Explore UCD

UCD Home >
overlay image

International Pre-Master's Pathway Programme

Our International Pre-Master’s Programmes offer students the best way to prepare for their world class UCD Master’s degree. These programmes provide the opportunity to attend Master's specific preparatory courses with each student attending academic modules relevant to their chosen UCD Master’s as well as modules on thesis preparation, Irish culture and creative thinking.

Students will also receive English language tuition on campus from UCD’s Centre for English and Global Languages staff. Our specially designed academic English programme will allow students to gain the English language proficiency and study techniques needed to successfully undertake their graduate studies in UCD.

What Will You Learn?

What Will You Learn?

Our International Pre-Master’s Programmes provide students with the time and skills needed to prepare fully for their UCD Master’s. The Programmes’ combination of academic, language, cultural and study skills modules help students to achieve their full potential from the first day of their Master’s degree free from any familiarisation anxiety that some students may experience when studying abroad for the first time. Students can also access the University’s many support services during their International Pre-Master’s Programme, such as career and library facilities to maximise their time at UCD.

Our programmes also offer the flexibility of joining in September (Diploma) or January (Certificate) depending on the student’s English language proficiency. Students will progress to their UCD Master’s programme upon successful completion of their International Pre-Master’s Programme.

Please see "Progression Requirements" section below for specific information on progression requirements.

Programme Information

International Pre-Master's Diploma - 60 ECTS credits -

The International Pre-Master's Diploma is a two-trimester programme beginning in September.

Students will attend four English Language tuition modules (35 credits) to ensure they have the required proficiency to undertake their chosen UCD Master’s programme.
Students can also choose an additional 25 credits from a broad range of optional modules.
These optional modules provide students with the opportunity to further develop their subject knowledge through academic modules specifically related to their chosen Master’s programme, while also giving students the tools to make the most of their Master’s studies through our cultural, creative thinking and thesis planning modules.

International Pre-Master's Certificate - 30 ECTS credits -

The International Pre-Master’s Certificate is a one-trimester programme beginning in January.

Students attend two English Language tuition modules (15 credits) to ensure they have the required proficiency to undertake their chosen UCD Master’s programme.
Students can also choose an additional 15 credits from a broad range of optional modules.
These optional modules provide students with the opportunity to further develop their subject knowledge through academic modules specifically related to their chosen Master’s programme, while also giving students the tools to make the most of their Master’s studies through our cultural, creative thinking and thesis planning modules.

English Language Modules

Term
(opens in a new window)LANG10590
Academic Listening & Speaking I      		 Autumn
(opens in a new window)LANG10600
 Academic Reading & Writing I		 Autumn
(opens in a new window)LANG10610
Academic Listening & Speaking II		 Spring
(opens in a new window)LANG10620
Academic Reading & Writing II		 Spring

Elective Modules

Term
IA20010
Creative Thinking & Innovation		 Autumn/Spring
IRST30200
Modern Ireland: Culture & Society 		 Autumn/Spring
HUM40020(opens in a new window)
Thesis Planning, Writing & Presenting		 Spring

UCD Master's Pathways

Note: Only full time UCD Master’s Degree programmes are available through our Pre-Master’s Pathway Programme.

Arts and Humanities

Business

Engineering & Architecture

Health & Agricultural Sciences

Law

Science

Social Sciences

Academic requirements

The academic entry requirements for each International Pre-Master's Pathway Programme is the same as those applying to the associated Master's. The normal requirement for entry to a taught Master’s Degree programme is a second class honours degree in a relevant subject. However intending applicants should check the individual requirements listed on the School website, since some degrees may require a higher standard for entry.

English language requirements

September entry: IELTS 5.5 overall with no component less than 5.0

January entry: IELTS 6.0 overall with no component less than 5.5

Please note that some International Pre-Master's Pathway Programmes in Business may require higher English language scores.

English Language Test Comparison
IELTS TOEFL iBT Pearson Duolingo
English Test
5.5 (with no band less than 5.0) overall 60 with a minimum of 17 in Writing, 15 in Speaking, 8 in Reading, and 
7 in Listening		 47 with no component in the communicative skills below 43

overall 100 with
no component below 90
6.0 (with no band less than 5.5)

overall 70 with a minimum of 20 in Writing, 17 in Speaking, 12 in Reading, and 
11 in Listening

 55 with no component in the communicative skills below 51 overall 110 with
no component below 100

Academic Requirements

In order to successfully complete their International Pre-Master's Pathway Programme and progress to their graduate studies, students are required to achieve a passing grade (D-) in their academic modules. 

English Language Requirements

In order to successfully complete their International Pre-Master's Pathway Programme and progress to their graduate studies, students are required to achieve specific grades in their English language modules. This requirement is determined by your Master's English language requirement.

Autumn Trimester:

International Pre-Master's Pathway Programme students are required to achieve a passing grade (D-) in their first trimester English language modules.

Spring Trimester:

International Pre-Master's Pathway Programme students are required to achieve specific grades in their Spring trimester English language modules to meet the language requirement of their Master's. Progression requirements are determined by the English requirement of the Master's:

For Master's requiring an overall IELTS of 6.5 with no component below 6.0

Students need to achieve both the following in the Pre-Master's:

  • A minimum overall grade of C+
  • At least a C- in each individual component

For Master's requiring an overall IELTS of 7.0 with no component below 6.0 (Smurfit Master's)

Students need to achieve both the following in the Pre-Master's:

  • A minimum overall grade of B-
  • At least a C- in each individual component

For Master's requiring an overall IELTS of 7.0 with no component below 6.5

Students need to achieve both the following in the Pre-Master's:

  • A minimum overall grade of B-
  • At least a C in each individual component

For Master's requiring an overall IELTS of 7.5 with no component below 7.0

Students need to achieve both the following in the Pre-Master's:

  • A minimum overall grade of B
  • At least a C+ in each individual component

If you are unclear on the progression requirement for a specific programme, please contact the team at premasters@ucd.ie.

Two-Trimester International Pre-Master's Pathway Programme starting in September - €13,650

One-Trimester International Pre-Master's Pathway Programme starting in January - €9,100

  • Welcoming the 2024/25 Students

On Monday 9th September a new group of international students joined the Pre-Master's Pathway Programme. It is great to see this year's students adding to the cultural diversity in UCD. The participants of the programme come from Belarus, Chile, China, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, and Ukraine. We wish them a great experience in UCD. 

students standing in classroom

  • Careers Talk 

We invited Michelle Coen from UCD Careers Network to talk to the Pre-Master's students about their careers this March. Michelle gave very good advice on how to take charge of your own career, where to get started, career development, and job portals. We wish the students all the best on their journey finding recruitment in Ireland. 

InstPost student group and lecturer

  • Day Trip 2024

In March the Pre-Master's students braved the cold east wind and rain on a nonetheless great day out in County Wicklow. Watching the impressive performance of a sheepdog first, we travelled on to Beyond the Trees in Avondale and then followed the path of St. Kevin through ancient ruins in Glendalough past a small waterfall towards the lower lake.

Collage of Day Trip

  • Past meets Present 2024

In February we hosted a "Past meets Present" event, bringing Pre-Master's Programme students from 2023/24 together in person with students who passed the programme in previous years. The event was a great success with students getting information first hand. Three Master's students and one PhD student shared helpful knowledge about their own experience and journey in UCD so far.

Collage of PmP meeting

Apply Now
Pre-Master's Programme Brochure pdf | 1.6MB
Zeyu Chen image
It is a vibrant and open environment here in UCD and this programme supported me to connect with many other facilities and resources in this environment.
Zeyu Chen, Pre-Master Diploma 19/20, Progressed to Master of Regional and Urban Planning
More Student Stories

UCD Centre for English and Global Languages

Daedalus Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7900 | E: languages@ucd.ie