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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

View a complete list of our Undergraduate course offerings for 2024.

What are add-on degrees?

An add-on degree allows you to convert your existing qualifications into a full degree in one year. It is equivalent to the final year of undergraduate study, and usually takes one year to complete. As the name suggests, these courses enable you to ‘add-on’ or ‘top-up’ an existing qualification, whether that’s a Level 7 Ordinary degree or another relevant qualification e.g. HND.

Why choose an add-on degree in TU Dublin?

Although a Level 7 is an outstanding qualification in itself, you should consider studying a further year of an add-on degree to experience further possibilities now or in the future.

It is an affordable, flexible and fast-track way to your final year of Undergraduate study. It can open doors to potential new career opportunities in your chosen field or further study towards a Master's level qualification.

You can gain a full TU Dublin degree, making you a more attractive prospect to employers. It will help you demonstrate to an employer that you have the academic, organisational and management skills required for your chosen career path. It may also open up further academic study opportunities for you in the future.
Many graduates taking this route eventually decide to spend another one year in TU Dublin to pursue a Master's degree.

What Add-Ons are available in TU Dublin

International applicants with a 3 year Level 7 Ordinary Degree* or HND who currently do not meet the Level 8 Hons Degree requirements but would like in the future to be considered for a Masters in TU Dublin or another HEI should consider taking a 1 year add-on degree in TU Dublin.

The following are a list of Add On 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.

View a complete list of our Postgraduate course offerings for 2024.