Our Student Visa Programme is a 25-week General English course with 8 weeks’ holidays approved for non-EU/EEA students in Ireland. You study 15 hours per week, build real-life English for work and study, and enjoy a friendly, international campus in Dublin 1. You can start most Mondays after a short placement test. Please note we have a two-week Christmas break each year with no classes, dates vary annually.
A confirmed course booking (paid before arrival)
Letter of Acceptance from Castleforbes (we provide it)
Passport valid at least 6 months after your course end
Medical & Learner Protection insurance (included)
Financial proof to support your stay (€6,665 varies by nationality)
€300 for the immigration (IRP) card fee, card payment only
Agreement to sit a final exam (TIE/IELTS)
Start dates: most Mondays (after a placement test)
Hours: 15 hours/week (General English)
Timetables: AM 09:00–12:15 or PM 13:45–17:00 (subject to availability)
Class size: typically 12–15 students (international mix)
Levels: A1 to C1 (we place you at the right level)
PPS number application
Open an Irish bank account (most employers ask for an Irish account to pay your wages)
Open an account at revenue.ie to manage your taxes
If your focus is to learn how to communicate effectively and efficiently, to the point where you can speak like a native, then to book yourself into our conversation classes
Timetable: daily 12:30 – 13:30
We offer private one-to-one tuition for all students interested in improving their English more rapidly or looking for particular needs such as interviewing or Business English. Each lesson is specifically tailored to the student’s request and to the subjects they are interested in improving or developing. If your goal is to improve your grammar, enrich vocabulary or further develop your communication skills, this is the perfect course for your needs.
Our standard end of course test is the TIE exam, which stands for Test of Interactive English. It is a test based on the Council of Europe levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2), placing students in one of the six levels according to their results in a one and a half hour exam.
Every student is required to prepare an investigation and a news-story, in addition to having read a book. The test structure is as follows:
Your TIE exam is automatically booked when you choose a VISA course, unless you choose one of the other exit exam offered (IELTS).
Exam dates: offered every Wednesday or Thursday, the exam can only be completed at the end of your course.
Exam location: 45 Leeson Street Lower, Saint Kevin’s, Dublin 2
Students are required to do a placement test before they attend their first day at the college. The function of this test is to begin a personalised learning path for each student. It is important that students complete this test without any help, either online, or from other people, so that they are placed in the correct level.
Non-EU/EEA students who enrol in a 25-week English course (15h/week) with a recognised school and agree to sit a final exam.
Most Mondays after a placement test. We close for a two-week Christmas break each year, dates vary annually.
Yes, up to 20h/week during term, and 40h/week in June, July, August, September, and 15 Dec–15 Jan.
Typically around €3,000, but the requirement can vary by nationality and policy. We’ll advise what to prepare.
TIE is the default. You can choose IELTS or FCE depending on your goals and level.
Your **Letter of Acceptance**, insurance confirmation, Learner Protection details, and enrolment confirmation for your visa appointment.
