International Foundation Year Programme

Your Pathway to Undergraduate study

The programme is taken on a full-time basis over one academic year (2 semesters) and covers a mixture of core and specialist modules. The core modules are designed to help students achieve the English language skills necessary for DCU programmes and facilitate their adjustment to university learning in an Irish context.

By the end of this course, you will have gained the knowledge, skills and confidence to commence your DCU undergraduate studies.

  • Programme Code

    DC555

  • Application Deadline

    1st July 2024

  • Duration

    1 Academic Year

  • Location

    Dublin, Ireland (in-person)

  • Entry Requirements

    Check subject stream

  • Intake

    September 2024

  • Fees

    Check subject stream

  • We will be accepting applications for 2024 entry from 30th October 2023 onwards.

Choose your subject route

The specialist modules allow students a choice of “streams” and subjects according to their chosen destination degree programme. Applicants to the DCU International Foundation Year Programme can choose between four pathways:

Science Stream

The Faculty of Science & Health is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in scientific innovation and health transformation.

Find out more

Engineering Stream

The Faculty focuses on preparing students to pursue careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and and ICT (information communication and technology) sectors.

Find out more

Humanities Stream

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences blends long-established subjects, such as English Literature, Applied Languages, Geography, History, Irish, Law, Music, Politics, Theology.

Find out more

Business Stream

The Business Studies degree course is designed to give you an introduction to the foundations of business and guide you to a specialisation in economics, management, finance or marketing.

Find out more

Who is this programme for?

  • Non-native speakers of English who want to study for an undergraduate degree at DCU.
  • Students who have finished high school in their own country but do not yet have the qualifications to go straight on to a university programme.

Country Specific Entry Requirements

Find out more about the entry requirements for students applying to the DCU International Foundation Year Programme. Use the booklet below to find out the relevant qualifications for your country.

Study at a top ranked university in Ireland for international students

DCU ranks among the world's top young universities (QS and THE rankings) and has one of the best graduate employability records of all Irish universities.

Are you still unsure about which course or pathway is more suitable for you?

Get in touch with us, we will be glad to help you find the right pathway programme for you!

Additional information

The DCU International Foundation Year, quality assured by NCUK, is an undergraduate entry-level qualification designed for students to progress into first year of a bachelor’s degree at DCU.

The qualification is taught by highly experienced DCU teaching staff and awarded by NCUK. NCUK is a leading international higher education qualification and service provider with over 30 years’ experience and has helped more than 35,000 students progress into university.

NCUK Registration and Examination Fees for the International Foundation Year are additional to DCU Tuition Fees.

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