International

View a complete list of our International Undergraduate Courses.

If you are an EU Applicant, please visit our CAO Hub. 

View a complete list of our International Postgraduate Courses.

If you are an EU Applicant, please visit our postgraduate hub.

TU Dublin offers a range of pathway programmes for international students who need to further develop their English and/or academic skills prior to commencing their undergraduate, postgraduate or PhD studies at TU Dublin.

The International Foundation Programme (IFP) is a one year programme run by TU Dublin. It has been developed for students who need language and/or academic preparation for further study on undergraduate programmes in Ireland.

Students will learn language, academic and study skills to prepare for entry into undergraduate programmes either in TU Dublin or other Irish universities or institutes of technology. The IFP is an ideal pathway towards furthering your education at third level.

Why Study the International Foundation Programme?

• This is your first step towards gaining a degree in Ireland.
• It makes the transition to third level education in Ireland much easier.
• It provides a supportive learning environment.
• You will be able to attend lectures in your chosen degree subject within TU Dublin.
• You will have full access to TU Dublin facilities and support services.

Upon successful completion of the pathway programmes:

• You are guaranteed a place on your undergraduate/postgraduate programme of choice at TU Dublin.
• You are not required to take any further IELTS/TOEFL exam.
• You will be equipped with the langauge and academic skills and strategies to be successful on your destination programme.

What will you study on the Foundation Programme?

How will you be assessed?

You will be assessed regularly throughout the programme through continuous assessment, feedback and homework assignments. This is used to monitor your progress throughout the year. You will also be required to complete final exams for each of your modules.

Progression

You must pass all modules to progress to your undergraduate degree. Please note that some undergraduate programmes require minimum grades in certain subjects for entry.

Start Dates

There are two intakes:

• September intake runs from mid-September until the end of May the following year.
• January intake runs from the beginning of January until mid-July the same year.

Entry Requirements

IELTS score of at least 5.0 overall. Please note

• Some TU Dublin undergraduate programmes will require a higher IELTS score for entry.
• You are also required to have good high school grades for entry.

Contact Us

For more information and to make an application please contact the Programme Co-ordinator: Carol Cregg, Email: carol.cregg@tudublin.ie

Ladder System of Higher Education

The ladder system is a structured approach that allows students to advance through different levels of Higher Education in the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). It typically consists of the following stages:

• Higher Certificate (NFQ Level 6, 120 ECTS Credits)
• Bachelor's Degree (NFQ Level 7, 180 ECTS Credits)
• Honours Bachelor’s Degree (NFQ Level 8, 240 ECTS Credits)
• Master's Degree (NFQ Level 9, 90 ECTS Credits)

What are add-on degrees?

In the ladder system described above, there will be embedded awards such as:

• Bachelor’s Degree (NFQ Level 7, 60 ECTS Credits Add-on to Level 6 Award)
• Honours Bachelor’s Degree (NFQ Level 8, 60 ECTS Credits Add-on to Level 7 Award)

Add-on degrees enable students to "Climb the Ladder" by completing programmes and gaining awards in successive levels of the embedded awards (or parts thereof, e.g., Higher Diploma at NFQ Level 8, Postgraduate Diploma at NFQ Level 9 etc.), providing flexibility and clear pathways for academic and professional advancement.

Why choose an add-on degree in TU Dublin?

TU Dublin’s add-on degrees offer key advantages, particularly for students looking to enhance their qualifications and career prospects. For example:

• Students can enhance their existing qualifications to make them more competitive in career prospects and job markets; employers often value additional qualifications as evidence of advanced skills and knowledge.
• As the programmes build on prior learning and therefore are of shorter duration, it reduces the time and cost required to earn such additional qualification.
• They provide opportunity to specialise in specific fields or areas of interest, which can be valuable for career advancement or transitioning into a new industry.
• Being primarily designed to accommodate working professionals, and offered in part-time, online, or evening class learning modes, it is easier for individual students to balance education with work or other commitments such as family caring.
• Beyond career benefits, TU Dublin’s add-on degrees can contribute to personal development in deepening knowledge, improving critical thinking, and boosting confidence. They also provide pathways to master’s and doctoral programmes as qualification into academia and research.

To enable student success, each add-on programme prescribes Minimum Entry Requirements and/or pre-requisite knowledge and/or experiences that align with the module and programme learning outcomes of the designated award.

What Add-Ons are available in TU Dublin

The following are a list of Add-On Degree programmes open to non-EU applicants this year:

PLEASE NOTE: Every course has its own entry requirements, so check the course you’re interested in to find out exactly what you’ll need to apply.