Foundation and Pathway Programs
Building strong foundations for academic success and creating clear pathways to your future career.
International Foundation Programmes in Ireland Summary for International Students
| University / College | Course Name | Start Dates | IELTS Requirement | Tuition Fee (International Students) | Progression to Degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIFC (Dublin International Foundation College) | International Foundation Year (IFY) | Sept (9 months), Jan (7 months) |
IELTS 5.0 (most streams) IELTS 5.5 (Health/Medicine) |
€15,600 – Business €16,600 – Science/Engineering €18,800 – Health Sciences |
|
| OnCampus Ireland (based in Maynooth) | International Foundation Programme (IFP) | Sept intake (2 semesters) |
IELTS 5.0 (Business, Eng/Science) IELTS 5.5 (Medical stream) |
€16,330 – Business/Social
Sciences & Eng/Science €20,450 – Medical route |
|
| OnCampus Ireland (PMP) | Pre-Master's Programme | Sept intake, Jan intake |
Recognised undergraduate degree (or equivalent) IELTS 5.5 (min 5.0 each component) |
€16,330 (2 semesters) |
|
| TU Dublin | International Foundation Year Programme (TU697) | Sept 2025, Jan 2026 | Typically 1 band below direct entry (around IELTS 5.0) | €12,500 |
|
| TUS (Technological University of the Shannon) | International Foundation Programme | Sept intake (apply by 1st June) | IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent) | €11,000 |
|
| DCU (Dublin City University) | International Foundation Year (DC555) | Sept intake | Designed for students below direct entry (Direct UG entry = IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.0 each band) | Varies by stream (Business, Engineering, Science, Humanities). Plus NCUK fees. |
|
| DKIT (Dundalk Institute of Technology) | Certificate in Foundation Studies | Sept – June or Jan – Aug (2 semesters) | IELTS 4.5 (or equivalent) | €7,545 (includes mandatory health insurance & sports fee) |
|