What IELTS score do you need for National College of Ireland?

The BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care has its own row: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.5 in speaking and no less than 6.0 in each skill. The same programme asks for PTE Academic 66 with 66 in speaking and no less than 58 in each skill, and Duolingo 120 with 120 in speaking and no less than 105 in each skill.

NCI states that IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted. Your English certificate must have been issued within two years of the expected start date of your NCI programme, and NCI notes that requirements are subject to change from intake to intake.

Students taught and examined through English for their full degree in Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Nigeria or South Africa are exempt from NCI's requirement, though they may still need a certificate for the visa. India is not on that list, so a degree taught in English in India does not exempt you under this rule. A pre-sessional English course is not stated by NCI on this page.

This guide covers NCI's admission requirement. The study visa is a separate check: the Irish Immigration Service sets a visa minimum of IELTS Academic 5.0 (PTE Academic 30) for courses other than second-level, foundation or English language courses, and says your college's own minimum may be different. Meeting the visa minimum does not get you an offer; NCI's score is the one to aim for. Country-level detail is in our IELTS for Ireland guide.

Requirements are set per intake and can change. Check the National College of Ireland English language page and your course page before you book a test. Read on 8 October 2026.