Academic Year Courses (Work and Study)

These long-term programmes, aimed at non-EU students, are designed to allow progression through one to two levels over an academic year period and to gain a professional, internationally-recognised English qualification.

Students also have the option of working part-time (see below). Our 15-hour programme provides a good foundation in the main linguistic skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking — with a strong focus on communicative achievement. Most students sit the Oxford English Test so exam preparation is incorporated into the curriculum.

Our 20-hour programme builds on the 15-hour foundation by offering 5 extra elective lessons in a range of disciplines including conversation fluency, writing and grammar. The classes are integrated with our General English programmes, allowing for a greater nationality mix of EEA and non-EEA students.

Morning and afternoon schedules are available, the afternoon programmes are offered at a lower cost.

Duration:

1 academic year (minimum 25 weeks study) with an 8-month visa

Start date:

Any Monday of the year, excluding Christmas vacation

Hours:

15 or 20 per week

Levels:

A1 – C2

Schedule:

Morning 09.00 – 12.15
Afternoon 13.00 – 17.00 (Monday to Thursday)

Entry requirements:

Students should be at least 18 years old on the course start date and should have a basic A1 level of English. Students tested at A0 level cannot enter the programme and should take one-to-one tuition until A1 level is reached.

Obligatory exit exam:

Students are registered for an ISE exam upon their arrival. If they would like to change to an IELTS or Cambridge exam they have to pay an additional fee and notify the Academic team in the first two weeks of their course. Any questions or requests to change exams must be emailed to academic@isi-ireland.ie

Awards:

All programmes include preparation for the Oxford English Test. Students can also choose to prepare for Cambridge Exams (FCE, CAE, CPE) or IELTS Band 6-9, but an exam fee supplement applies.

Right to work:

Students from outside the EU on Academic Year programmes have the right to work 20 hours per week during the course, and 40 hours per week during holidays from June to September & December 15th to January 15th inclusive.

Council of Europe	ISI equivalent level	Approximate exam level
Basic User
A1	False Beginner-elementary
A2	Pre-intermediate	KET/IELTS (3)/TOEIC 220+/Trinity ISE Foundation
Independent User
B1	Intermediate	PET/IELTS (4)/TOEIC 380+/ Trinity ISE I
B2	Upper-Intermediate	FCE/IELTS (5)TOEIC 520+/Trinity ISE II
Proficient User
C1	Advanced	CAE/IELTS (7-7.5)/TOEIC 800+/Trinity ISE III
C2	Very Advanced	CPE/IELTS (8-9)/TOEIC 900+/Trinity ISE IV