However, one of the sections can be as low as 63.

2 Years
LanguageCert IESOL
  • C1 Expert Pass with no less than 33 in each skill.

However, one of the skills can be as low as 25.

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

No time limit
LanguageCert Academic
  • 75 overall with 75 in other skills
  • One skill may be at 70
No time limit

DET (Duolingo English Test)

 

  • DET 130
  • Individual sub score = minimum 130
  • One sub score may be at 120
2 Years
LinguaSkill General
  • 185 Average Score
  • Minimum 185 in Individual Skills

However, one of the Skills can be as low as 176.

No time limit
IELCA International English Language Competency Assessment

40 overall with a minimum score of 40 in sub-skills (academic version) 

One individual skill can be 35.

2 Years
PSI Skills for English: SELT C1 Pass in all components (4 component test)   2 Years 

Minimum English language requirements for MSc Nursing (Non-EU), College of Medicine & Health

Examining Body
Requirement
Time limit
IELTS 
  • 6.5 Overall
  • 6.5 Individual Skills (academic version)

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

2 Years

TOEFL iBT

Note: UCC does not accept the Home Edition.  

90 Overall

  • Listening 23
  • Reading 21
  • Speaking 22
  • Writing 23

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years



Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced
  • B2 First

176 overall with no less than 176 in each element of the test.

No time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional or the Pre-Masters and Pre-PhD Pathway at the UCC Language Centre.

Year of completion
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum score of 63 with no section score below 63.
2 Years
LanguageCert IESOL
  • B2 Communicator High Pass with no less than 38 in each skill

Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.

No time limit
LanguageCert Academic
  • Overall 70 with 70 in each skill
No time limit

DET (Duolingo English Test)

 

 

  • DET 120
  • Minimum individual sub score 120
2 Years
LinguaSkill General
  • 176 Average Score
  • Minimum 176 individual skills
No time limit
IELCA International English Language Competency Assessment 35 overall with a minimum score of 35 in sub-skills (academic version)  2 Years
PSI Skills for English: SELT

B2 Merit in all components (4 component test) 

2 Years
OET

Minimum 300 in each sub-skill

2 Years
Oxford Test of English

Minimum 140 in all skills

No time limit

Exemption from English Language Testing

Applicants who are either from a country that is deemed by UCC to have English as its acknowledged primary language, or who hold an undergraduate (level 8) or a postgraduate (level 8 or 9) qualification from a recognised institution that was taught in a country deemed by UCC to have English as its acknowledged primary language, will normally be assumed to have met the UCC language requirements. See our Majority English-Speaking Countries list below.

Note, in some circumstances, the Admissions team may require further evidence of English language skills.

For the purposes of admission, UCC has deemed English to be the acknowledged primary language of the following Majority English-Speaking Countries:

American Samoa Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Australia  Bahamas
Barbados Belize  Bermuda Botswana British Virgin Islands (BVI)
Canada Cayman Islands Dominica Falkland Islands Fiji
The Gambia Ghana Gibraltar Grenada   Guam 
Guyana  Jamaica   Kenya  Lesotho  Liberia 
Malta  Marshall Islands  Montserrat Namibia  New Zealand 
Nigeria  Seychelles  Sierra Leone  Singapore  Solomon Islands 
South Africa  St Helena  St Kitts & Nevis  St Lucia  St Vincent & the Grenadines 
Tanzania Trinidad & Tobago  Turks & Caicos Islands  Uganda United Kingdom 
USA US Virgin Islands Zambia Zimbabwe  

Discretionary Measures

Applicants with professional practice relevant to the postgraduate programme of study

In circumstances where the applicant has a minimum of 2 years of professional practice (professional practice relevant to the postgraduate programme of study) working through the medium of English in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language, and verified in writing by the applicant’s employer(s), the applicant may be deemed to have met the English language requirements subject to the successful completion of a written piece of work or/and an interview.

These steps are managed by the programme team/program coordinator/lead supervisor who liaise directly with the applicant to request the following: 

  • A suitable piece of written work as defined by the programme team/programme coordinator/lead supervisor of approximately 500 words.
  • An interview in person or virtually.

Expired English language certification

In circumstances where the applicant previously met the minimum English requirements but the certification has expired, the applicant will not be required to re-take the examination if the applicant continued to work in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language from the date of expiry, as indicated on the certificate, and verified in writing by the applicant’s employer(s).

This step must be verified by the programme team/programme coordinator/lead supervisor. It will be at the discretion of the programme team/programme coordinator/lead supervisor to decide if the work undertaken since the expiry of the certification is relevant to the programme to which the person has applied.

Postgraduate research applicant on a minimum 2-year programme

If you are a postgraduate research applicant on a minimum 2-year programme and are considered an academically suitable research applicant who fails to reach the minimum score by a certain margin, as detailed in the table below, the following conditions may apply:

If the programme team/programme director /lead supervisor supports the admission then the applicant is approved for admission, subject to them attending a UCC Language Centre course in parallel with the postgraduate programme. In this case, the applicant will be issued with a full offer with a requirement to attend an approved English language support course.

The type, level and duration of the English language course is determined by language acquisition experts at our Language Centre. Payment is usually the responsibility of the applicant but a School/Department may decide to cover the cost in certain circumstances. The Language Centre will guarantee a place in a suitable English language programme and students will have to report on their language programme in their Annual Progress Review.

 

English Language Minimum Scores for Research Applicants on a Minimum 2-Year Programme
Examining Body
Requirement
Time Limit
IELTS
  • 6.5 Overall
  • 0.5 below the requirement in one individual skill, however, all other individual skills must be at the standard minimum of 6.0.
2 Years
TOEFL iBT

90 Overall

One of the following lower individual scores can be accepted:

  • Listening 17
  • Reading 18
  • Speaking 20
  • Writing 17

All other individual scores must be at the standard minimum levels:

  • Listening 20
  • Reading 19
  • Speaking 21
  • Writing 20

MyBest® scores accepted

2 Years



Cambridge Examinations
  • C2 Proficiency
  • C1 Advanced
  • B2 First

176 overall. One element of the test can be as low as 162. All other elements must be at the standard minimum of 169.

No time limit
UCC English Language Centre

Successful completion of a Pre-sessional or the Pre-Masters and Pre-PhD Pathway at the UCC Language Centre.

Year of completion
Pearson PTE
  • Minimum Score 63

One section score can be as low as 51. All other section scores must be at the standard minimum of 59.

(Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.)

2 Years
LanguageCert IESOL
  • B2 Communicator High Pass

One skill can be as low as 25. All other skills must be at the standard minimum of 33.

(Both Test Centre and Online versions are accepted.)

No time limit
DET (Duolingo English Test)
  • DET 120
Applicants presenting with a DET score of 110-115 will be required to take a Skills Check with the UCC Language Centre.
2 Years
LinguaSkill General
  • 176 Average Score

One skill can be as low as 160. All other skills must be at the standard minimum of 169.

2 Years
Oxford Test of English 
  • Minimum 140 overall

One module can be as low as 126. All others must be at the standard minimum of 140.

no time limit 

Occupational English Test

This is only applicable to Nursing programme applicants. 

One sub skill can be as low as 240. All other sub skills must be at the standard minimum of 250-299.  2 Years 

Exceptional circumstances

In exceptional circumstances, the Admissions Offices may consider an applicant to have met the English language requirements if:

the applicant has successfully completed a Master’s programme (Level 9). The dissertation component must have been presented (orally and written) and defended in English. In this instance, the applicant must submit the dissertation for review, and a decision will be made by the admitting School/Department. Applicants may also be required to undergo an interview, a skills test, and an assessment of their written work. 

Visa Requiring Applicants

English language requirements for applicants who require a visa for entry to Ireland

In addition to meeting the UCC English language entry requirements for admission, as detailed above, if you present from a country that requires a visa for entry into Ireland you must also meet the English language requirements, if there are any, as set out by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) (Department of Justice). 

For more information please see the Department of Justice page on English language requirements for study visas.

 

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