English courses in Ireland come in two kinds. A course of under 90 days is taken on a short-stay Irish C visa if you are a visa-required national: a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. A long programme for non-EEA students must run for at least 25 weeks at 15 hours a week, appear on the official ILEP list and end with an exam; it leads to a D visa where needed and Stamp 2 permission of up to eight months, with the right to work up to 20 hours a week. In Dublin, 25 weeks of a 20-hour morning course cost from $4,497 (€3,980) at Everest Language School, and the visa requires $7,530 (€6,665) for living costs.
| At a glance | Rules and prices checked on 1 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Course under 90 days | Short-stay Irish C visa for visa-required nationals; Ireland is not in the Schengen area |
| Long English course | 25+ weeks, 15+ hours a week, school and programme on the ILEP list |
| Permission | Stamp 2 for up to 8 months per programme, at most three programmes, two years in total |
| Work | Up to 20 hours a week in term; up to 40 hours in June–September and 15 December – 15 January |
| Funds for the visa | $941 (€833) a month or $7,530 (€6,665) for a stay of up to 8 months |
| Paying the course | Courses under €6,000 must be paid in full before the visa application |
| Fees | Visa $68 (€60) single entry or $113 (€100) multiple; Stamp 2 registration $339 (€300) |
| Where Russian citizens apply | Online on AVATS, documents at VFS Global centres in 11 Russian cities |
| Price example | Everest Language School, Dublin: 25 weeks at 20 hours a week, $4,497 (€3,980), 2026 |
Who English courses in Ireland suit
On a long language programme in Ireland you can work part-time as soon as Stamp 2 is registered; in Malta that becomes possible only from the fourth month of study, and visitor or language visas in England and the USA allow no work at all. That is why Ireland attracts students ready to study for six months or longer, live in the language and cover part of their costs. Irish English sounds different from London English, but schools teach the standard international variety and prepare for the same exams: Cambridge, IELTS, LanguageCert and Trinity.
A two- to four-week trip is possible too, but in price and visa effort it is close to England. If saving money is the priority, compare it with English courses in Malta; if you want a British exam base, compare it with English courses in England. Universities and living in Ireland are covered on Study in Ireland, and if a degree is the next step, see universities in Ireland and applying to Irish universities.
What ILEP is and why the list matters more than marketing
ILEP, the Interim List of Eligible Programmes, is the official list of programmes for which Ireland's Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) grants study visas and Stamp 2 permission. In the file ISD published on 22 September 2026, 64 schools and colleges list English language programmes. The list is closed to new providers and is being replaced by the TrustEd Ireland quality mark awarded by the state agency QQI. After two TrustEd cycles only providers holding the mark will be able to recruit non-EEA students, so check both the ILEP file and TrustEd status before paying.
An ILEP English programme must:
- run for at least 25 weeks within seven months and deliver at least 375 tuition hours;
- provide at least 15 classroom hours a week, Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm, on at least four days;
- require at least 85% attendance, with lateness of more than 15 minutes marked as absence;
- end with an exam at an approved centre after 25 weeks but within the eight-month permission;
- publish holidays in advance, never exceeding one third of the weeks elapsed.
An ILEP school must also protect your money: if the programme closes early, insurance reimburses unspent fees or you complete the course with another provider. If your visa or entry is refused, the school returns the fees, minus a handling charge announced in advance, within 20 working days of your request.
Short course: C visa
For a course of less than 90 days, a visa-required national such as a Russian citizen needs a short-stay Irish C visa. Neither a Schengen nor a UK visa replaces it. The application route is the same as for a D visa: AVATS online, documents at VFS Global, and a decision by the ISD visa office. Work is not allowed on a short course, and the ILEP requirement applies only to long programmes.
Long course: D visa and Stamp 2
Visa documents
Under ISD rules, a study visa application for an English language programme includes:
- A school letter confirming enrolment on a full-time course with at least 15 hours of organised daytime tuition a week, with course dates and fees.
- Proof of payment: if the course costs less than €6,000, the full amount.
- Evidence of funds to live without work: €833 ($941) a month, or €6,665 ($7,530) in total for a stay of up to eight months. Part-time earnings do not count.
- Private medical insurance, which some schools include.
- A basic level of English before arrival. Language-course applicants do not have to attach a test certificate, but the visa officer may ask for other evidence of their level.
You complete the AVATS form online no earlier than three months before travel, pay $68 (€60) for a single-entry or $113 (€100) for a multiple-entry visa, and lodge documents at VFS Global. The Irish Embassy in Moscow no longer accepts documents; VFS centres for Ireland operate in Moscow, St Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnodar and Saratov, and in Kazakhstan in Astana and Almaty. The full document list and timeline are in our guide to the Irish student visa and Stamp 2.
After arrival
You register with immigration in Ireland and receive Stamp 2 with an IRP card; registration costs $339 (€300). Permission for one language programme lasts up to eight months: 25 weeks of tuition, holidays and time for the exam. A new student can hold permission for at most three such programmes, two years in total, and overall time as a student is capped at seven years.
Working on Stamp 2
Students on an ILEP language programme may work up to 20 hours a week during term and up to 40 hours in June, July, August and September and from 15 December to 15 January. Earnings are not counted towards the funds required for the visa. Tax numbers, bank accounts and employer rules are covered in our guide to working while studying and Stamp 1G in Ireland.
What English courses in Ireland cost: price-list examples
Everest Language School (Dublin), 2026 prices
| Course | Hours a week | 1 week | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | Each extra week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning General English | 20 | $232 (€205) | $926 (€820) | $2,666 (€2,360) | $215 (€190) |
| Afternoon General English | 15 | $141 (€125) | $565 (€500) | $1,576 (€1,395) | $124 (€110) |
| Intensive (general or exam) | 26 | $277 (€245) | $1,107 (€980) | $3,209 (€2,840) | $254 (€225) |
Twenty-five-week packages: mornings at 20 hours a week cost $4,497 (€3,980), afternoons at 15 hours $3,152 (€2,790). The school's ILEP entries are 25-week exam programmes of 20 hours in the morning and 15 hours in the afternoon. Registration is $40 (€35), and the accommodation placement fee $56 (€50).
Atlas Language School (Dublin), current price list
A heritage building in Portobello, a 15-minute walk from St Stephen's Green; accredited by ACELS and EAQUALS, with up to 15 students per class.
| General English, 20 lessons a week | Standard price | Booked by 31.12.2026 for a 2027 start |
|---|---|---|
| 1–8 weeks | $378 (€335) | $339 (€300) |
| 9–16 weeks | $345 (€305) | $311 (€275) |
| 17+ weeks | $311 (€275) | $282 (€250) |
Registration and the course book are charged separately. Twenty-five weeks cost $7,767 (€6,875) at the standard rate or $7,061 (€6,250) at the offer rate. Atlas lists dozens of 25-week ILEP programmes of 16.67–18.33 hours a week, from beginner level to Cambridge and IELTS preparation.
A six-month budget
| Item | Everest, morning course | Atlas, offer price |
|---|---|---|
| 25-week course and registration | $4,536 (€4,015) | from $7,061 (€6,250) plus registration |
| D visa (single entry) | $68 (€60) | $68 (€60) |
| Stamp 2 registration | $339 (€300) | $339 (€300) |
| Living funds shown for the visa | $7,530 (€6,665) | $7,530 (€6,665) |
Because the Atlas course costs more than €6,000, at least €6,000 must be paid before the visa application, and the school may ask for the full amount. Medical insurance, flights and the exam fee, if not included in the course, are extra. Rent is the largest cost in Dublin, so for the first weeks a homestay or residence booked through the school is the safer option.
Where to live
- Homestay. A single or twin room with breakfast and dinner. Atlas states that its host families are Garda-vetted and interviewed by the school.
- School or private student residence. A private room, sometimes en-suite, with shared kitchens; Atlas runs a residence in Rathmines with breakfast and dinner.
- Private rental. Cheaper per month but hard to find in Dublin; the visa still needs an address for the first weeks.
Paying from Russia
An Irish school asks for full payment before the visa application if the course costs less than €6,000, and states the payment in the enrolment letter. From Russia, use only lawful routes: a transfer from a bank that can send euros, or payment by a relative from an account abroad with a clear source of funds. See our guide on how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Step-by-step plan for a 25-week programme
- 5–6 months ahead. Find the school and programme in the ILEP file on the ISD website and check its TrustEd Ireland status.
- 4–5 months ahead. Book and pay for the course, and get the enrolment letter and the learner protection insurance details.
- 3–4 months ahead. Prepare six months of statements showing at least €6,665, medical insurance and translations.
- 3 months ahead. Complete AVATS, pay the visa fee and lodge documents at VFS Global.
- After arrival. Register for Stamp 2, collect the IRP card, and only then look for work.
Common mistakes
- Travelling on a Schengen visa. Ireland is outside the Schengen area and needs its own visa.
- Choosing a non-ILEP school for a long course. No D visa is issued for such a programme.
- Counting on work instead of savings. Living funds are shown at the application stage, and part-time work does not replace them.
- Missing classes. Schools keep attendance records for immigration, and below 85% the permission will not be renewed.
- Forgetting the exam. An ILEP programme ends with a mandatory exam at an approved centre, and without it the next course cannot be arranged.
FAQ
Yes, if you are on an ILEP programme of at least 25 weeks and have registered Stamp 2: part-time during term and full-time in summer and over Christmas. The right to work comes with the immigration permission granted by ISD; a short course on a C visa carries no work rights.
A 20-hour morning course at Everest Language School costs $232 (€205) a week, or $4,497 (€3,980) for 25 weeks. Atlas Language School's standard rate is $311–378 (€275–335) a week. A long-course visa also requires evidence of $7,530 (€6,665) for living costs.
No. Ireland is outside the Schengen area, so even a two-week course requires an Irish C visa for visa-required nationals, including Russian citizens. The ISD visa office decides on it, just as it decides on D visas.
A new student can be granted permission for a maximum of three language programmes of eight months each, two years in total. Each renewal happens at registration, and the immigration service decides, taking attendance and the exam result into account.
ISD expects a basic level before arrival: language-course applicants need no test certificate, but the visa officer may ask for evidence. Schools place students after a test. ILEP programmes start from A1, but the end-of-course exam must reflect the exit level stated for the programme.
ILEP rules require the school to refund the fees, keeping only a charge announced at the time of payment, within 20 working days. You can appeal the refusal; the ISD visa office decides on both the visa and the appeal.
Schools run summer programmes for teenagers with supervised accommodation. Long Stamp 2 programmes are aimed at adults; the minimum age is set in each school's terms, and ISD decides on any visa for a minor.
Sources
- ISD: ILEP criteria for English language programmes, updated 21.03.2025 (PDF) — checked 01.10.2026
- ISD: eligible courses and the ILEP file of 22.09.2026 — checked 01.10.2026
- ISD: frequently asked questions for students (25 weeks, 85%, work, three programmes) — checked 01.10.2026
- ISD: long-term study visa and study visa options — checked 01.10.2026
- ISD: student finances — checked 01.10.2026
- Everest Language School: 2026 prices — checked 01.10.2026
- Atlas Language School: course fees and accommodation — checked 01.10.2026
- Embassy of Ireland Moscow: applications through VFS Global and visa centre addresses — checked 01.10.2026
- ISD: visa fees and English language requirements for study visas — checked 01.10.2026
The €300 Stamp 2 registration fee is stated in the ISD student FAQ. Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 01.10.2026: €1 = $1.1298.
If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, the school makes the enrolment decision, and the consulate decides on the visa.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Studying in Ireland for international applicants
- English Language Courses in Malta: Licensed Schools, 2026 Prices and Visas
- English Language Courses in England: Visas, School Prices and Accommodation
- Universities in Ireland for International Students: Types, 2026/27 Fees and Entry Routes
- Applying to Irish Universities After School: Entry Routes, Exam Thresholds, Documents and Deadlines
- Ireland Student Visa and Stamp 2: Documents, the €10,000 Rule, Applying from Russia and IRP Registration
