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Is IELTS 6.0 enough for a master's in Ireland?

Yes, mainly at technological universities and private colleges. In our data of 15 Irish institutions (checked 4 to 10 October 2026), 6 of the 13 whose postgraduate minimum we could read list IELTS 6.0 for some master's: ATU, Dublin Business School, MTU, National College of Ireland, SETU, TU Dublin. The other 7, including UCD, UCC, Maynooth and Galway, ask 6.5.
  • Checked against official sources · 10 October 2026
  • 2 sections
  • IELTS
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Irish postgraduate IELTS minimums

Component rules matter: TU Dublin asks no less than 6.0 in each component, while ATU asks 5.5 in each. Business master's at National College of Ireland and MTU's level 2 courses ask 6.5.

How we counted: each figure comes from our own guide to that university, which restates its admissions pages (read 4 to 8 October 2026). We took the lowest postgraduate IELTS overall each guide's tables give; where a table could not be read cleanly the university is left out of the count rather than guessed. The full list, with a CSV, is on our IELTS university requirements data. A course page can ask for more than the university minimum, so check yours before you book.

InstitutionLowest master's IELTSMaster's PTE
ATU6.055
Dublin Business School6.052
MTU6.059
National College of Ireland6.058
SETU6.055
TU Dublin6.065
DCU6.563
Maynooth University6.563
TUS6.556
UCC6.563
UCD6.563
University of Galway6.5–
University of Limerick6.561

The visa minimum is lower

Ireland's Immigration Service sets IELTS Academic 5.0 (PTE Academic 30) for degree courses, with the certificate issued within two years of your course start (IELTS for an Irish study visa). The college's own requirement is the one that decides your offer.

Short by half a band? Several Irish institutions run pre-sessional English, and the Immigration Service allows a preparatory English course of up to six months before the degree with extra conditions. Find your weak skill with a free IELTS mock test.

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Frequently asked questions

Which Irish universities accept IELTS 6.0 for a master's?+

In our data: ATU, Dublin Business School, MTU, National College of Ireland, SETU, TU Dublin.

Does UCD or Trinity accept IELTS 6.0?+

UCD starts at 6.5 for postgraduate study in our data. Trinity's figure could not be read cleanly from its guide, so check it there.

What IELTS does the Irish study visa need?+

IELTS Academic 5.0 for degree courses, or PTE Academic 30, issued within two years of your course start.

What PTE score do Irish universities need for a master's?+

Between 52 and 65 in our data; DCU, Maynooth, UCC and UCD ask 63.

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Related

Verified against the linked official sources on 10 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.

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