The best English schools in Dublin

Over the past number of years, Dublin’s friendly environment, contemporary facilities, and booming job market have made it one of the most popular destinations for learning English in the world.

As one of the 23 official languages of the European Union, and with more speakers than any other language across the planet,  learning English is becoming priceless a tool to have in your linguistic toolbox. While Ireland does have its own mother-tongue, Gaeilge, its practical usage is limited to the Gaeltacht regions scattered mostly along the Western seaboard of Ireland. These days, English is the Emerald Isle’s primary language, and when the United Kingdom leaves the EU, Ireland will be the only remaining EU country with this merit.

Whether you’re hoping to make life a little easier when ordering your morning coffee, or aiming to give yourself the best possible options for your professional future, Dublin is renowned for it’s warm welcome of international students. There’s a reason why more than 129,000 international students are learning English in Ireland today.

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To meet the massive demand, a wide variety of English courses are available in Dublin. These include general English courses, professional English courses, English test preparation courses and more. Before we get to our list of the best English schools Dublin has to offer, here’s a quick run down of the different types of programmes available, with a few example schools:

General English courses

General English courses are a catch-all for young-adults and adults who want to improve their English skills in writing, reading, listening and speaking. English language schools in Dublin offer these courses with teaching levels varying from beginner to intensive, from part-time to full-time, and from shared classes to private tuition.

Business English courses

Tailored towards business professionals, these are private, one-on-one lessons. Taught by well-educated English teaching specialists, the goal is to help the student master the language quickly and proficiently so as to excel in their professional life. Some examples of these are International House Dublin, Kaplan International Dublin, EC English Language Schools, The English Studio Dublin, and many more.

Professional English courses

These courses are just like business English courses, but are intended for professionals who wish to learn English skills for a particular field or area. This includes law, medicine, aviation, hospitality, and much more. These courses can be found at The English Studio Dublin, Travelling Languages, Apollo English Language Centre, and more listed below.

English test preparation courses

English test preparation courses are for those studying for proficiency tests, whether to improve job prospects, or to earn admission into university. An example of this test is the TOEFL. Some institutes with programmes designed to help you prepare for these exams are International House Dublin, Atlas Language School, Delfin English School, the Centre of English Studies, Babel Academy of English, with more listed below.

Junior English courses

These lessons are designed to educate young, growing minds in the English language. Generally, courses are available for children between ages 8 to 12, and for teenagers between ages 13 and 18. Summer, Winter and Year-Round programmes are provided by Atlas International Ireland, International House Dublin, Babel Academy of English,Wesley College, Dublin and many more listed below.

Speciality English courses

These courses are a perfect balance for those who are keen on learning English, but would also like to enjoy all Dublin and Ireland has to offer. Make the most of your time in Dublin by combining your interest in learning English with your love of sports, arts, food and more! Great choices are available for single people, couples, groups of friends, and families through Travelling Languages, Learn English & Live in Your Teacher’s Home, and Alpha College of English, with more listed below.

Work and study English programmes

Based on the well-known concept of fluency through total immersion, these programmes offer their students the chance of learning English while gaining professional work experience in an English speaking country. The work experience is on an internship basis, which generally means that it is unpaid. However, the benefits of real-world work experience in a thriving European capital like Dublin are incredibly valuable. These courses are available through New College Group Dublin, Kaplan International Dublin, Apollo English Language Centre, among others.

The best English schools in Dublin

Currently, these are the leading schools for learning English on offer in Dublin. The schools have all been awarded a multitude of accolades, have earned internationally respected qualifications, and offer courses tailored to various levels and requirements. We’ve provided a short summary of the programmes here, but just click on the title for more information.