Before you join the school, you will be contacted to do an English test online. This will help us to get a better idea of your reading, grammar and language skills.
We will then invite you for a speaking test to get a good idea of your speaking abilities. This is done on your first Monday at the College. We offer General English courses in all levels from A1- (Beginner) to C1 (Advanced) links to levels:
If you choose to enrol in a Business English course, you will have to sit the test two weeks before your start at the College.
This is important because the Business English course is only offered to students with a minimum level of English of B2 (Upper Intermediate).
If your level is not high enough for the Business English course, you will have the option to switch to a General English course and progress thereafter to Business English.
Every Monday.
Yes, you will take a placement test on the first day of class.
Yes, at the end of the programme you will receive a certificate indicating your final level of English.
It depends on the date you arrive in the country, depending on the date you want to stay we can check availability. Whether to stay with a host family or a student, that’s very personal. A host family will immerse you in Irish culture, but you’ll also be subject to the rules of the house, while with students you’ll have contact with people from all over the world who are also studying English.
To confirm enrollment in the English programmes, a non-refundable deposit of €150 will be required, and the remaining balance must be paid within 30 days of your arrival in Ireland if you do not need to apply a pre visa to come to the country. According to immigration rules, the course must be paid in full before the start of classes.
Please check with Irish immigration about this, unfortunately we are not in a position to advise you on this as I believe there is a different process for each country.
Please check the website: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/
Start dates you can apply for when making your application.
Depending on if you do General English Course you will study 15 hours per week – 3 hours a day for 5 days a week.
If you do a Business English Course you will do 3 hours a day for 4 days a week which is 12 hours per week.
Dorset College offers a variety of accommodation options to suit your needs, including:
Host Family Accommodation: This includes half board (breakfast and evening meal) from Monday to Friday and full board (including lunch) on weekends. Students booking a single room will not be placed with others of the same mother tongue.
Student Residences: These are modern and spacious apartments with options for single or shared rooms. They are fully equipped and located within walking distance to the school and city center.
Private Residences: Partnered with leading accommodation providers in Dublin, these options also offer modern facilities at budget-friendly prices.
The cost for accommodation in the college accommodation building is €195 per week for sharing a room with another student.
For availability, it is recommended to book in advance, especially during peak seasons, as the minimum booking duration is 4 weeks. Accommodation details are provided upon receipt of full fees.
Please note that the stamp2 visa (student visa) does not allow dependents, unfortunately this is not possible.
He/She would have to make a separate application.
Please note that according to Irish immigration rules the course must be paid off before the student arrives in the country.
Students can join any of our courses every Monday.
General English programmes run in the mornings or afternoons from Monday to Friday with a 15-minute break in each class:
Mornings 9 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.
Afternoons 1 p.m. to 4.15 p.m.
Business English classes run from Monday to Thursday
Mornings 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Afternoons 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Some students may need to apply for a visa to study in Ireland. For full and detailed information about visa requirements, visit the Irish Visa Information page – Coming to study in Ireland – Immigration Service Delivery
You will need the following:
A Student Details Letter confirming your enrollment
Valid Medical Insurance
Immigration Appointment Confirmation
Proof of access to €4,650 to support your stay in Ireland
Passport
€300 for the IRP card fee
Complete the online form at:
Request a Letter – Request A Letter
Yes, all visa-requiring international students must have private medical insurance. Dorset College includes an approved insurance policy in the tuition fees for international students who need a visa, which the College will purchase once the full payment of tuition is received.
Yes, we offer an airport pick-up service for students. Please contact our admissions team for information on prices and availability.
Courses can start any Monday of the month, depending on availability. To check, please email [email protected].
No minimum level of English is required to join. However, you will need to take an online placement test before starting so we can place you in the appropriate class.
Yes, as a student, you will have access to a variety of activities, including day trips to famous locations around Ireland, helping you grow socially and professionally.
All teachers have at least a Level 7 major award on the National Framework of Qualifications or its equivalent. They also hold an ACELS-recognized ELE qualification or equivalent.
Yes, upon request, all students receive a Certificate of Achievement upon completing their course. To request your certificate, email [email protected] with your student number. It will be available within five working days.
Yes, we offer free 1 Gigabyte Wi-Fi access throughout the campus. Dorset College also provides fully equipped computer labs, and students can use library computers for online resources.
Yes, all our host families and student residences offer Wi-Fi access.
The school will be closed on the following public holidays in 2025:
1 Jan
3 Feb
17 Mar
21 Apr
5 May
2 Jun
4 Aug
27 Oct
25 Dec
26 Dec
The Christmas break will begin after class on 13th December 2024, and classes will resume on 6th January 2025.
If you’re enrolled in the 25-week program, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week during your course and full-time (up to 40 hours) during your holiday period.
Yes, you can extend your accommodation by emailing [email protected] at least five business days before your check-out date. We will help you make the necessary arrangements.
To request your medical insurance details, email [email protected] with your student number and the following information:
Full Name
Date of Birth
Home Country Address
Irish Address
Irish Contact Number
Please allow five working days for processing your documents.
IT support for online classes: [email protected]
English Language support for online classes: [email protected]
Student Wellbeing: [email protected]
For students requesting reasonable accommodations: [email protected]
Alternatively, you can visit the English Office, located on the ground floor at 58 Great Charles Street, for assistance.
Transferring to another campus is not allowed.
To change your level, you need to take and pass a level test and in consultation with the teacher you may be moved to a higher level.
Class schedule changes depend on course availability and the number of enrolled students. Approval is not guaranteed and is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Attendance is crucial, and you should maintain at least 85%.
To check your attendance, visit the English Reception Office and make a request.
Yes, it is a requirement for your visa. Every student must take an exit exam at the end of their course. Dorset College Dublin is an authorized Trinity ISE exam centre, offering Trinity ISE exams to its students..
Printing facilities are available on both campuses.
To verify your course end date, contact [email protected].
Classes take place in our two main buildings. Where you study will depend on your course and your level.
58 Charles Street Great (D01 Y671)
7/8 Belvedere Place (D01 EV27)
Dorset College aims to provide high-quality courses that follow the standard regulations in Ireland. For this reason, we are members of:
EAQUALS (the European Association for Quality Language Services)
ACELS (The Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services)
ELE Ireland (English Language Education) organisation.
As members of these groups, we are regularly inspected to ensure that we meet the high standards of English-language teaching expected in Ireland.
The College has 3 well-equipped buildings with a fully stocked library and a number of computer rooms which students can also use in the main building 8 Belvedere Place.
There are also a number of vending machines which offer minerals and snacks as well as hot drinks in all buildings.
Each student is given a course book and teachers will also provide handouts and activities related to the topics covered during the class in addition to material related to exam preparation.
All students from outside of the EEA (European Economic Area) and who are in Ireland on a student visa must do an exam at the end of the course as it is an immigration requirement.
The list of approved exit exams includes IELTS, TIE and the Trinity ISE.
The standard General English exam offered at Dorset College is Trinity ISE and practice and guidance is given during the programme. Information on these exams is provided during the course and your teacher or the administration staff will be happy to give you more help and advice.
Classes have a maximum of 15 students, but the average class size is 12 students.
All students who have a visa from the GNIB to study in Ireland must have a minimum of 85% attendance of their classes. If a student’s attendance goes below this, we will contact them to let them know that they need to improve their attendance.
The College tries to offer a mix of free activities and occasional trips around Dublin and Ireland to allow students to mix and practise their English while learning more about Ireland and the world around them.
Keep an eye on our website for the social programme monthly schedule, noticeboards and regular email updates to see what activities are planned.
Dorset College has an agreement with a local bank which makes it easier to open a bank account without waiting too long. We will also prepare a student confirmation letter that you can take with you as proof of your studies. Ask our staff for more details on this.
You can open a bank account at the Allied Irish Bank. You must schedule an appointment beforehand. The documents you’ll need include:
Passport
Proof of Irish address (such as a utility bill—gas, phone, or electricity).
If you don’t have a utility bill, banks may accept a stamped letter from the College as proof of address.
All English language students who require a study visa are entitled to take holidays during their study programme. We allow longer term students to take up to 4 weeks of holidays during the course and they have to keep 4 weeks at the end of the programme for emergency purposes.
You can speak to the management team to organise your holidays at your induction on the first day.
