English that works in real life.

The minimum age for SEDA College General English courses is 18.

Under 18 or travelling as a school group? See SEDA Summer.

General English is 15 hours per week. As part of our CertTESOL Teacher Training programmes, trainee teachers may occasionally teach classes under the close supervision of a highly qualified teacher trainer. All lessons are carefully planned, approved in advance, and supported throughout to ensure a high-quality learning experience.

Options are Monday–Friday, 09:00–12:10 with a 10:30–10:40 break; Monday–Friday, 13:00–16:10 with a 14:30–14:40 break; or Monday–Thursday, 13:00–17:00 with breaks at 14:30–14:40 and 16:10–16:15. Options depend on availability. To change, complete the Class Change Request Form. See Fees for timetable-change fees.

Complete the online progress test before arrival. On arrival, the Academic Team confirms your level through speaking and writing tests.

No. Accommodation through SEDA College is optional.

The deposit is €250. The remaining balance is due 14 days before arrival.

Attendance is recorded in MySEDA at every lesson.

No. A visa outcome is not guaranteed; decisions depend on the relevant authorities and your individual circumstances.

Monthly budget per person, accommodation included: Dublin €950–€1,650; Cork €750–€1,450, sharing a house, cooking at home and using public transport. The lower figure means a shared room and home cooking; the higher figure means your own room, closer to the centre, and eating out more.Read the October 2026 living-cost guide.

Rooms in a house share, per person per month: Dublin €600–€1,090; Cork €400–€823. Dublin: shared twin room €600–€800, single room €785–€910, double room €930–€1,090 per person per month (Daft.ie averages, Q1 2026; city centre at the top of the range). Cork: a room in a house share €400–€800 per person per month; single room average €666 and double room average €823 (Daft.ie Cork City, Q1 2026). Search on Daft.ie, Rent.ie, through host family providers, student Facebook and WhatsApp groups, and classmates. Many students book a host family for the first weeks, then look for a room once in Ireland. Before you pay: never pay a deposit or rent before seeing the room in person or by live video call. Check that the person renting is the landlord or has the landlord's permission. Ask whether electricity, heating and internet are included. SEDA host families, full board: single €280/week, shared €230/week, plus placement fee €75 and booking fee €15. These are weekly prices, not a generic monthly host-family estimate.Read the October 2026 living-cost guide.SEDA host family prices and booking details.

The first month costs more: deposit €600–€1,000, first month's rent €600–€1,000 in advance, IRP €300 if required, Leap Card €10 (€5 deposit + €5 credit), and an Irish SIM with first top-up €15–€20. Stamp 2 allows up to 20 hours of work a week during term and 40 in permitted holiday periods. Finding a job takes time: plan to cover your first months without income.Read the October 2026 living-cost guide.

Get a TFI Leap Card early. Young Adult Leap Card: ages 19–25. Student Leap Card: ages 26+, for courses of 15+ hours a week lasting at least 6 months. Eligible cardholders pay about half the adult fare; SEDA provides the enrolment letter needed to apply. Young Adult / Student Leap fares: Dublin €1.00 per 90-minute fare, €3.00 daily cap and €12.00 weekly cap (about €52/month maximum); Cork city bus €0.85, €2.55 daily cap and €10.20 weekly cap. Dublin fares cover Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland, Luas, DART and commuter rail Zone 1. Cork fares are for TFI Cork City buses.Read the October 2026 living-cost guide.

Step 1 — pharmacy for minor problems: ask about the HSE Common Conditions Service at participating pharmacies. Step 2 — GP: a typical visit costs €65–€80 in Dublin and €50–€65 in Cork. Check what your insurance pays back. Step 3 — out-of-hours GP: phone first, not walk-in; about €60–€100. Dublin: for example Lukedoc, 01 669 9499. Cork: SouthDoc. Emergency: call 112 or 999. An Injury Unit is usually faster for less serious injuries. An Emergency Department visit without a GP referral costs €100. Private medical insurance is required for non-EU Stamp 2 students; SEDA arranges it for Academic Year students via ASAP. Insurance should cover GP visits, emergency treatment, hospitalisation, prescriptions, specialist visits and pre-existing conditions. Check exclusions and what your policy pays back.Read the October 2026 living-cost guide.

Non-EU students before arrival (25-week course, Stamp 2): proof of funds €6,665 in your own name for courses under 8 months (about €833 per month), plus IRP €300. Proof of funds is not a monthly living-cost budget. Private medical insurance is required for non-EU Stamp 2 students; SEDA arranges it for Academic Year students via ASAP. Insurance should cover GP visits, emergency treatment, hospitalisation, prescriptions, specialist visits and pre-existing conditions. Check exclusions and what your policy pays back.Read the October 2026 living-cost guide.

SEDA closures do not count as study weeks: public holidays, one week in August and three weeks at Christmas.

In 2027: no classes 9–13 August and 20 December 2027 – 7 January 2028. See the academic calendar.