Policies and Procedures

1. Minimum age
   1. Any student wishing to enrol in a course at Academic Bridge must be at least 18 years old on the date of enrolment and entry into Ireland.
2. Course start dates

   1. Academic Bridge English School operates a rolling enrolment policy. There are normally two or three new student intake dates per calendar month, which are outlined in our academic year calendar available on our website. Students have the freedom to select a desired course start date, but must be aware of limited availability of student spaces or course start dates being fully booked and therefore choose an alternative start date. Students remaining in the country after their valid and current student visa has expired and who wish to renew their student visas in Ireland as English Language students will be offered start dates by our sales representatives which must adhere to the Immigration policies regarding student visa renewals and are non-negotiable.

   2. The deadline to start the course at Academic Bridge is 1 year after the first payment, either deposit, first instalment, or full payment, made by the student. If the students have not used their reserved space and started tuition on one of our courses after 1 year from the first payment, Academic Bridge reserves the right to cancel the place on the course, and no refund will be given. 

3. Application forms

   1. All students must complete the application form sent by our sales representatives with accurate and up-to-date personal details prior to proceeding to further stages of their registration and course enrolment. Any incomplete or inaccurate information provided may result in a delay in issuing of documents requested from the school or even course start date postponement. It is essential that students enter the necessary information carefully and return the form to us in a timely manner.

4. Placement tests

   1. All students enrolling in a course at Academic Bridge English School are assessed prior to the commencement of their programme to ensure appropriate level placement.

      Academic Bridge ensures that all four core language skills are assessed in alignment with CEFR standards, as follows:

      • Speaking and Listening: Assessed during the Spoken Fluency Assessment (via Zoom or in person), using CEFR-aligned descriptors.
      • Grammar, Vocabulary and Writing: Assessed through the online written placement test.
      • Reading: Assessed through a diagnostic reading test administered on the student’s first day of class.

      Students who have previously completed an English language course in Ireland and are renewing their enrolment may submit a valid English language certificate issued within the past three months. The Academic Team will review the certificate and, where appropriate, may exempt renewal students from the speaking and listening assessment.

      Final level placement is determined by the Academic Management team based on placement test results and overall observation of the student’s communicative competence.

5. Admission and enrolment refusals

   1. The following categories of students will not be allowed to start the process of booking a course or enrolling in a course with Academic Bridge:

      Students found to have breached the conditions of their permission to enter or remain in Ireland legally.

      Students attempting to gain admission by misrepresentation, falsification of documents or other fraudulent means.

      Students seeking to renew their English Language courses and student visas with attendance rate lower than 85% in their previous course.

      Students expelled from their English Language school due to not meeting the minimum attendance requirement or breaching other terms and conditions of the institution.

      Students who fail to fulfil the normal admission or enrolment requirements. 

      Students who do not pay their tuition fees in full.

6. Student induction

1. 1. The in-person new student induction takes place every Friday prior to course start dates. All students who are new to Ireland and to Academic Bridge are strongly encouraged to attend.

      All students receive the full induction information before they start their course via email, including an induction video and the Student Handbook, which contains all essential information about courses, procedures, and school operations.

      Students who are unable to attend the in-person induction are still required to review all induction materials provided. In such cases, they must sign the Student Handbook to confirm that they have received, read, and understood the induction information.

8.1 General English

Academic Bridge runs morning and afternoon General English courses across eight different levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):

A1   CEFR – Beginner

A1+ CEFR – Elementary

A2   CEFR – Pre-Intermediate

B1   CEFR – Intermediate

B1+ CEFR – Intermediate Plus 

B2   CEFR – Upper Intermediate

C1   CEFR – Advanced

C1+ CEFR – Advanced Plus

C2   CEFR – Proficiency

Exam Preparation Classes*

Academic Bridge also prepares students for some of the world’s most popular English Language proficiency exams, such as IELTS and Cambridge exams.

IELTS (Academic Module) – minimum entry level: strong B2 (strong Upper Intermediate) and above 

CAE – minimum entry level: C1 (Advanced) and above 

CPE – minimum entry level: very strong C1 (Advanced) or C2 (Proficiency)

Academic managers will not allow any students who do not meet the minimum entry level requirement to join exam preparation classes since the lack of ability to follow the complex content of those classes might hinder the progress of the group as a whole and prove counterproductive.

*Due to fluctuations in demand for exam preparation classes at times, Academic Bridge reserves the right to reduce the number of exam preparation classes provided or temporarily suspend them. Every effort will be made to avoid this situation in the best interest of our students.

Please confirm with our sales representatives whether the exam preparation course of your choice is currently available prior to course purchase.

8.2 Course duration

Academic Bridge is able and willing to offer courses of different lengths. The information regarding the number of tuition weeks and prices should be requested from our marketing and sales team members.

Visa conditions apply for non-EU/EEA students wishing to enrol on long-term, 25-week English Language courses in Ireland.

9.1 Arriving in Ireland

All non-EU/EEA nationals should contact their local Irish embassy or consulate or visit

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/check-irish-visa in order to find out whether a visa needs to be obtained prior to travelling to Ireland

If you are a national of a country whose citizens need a visa to enter Ireland, and the purpose of applying for it and travelling to Ireland is to study the English Language, Academic Bridge does not assume any responsibility in the event of the visa not being granted to you. Our staff will, however, assist you in the process and provide all necessary documentation.

If you are from a non-visa required non-EU/EEA country and you wish to stay and study in Ireland for 3 months or less, you can enrol on a short-term course (12 weeks or less) and you do not need to register with the INIS (Immigration) or apply for any other permission. However, you must enrol on and pay for your course of study before you travel, have your return flights booked, demonstrate the ability to support yourself financially during your stay, obey the law and not engage in work in Ireland.

9.2 Dual citizenship

Students enrolling on a course at Academic Bridge who are legal citizens of both a non-EU/EEA and an EU/EEA country must decide prior to the purchase of their course, which citizenship and legal documents they are going to be using for their registration and the whole duration of their course of study. Taking advantage of having a dual citizenship and flexibly interpreting the terms and conditions of enrolment and Immigration regulations to avail of the benefits of having two passports simultaneously is not allowed.

9.3 Non-arrival of students 

If any student does not contact the College within four weeks of their course commencing, giving good reason for their non-arrival, their enrolment will be cancelled without further warning, and the INIS will be informed of their non-arrival. In this instance, the student will not be entitled to a refund. 

9.4 Long-term student visas for non-EU/EEA citizens

Non-EU/EEA nationals wishing to enrol on long-term English Language courses of study at Academic Bridge and to obtain a Stamp 2 student visa in Ireland for the duration of eight months must observe the following conditions of their enrolment:

The course must have a minimum duration of 25 weeks and be delivered within an eight-month period. It must include at least 15 hours of classroom tuition per week (excluding breaks), scheduled Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.; Monday to Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 12:55 p.m.; or Monday to Thursday between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

These courses can be offered exclusively to students who are not first language English users, i.e. if you are a national of a country where English is the only or one of the official languages, you will not be able to enroll on such a course and apply for a Stamp 2 visa in Ireland.

The course must conclude in one of the following English language proficiency exams – TIE, Trinity, IELTS, Cambridge, TOEFL.

Holiday periods taken during your course cannot at any point exceed 1/3 of the total tuition weeks elapsed.

Students must meet a mandatory attendance requirement of a minimum 85% attendance during and at the end of their course.

When a student has 25% or more uncertified absence in the first six weeks of their programme, this will be communicated to the Immigration.

Students must be covered by a private medical insurance policy valid for the duration of their course – students holding a Stamp 2 visa will be entitled to taking up part-time employment (max. 20 hours per week) to support themselves during their stay in Ireland. Full-time employment (up to 40 hours per week) is allowed and legal only from June – September and from 15 December – 15 January.

Students are allowed to enrol on a maximum of three long-term English Language courses in Ireland.

If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen who does not need a visa prior to arrival in Ireland, read more about Stamp 2 student visa obtaining procedures and conditions here: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/non-visa-longstudy

If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen who needs a visa prior to arrival in Ireland, read more about Stamp 2 student visa obtaining procedures and conditions here: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/visa-long-study

9.5 Registering on a language course after a working holiday visa

If your country of origin has an arrangement with the Irish government and allows working holiday visas to their citizens, Academic Bridge will offer prospective students, who have completed a year of stay in Ireland on a working holiday visa, courses at renewal course price rates.

10.1 Visa documentation

Upon the payment of their course fees and the definite confirmation of their course start date, students will be sent their enrolment letter, which they have to show to the Immigration officers on their arrival in Ireland.

Any course start cancellations and refund requests made after the enrolment letter has been received will be reported to the Immigration and border control units.

In order to register for their student visa with the immigration, students must not use their enrolment letter. An official Visa Letter and a Health Insurance policy must be requested on our website and brought to the appointment at the Immigration office.

New Students (1st English Language Course): Visa documents will only be issued to students once the course fee payment has been completed in full and students have arrived in Ireland and commenced their courses. Students must book their IRP appointments for a date that is on or later than their course start date. Students must collect the original letters, digital copies of the documents must not be presented to the Immigration for the first student visa registration.

Renewal Students: Visa documents will only be issued to renewal students once the course fee payment has been completed in full. Students can collect the original hard copy letters if they wish , but digital copies of the documents will be sent to them initially for upload on the Immigration’s visa renewal portal. Students cannot receive visa documents more than 60 days prior to their course start date.

In the event of students having their renewal student visa denied, due to low attendance rate in the previous course, Academic Bridge reserves the right to keep 500€ off the course fees paid. The student’s course will consequently be cancelled and the student reported to the Immigration.

Any course cancellation and refund requests made after the visa documents have been received will be reported to the Immigration and border control units and an additional €300 penalty fee applies.

10.1.1 Medical Insurance

All non-EU/EEA long-term (25-week) students must take out private medical insurance in order to obtain their student visa. Academic Bridge makes arrangements and issues medical insurance policies for students through Endeavour Insurance Services Ltd trading as Academy Plus. The policy covers emergency medical expenses

and is compliant with the applicable visa regulations. The cost of the policy is €150. A copy of the policy will be given to the student and must be presented at the Immigration appointment when applying for the student visa. Find out more at https://academyplus.net/

EU nationals cannot avail of this service. EU nationals should bring their European Health Insurance Card with them, which allows access to public health care services or make other individual arrangements by taking out private medical insurance.

10.1.2 Learner Protection Cover

Academic Bridge is a member of Private College Network (PCN), an organisation of private English Language schools in Ireland, that share a common interest in promoting English Language teaching in Ireland and improving the educational standards within this sector. All PCN member English Language schools provide Learner Protection Cover for their students, which is intended to meet the needs of students attending educational institutions that are not financially supported by the Irish state, where there is a legal obligation to hold this insurance in the event that the institution closes due to financial difficulties or its accreditation is withdrawn and students are unable to finish their courses.

This cover guarantees arranging and paying the cost of students’ transfer to an alternative educational establishment or reimbursement of fees if the establishment at which they are attending the educational course becomes insolvent or is otherwise dissolved or loses accreditation during the period of insurance.

Find out more at https://academyplus.net/

To derive maximum benefit from the programme, we advise 100% attendance. It is an AB rule, based on Immigration requirements, that AB Students must maintain an attendance rate at least 85%. Teachers record attendance for each class.

AB monitors and records attendance through our student management system. This is linked to the AB Student Portal and provides personal attendance information to each student individually. Any absenteeism not covered by an approved medical certification will be considered as non-attendance and will be dealt with according to our low attendance policy.

Keep the Academic Office informed if you have problems that will affect your attendance

If you are unable to attend class for any reason – or plan to exit the programme early – please inform the Academic Office immediately.

Low Attendance Policy

Maintain an attendance rate of at least 85%

No unscheduled breaks are permissible except in documented cases of illness or close family bereavement. Should a student’s attendance fall below the requirement laid down by AB rules (informed by GNIB requirements), disciplinary action will be taken which could result in their enrolment with AB terminated. Where attendance is a provision of the student’s visa, non-attendance may result in the loss of a learner’s permission to live and study in Ireland.

A student who arrives more than 10 minutes late will not be allowed into their class and must wait until the break to enter the class. If a student leaves a class early, they will not receive attendance for that class.

Attendance Warning System

1. In addition to this, your class registration will be made inactive and your name will be removed from the class list.  
2. If your attendance remains below 85% for any considerable length of time, you will receive an attendance warning. Attendance warnings request that you come to the Academic Office to speak to the DOS to explain your absence from classes.  If your attendance does not improve following an official warning, you will be sent another warning to a maximum of three attendance warnings.
3. If a learner receives three official attendance warnings (set by email) and their attendance is below 85%, they may be expelled from AB College. This will happen if the Academic Department is satisfied that every effort has been made by the Academic Team to assist the student and their attendance has not improved.
4. If a student feels that their expulsion from AB is unfair, they have the right to request a return to class. This must be done immediately, providing an explanation as to why they have been missing classes.  Students are requested to re-submit their medical certificates as part of this process. The Academic Director will consider the appeal based on the following criteria:
   

• Students informing the Academic Office in advance of their absence
• Submission of medical documentation (submitted to AB in a timely fashion)
• The amount of time that the student has studied and their ability to reach 85% by the end of their course.

The request to return to class should be done by sending an email to the DOS/ADOS. This will be considered by the Academic Management Team and students will receive an answer before the beginning of the next week.  Students who are allowed to return to class, will resume their classes from the following Monday (or Tuesday where there is a public holiday.)

In the event that the return to class request is denied, the student has the right to an expulsion appeal.  This appeal is considered by AB’s Appeals Panel, made up of members of the AB Management Team, not including the Academic Director.  The decision of the ExIf you do not attend classes for three days consecutively without being excused, you will receive a formal attendance warning. The Expulsion Appeals Panel is final.

An appeal to the Expulsions Appeals Panel can be made by completing the online Expulsion Appeals form. Students will be given an answer on their appeal within 1 week.  When the expulsion is upheld, the GNIB will be informed.

It is important to know that in Ireland we generally go to a GP (General Practitioner) who works from a Medical Centre if you are sick, rather than go directly to the hospital. It is cheaper and faster to go to a GP.

Any student who is sick should contact the school on the first day of their absence due to illness. They can telephone the school on 01 8788616 or email at [email protected] and the information will be passed on to the academic managers. Students can also email the academic managers directly if they have their email addresses and daily inform them of their condition. If the student who is sick has received a certificate from a doctor, a copy or a scan should be emailed to the school on the first day of absence. On the first day of return to classes, students must present the medical note in original to the academic managers and a copy will be kept for the school’s records.

Academic Bridge will only accept medical notes in original that are stamped and signed by the doctor, copies will not suffice. The school can only accept medical certificates from doctors in Ireland and in the English language, any certificates from abroad will not be accepted and the same is valid for online medical consultations with foreign healthcare providers. All medical certificates will be checked with the healthcare provider upon receipt in line with the GDPR regulations.  Students must refer to the list at reception for the approved clinics and medical centres from which we accept student medical certificates.

Providing a doctor’s note might not remove absences for the missed class(es) from the students profile on our system. However, a note will be made that the student was absent due to illness. The reason for this practice is the attempt to avoid situations where medical certificates which are possibly not genuine are used to justify absence from class and the fact that Academic Bridge is not always in the position to ask medical institutions to verify the potentially fraudulent certificates provided. All students experiencing serious medical conditions which require longer absence are advised to talk to academic managers and ask for holidays in order not to lose class content and attendance due to illness.

Students cannot receive attendance and justify class absence by simply emailing or calling the school saying they are unwell and without providing a doctor’s note. Any medical documentation found to be fraudulent will result in an official warning and might lead to expulsion from the school.

Should a student’s attendance rate fall below 85% at the end of their course and the student is planning to renew their student visa, all original medical certificates should be brought to the visa renewal appointment at the Immigration office or uploaded on the Immigration’s renewal website and any questions regarding absence due to illness and possibly lower than expected attendance rate answered directly to the Immigration officials.

Students will not be given any form of compensation or extra tuition time based on the fact that they have lost classes due to illness.

In terms of your attendance, students are not entitled to any undocumented sick leave. Language schools are not entitled to authorize sick leave.  While you are in Ireland, the Department of Justice will only recognise doctors who are registered to practice in Ireland as having the authority to confirm your illness so that you can remain enrolled on an International student visa with a low level of attendance. 

On the first day of sickness and on each day subsequently, you MUST email the Academic Office  to inform AB that you will be absent from classes. To confirm your illness you are also requested to submit a doctor’s certificate from a doctor who is registered to practice in Ireland. 

If your attendance is below 85%, you are required to provide a medical certificate that confirms the exact dates that you were not able to attend classes. Please see this as a requirement not only to look after your health, but also to comply with Immigration regulation.  

Please note that AB will only accept medical certificates when: 

• You show the original version of the certificate.
• You attended a consultation with the doctor who is registered to practice in Ireland and the medical certificate includes the registration number and contact telephone number of this doctor.
• You provided the certificate in a timely manner.
• You informed the Academic Office of your illness in advance of your absence.

If you are a non-EU/EEA student enrolled on a 25-week course, you are entitled to take 10 weeks of holiday during the validity period of your student visa of eight months (35 weeks).

Academic Bridge closes for two weeks during the Christmas and New Year’s period. Those two weeks, if a student is enrolled with us at those times of the year, are taken from their total holiday allowance.

As per Immigration guidelines, holiday periods taken during your course cannot at any point exceed 1/3 of the total tuition weeks elapsed.

At Academic Bridge we practice the following holiday policy:

• Long term students with a Stamp 2 student visa can take a maximum of seven weeks of holidays while they are studying (Christmas holidays included in those ten weeks, if students enrolled at the time) and three weeks of holiday after they have completed 25 weeks of tuition and before their student visa expires
• Long term students with a Stamp 2 student visa can only take holidays after they have had classes for 8 weeks
• After 8 weeks in class, students can request a maximum of 2 weeks of holidays – after 9 weeks in class, students can request a maximum of 3 weeks of holidays.
• A maximum of 4 weeks of holidays at one time can be given after completing 12 weeks of classes
• Holidays must be requested on the schools website at least 1 week in advance as possible and an email will be sent directly to the student by an academic manager approving or rejecting the holiday request. 
• Please note that holidays must be taken from Sunday to Saturday, and will be counted as a full week. It is not possible to take individual or spare days—only full weeks will be approved.

Working holidays can only be requested and approved during the months of June, July, August and September, and from 15th December until 15th January, when students can work full-time (40 hours per week) legally.

If a student enters Ireland as a tourist and enrols on a short term, non-visa course of up to 90 days, holiday allowance policy is the following:

• For courses up to 5 weeks in duration, 1 week of holiday is allowed
• For courses from 6 and up to 10 weeks in duration, 2 weeks of holiday are allowed
• For courses of 12 weeks in duration, no holiday is allowed, since the student’s maximum length of stay in the country is 12 weeks

For students from countries with which Ireland has a working holiday visa agreement in place, the total number of holiday weeks equals 1/3 of their course duration.

There is no replacement or compensation for classes that are not conducted when the school is closed for public holidays in Ireland.

At Academic Bridge we aim to maintain a pleasant, relaxed and friendly classroom environment. Inappropriate behaviour exhibited by any student negatively impacts on the learning experience for all the class members. Any form of such behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in a student’s removal from the classroom. Repeated inappropriate conduct will result in expulsion from the school.

Inappropriate behaviour includes, but is not limited to:

• Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their viewpoints.
• Talking when the teacher or other students are speaking.
• Overt inattentiveness in class (e.g. sleeping in class, reading material not connected to class content, frequent checking of social media, listening to audio messages on the phone etc.)
• Refusing to participate in class activities.
• Creating excessive noise
• Eating in class.
• Entering the class late or leaving early, or going in and out of the classroom frequently during class time, also leaving or entering the classroom without the teacher’s permission or without informing the teacher.
• Excessive use of mobile phones during class.
• Poor personal hygiene.
• Attending classes under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Abusive behaviour includes, but is not limited to:

• Physically or verbally assaulting the teacher or other students.
• Appearing to be on the verge of physically or verbally assaulting the teacher or other students.
• Damaging classroom furniture or property
• Carrying a weapon.

Upon discovery or report of any instance of the behaviour listed above or other behaviour deemed as unacceptable, student will be contacted by academic managers and further disciplinary actions might follow.

8.3 External Examinations & Recognition

All long-term English language courses of 25 weeks leading to a Stamp 2 student visa must conclude in one of the following externally assessed English language proficiency examinations:

• TIE (Test of Interactive English) – currently offered by the school
• IELTS (Academic Module)
• Cambridge (CAE / CPE)
• TOEFL iBT
• Trinity ISE (Integrated Skills in English) – once QQI authorisation is in place

This is a mandatory Immigration requirement and is not open to negotiation.

8.3.1 Programme Information & Informed Decision-Making

Programme information — including course purposes, explicit learning outcomes, weekly and term schedules, assessment methods, and available examination options — is fully detailed in this Student Handbook. It is accessible to all students at all times via the school website and is formally introduced and explained during the student induction process. This ensures that learners are fully informed about what their programme entails and can make well-informed decisions prior to and during their studies.

8.3.2 Induction & Examination Choices

During induction, students are specifically informed about the TIE examination currently offered by Academic Bridge. Students are also advised of all alternative recognised exit examinations (listed above) where applicable. Learners are given a clear choice to enrol in a different recognised exam, enabling them to select the examination best suited to their academic or career goals.

8.3.3 Fees & Refund Process

Students are charged for the TIE exam when paying their course fees. This fee is refundable only in the following circumstance:

• Where a student opts to take an alternative recognised examination, the TIE fee will be reimbursed to them, or the alternative exam will be booked directly on their behalf and any price difference will be payable by the student.

To qualify for a refund, students must provide proof of booking and payment for an alternative recognised exam. All external exams must be taken within eight months of the student visa validity and in Ireland. Exams booked outside Ireland do not qualify for a TIE fee refund.

8.3.4 Future Additions

Academic Bridge plans to include the Trinity ISE (Integrated Skills in English) examination once QQI authorisation is in place. The handbook will be updated immediately to reflect any QQI-authorised additions to the school’s list of accepted external examinations, along with any associated operational details (entry requirements, scheduling, and fees).

8.3.5 Recognition of Proficiency Examinations

This section explains how each accepted examination is recognised for higher education entry, employment and career progression, and international portability. As adult learners, your choice of exit exam should be made with your career goals in mind. Students should always confirm specific score or level requirements directly with the institution or employer they intend to apply to, as individual programmes and professional bodies may set higher or different thresholds.

TIE (Test of Interactive English)

Recognition in Ireland

TIE is recognised in Ireland by ACELS, a service of QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland). It is accepted as a valid exit examination for Stamp 2 student visa purposes on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). The TIE certificate is suitable for inclusion in a European Language Portfolio (Europass), and the test has been in operation for approximately 25 years with a strong reputation for integrity and accuracy.

TIE has been designed according to the following principles:

• It provides both formative and summative assessment.
• It follows a task-based approach with learner-generated content.
• It reflects an authentic communicative context with a genuine information-gap between candidate and examiner.
• Assessment follows the Council of Europe Scale of Language Proficiency.
• Assessment feedback describes learners’ current abilities and encourages self-evaluation and reflection on learning.
• Preparing for and taking the test is a positive, constructive experience.

Employment & Career Relevance

• TIE is accepted and authenticated by employers in Ireland and is the only Irish Language Proficiency Examination for assessment of English level.
• The certificate is practical for career progression in Ireland, particularly in roles requiring demonstrated English communication skills.
• Employers value TIE’s focus on real-world interactive communication.
• TIE is particularly suitable for learners who want to demonstrate practical, communicative English ability for the Irish workplace.

Higher Education Entry

• TIE allows progression to higher education institutions (HEIs), particularly in Ireland.
• Students should confirm directly with their chosen institution whether TIE is accepted for their specific programme.

Worldwide Recognition

• TIE has Hague Convention reciprocal recognition conferred by European countries.
• TIE is recognised by the Greek Government for educational purposes.
• TIE is recognised by the Italian Ministry for Education for credito formativo at secondary school level and is available in various centres in Italy.
• TIE is available across Europe.

Test Format & Grading

Preparation tasks: Candidates carry out an investigation, read a book in English, and follow a news story.

Speaking (30 minutes): Face-to-face interview between an examiner and two candidates. Each candidate presents their investigation and either their book or news story, answers short questions, and interacts with their partner and the examiner.

Writing (60 minutes): Two tasks of approximately 150 words each — one personal response to the book or news story, and one narrative, description, or simple argument on a familiar topic.

Grading: TIE uses a six-level scale (A1–C2) aligned with the CEFR, with “+” levels at A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1. There is no fail grade — performance is measured by what the candidate can do. All examiners are trained, all interviews are recorded for quality assurance, and writing papers are marked by two trained examiners working independently.

Trinity ISE (Integrated Skills in English)

Recognition in Ireland

• Higher Education: Trinity ISE is accepted by a large and growing number of higher education institutions in Ireland.
• Student Visa: The Irish Department of Justice recognises Trinity ISE for student visa applications (levels B1 and B2 / ISE I and ISE II). Trinity ISE is one of five awarding bodies approved to provide English language proficiency exams on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).

Employment & Career Relevance

• Trinity ISE is widely accepted by employers in Ireland and internationally.
• The qualification is designed to demonstrate real-world integrated communication skills, which employers value.
• As a growing qualification with QQI authorisation pending, Trinity ISE will offer adult learners another recognised pathway for both career and academic progression.

Worldwide Recognition

• Trinity ISE is recognised by over 4,600 courses and programmes at universities and institutions worldwide.
• Countries where Trinity ISE is officially recognised include: Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Poland, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, UAE, and many more (full list available at trinitycollege.com/recognition).
• Trinity ISE is a UK government-approved test for settlement and visa application purposes (when taken at a Trinity SELT Centre).
• Trinity ISE is accepted for university entrance in the UK, Ireland, and beyond.

IELTS

Recognition in Ireland

• Student Visa: IELTS Academic is accepted by Irish Immigration for Stamp 2 student visa applications. The minimum overall score for degree-level programmes is typically 6.0 (no band below 5.5).
• Higher Education: IELTS is accepted by virtually all Irish universities and higher education institutions. Typical entry requirements range from 6.0 to 6.5 overall for undergraduate programmes and 6.5 for postgraduate programmes. Competitive programmes (e.g., Medicine at Trinity College Dublin, Nursing, Journalism) may require 7.0 or higher. Students must check with their specific institution and programme.

Employment & Career Relevance

• IELTS is widely recognised by employers and professional registration bodies worldwide, including in Ireland, the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA.
• Many professional bodies (e.g., nursing, medicine, engineering, law, accounting) require a specific IELTS score for professional registration and licensing.
• A strong IELTS score (7.0+) is frequently a requirement for skilled migration, work visas, and professional roles in English-speaking countries.
• For adult learners planning to work abroad, IELTS is one of the most portable and widely trusted qualifications.

Worldwide Recognition

• IELTS is accepted by over 11,000 organisations worldwide, including universities, employers, professional bodies, and immigration authorities.
• United Kingdom: Accepted by all UK universities and for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
• Australia & New Zealand: Accepted for university entry and skilled migration visas.
• Canada: Accepted by all Canadian universities and for immigration (Express Entry / Federal Skilled Worker).
• USA: Accepted by over 3,400 US institutions.
• Europe: Widely accepted by universities and employers across Europe.

Cambridge English (C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency)

Recognition in Ireland

• Higher Education: 100% of Irish universities accept C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency as proof of English language ability from EU undergraduate students. The majority also accept these qualifications from students outside the EU.
• Student Visa: The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) accepts C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency as evidence of English language proficiency for student visa applications and for Student Immigration Permission for English language students from outside the EEA.
• Typical university entry: C1 Advanced (Grade C / Scale 176+) or C2 Proficiency (Grade C / Scale 180+) depending on programme. Competitive programmes may require higher scores.

Employment & Career Relevance

• Cambridge English qualifications are globally recognised by over 25,000 universities, employers, and governments worldwide.
• Employers such as Adidas, BP, Ernst & Young, Hewlett-Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Vodafone, Dell, and Nestlé accept and value Cambridge qualifications.
• C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency are highly respected in professional and corporate environments globally, making them excellent choices for adult learners focused on international careers.
• These qualifications do not expire, which is a significant advantage for career portfolios.

Worldwide Recognition

• C1 Advanced is accepted by every university in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, with growing recognition in Canada and the USA.
• C2 Proficiency is recognised by leading universities worldwide including the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge (UK), University of British Columbia (Canada), University of Melbourne (Australia), and University of Idaho (USA).
• In the UK, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency are eligible for UCAS tariff points.
• Accepted for student visa applications in Australia, Ireland, and many other countries.

TOEFL iBT

Recognition in Ireland

• Higher Education: 100% of Irish universities accept TOEFL iBT, including both test-centre and Home Edition versions.
• Student Visa: Irish Immigration accepts both TOEFL iBT Test Centre and TOEFL iBT Home Edition for student visa applications.
• Typical university entry ranges from 79–100 overall, with sectional minimums varying by institution. For example:
  • Trinity College Dublin: typically 88–90 overall
  • University College Dublin: 90 overall (Reading 19, Listening 19, Writing 21, Speaking 19)
  • University College Cork: 90 overall
  • Dublin City University: 90 overall
  • Technological University Dublin: 80 overall
  • Students should check their specific programme requirements.

Employment & Career Relevance

• TOEFL is widely accepted by employers and professional organisations globally, particularly in the USA, Canada, and multinational corporations.
• Many international companies and professional bodies require or prefer TOEFL scores for recruitment and licensing purposes.
• TOEFL’s focus on academic English prepares learners for professional communication in international business and academic settings.
• The TOEFL score report provides detailed performance feedback, which is valuable for career planning and demonstrating specific language strengths.

Worldwide Recognition

• TOEFL iBT is accepted by over 12,000 institutions in more than 160 countries.
• TOEFL is the most widely accepted English-language test for study abroad in the USA and Canada.

An Academic Bridge end-of-course certificate will be issued to all students successfully completing their courses. In order to receive their certificate, students must have at least 70% of attendance at the end of their course. Any students not meeting this requirement will not be awarded a certificate.

Students can request for their class schedule to be changed prior to the start or during their course. This change must be permanent and NO more than one change will be allowed.

Any student wishing to change their schedule from PM classes to AM classes prior to their class start will be charged a flat rate of €400. 

Any student wishing to change their schedule from PM classes to AM classes after their course has commenced will be charged a rate of €16 per remaining week of the course.

Students will not be reimbursed for the course price difference in the event of the change from AM to PM schedule.

*All schedule changes prior and after course start are subject to available space in class and must be requested and approved by the academic managers.

Academic Bridge is in no way obliged to accept and grant such requests and students should choose their schedules carefully prior to enrolment.

Academic Bridge reserves the right to switch to online tuition if requested to do so by the public health authorities in the events of any future covid-19 related restrictions or force majeure events, such as school closures due to adverse weather conditions.

All ILEP requirements and standards apply to online classes. Provision of online classes will be provided via Zoom and attendance is mandatory and recorded.

• Long-term course cancellations (25 weeks or more)

Bookings may be cancelled up to 60 days prior to commencement of the course with a €400 administration penalty for non-EU/EEA students and 20% of the course fees total for EU/EEA students. The balance might be subject to currency exchange rates in your country.

For cancellations requested with less than 60 days prior to the course start date, 50% of the amount of the full fee will be refunded and an additional €50 penalty fee applies.

Any refund requests made after the visa documents have been received will be reported to the Immigration and border control units and an additional €300 penalty fee applies.

There is no refund for any cancellation requested once the course has commenced. This includes late arrivals, early departures, or days missed during the course for various reasons.

A fee of €500 applies to cancellations due to visa refusal prior to the course start date. Visa refusal documentation will be required as proof in order for refunds to be processed.

In the event of students having their renewal student visa denied, due to low attendance rate in the previous course, Academic Bridge reserves the right to keep 500€ off the course fees paid. The student’s course will consequently be cancelled and the student reported to the Immigration.

Students who submit fraudulent documents for the purpose of applying for any immigration permission and get their visa renewal denied will automatically forfeit the right to any refund of the amount paid for their English course at Academic Bridge. This provision applies regardless of the stage of the course or process in which the student finds themselves at the time the irregularity is detected. Academic Bridge reserves the right to take appropriate legal action in the event of any document fraud.

Courses at Academic Bridge are non-transferable.

• Short-term course cancellations (up to 24 weeks)

For cancellations up to 60 days prior to the course start date, 70% of the full fee amount will be refunded.

For cancellations requested less than 60 days in advance of the course start date, 50% of the amount of the full fee will be refunded and an additional €50 penalty fee applies.

There is no refund for any cancellation requested once the course has commenced. This includes late arrivals, early departures, or days missed during the course for various reasons.

Accommodation bookings may be cancelled up to 30 days prior to arrival at the accommodation. If this procedure is followed correctly, we will refund €100 per week booked.

Accommodation bookings are non-transferable.

There will be no refunds of accommodation cost payments given to any students who decided to cancel their course after using accommodation services provided by the school, even for one day upon their arrival in Dublin.

Transfer bookings may be cancelled up to 30 days prior to arrival at the airport. If this procedure is followed correctly, we will refund 25 euros per booking.

Transfer service is non-transferable.

There will be no refunds of transfer costs payments given to any students who decided to cancel their course after using transfer services provided by the school upon their arrival in Dublin.

If a student wants to postpone their course start date, they must inform their student advisor at least 60 days before their original course start date. In order to reschedule and book a new start date, students have to contact their student advisor at least 60 days prior to the new start date selected in order for the academic management to have enough time to try and secure a space for them to start on the start date selected.

*All start date changes requests prior or after course start are subject to available space in class and must be requested and approved by the academic managers. Academic Bridge is in NO way obliged to accept and grant such requests and students should choose their first start date carefully prior to enrolment.

** In the exceptional cases when Academic Bridge agrees to postpone a course start date with less than 60 days notice, students must understand that if they decide to cancel their registration, the original start date will be considered as their start date, resulting in refund of 50% of full tuition fees paid and an additional cancellation penalty fee of €50.

Courses are payable in advance of course commencement. No booking can be guaranteed until payment is received.

Academic Bridge grounds for a refund or partial refund of fees are as follows:

• Visa is refused by INIS. Any application for a refund must be made in writing and must be accompanied by both a copy of the rejection letter from the INIS and a copy of their stamped passport.
  • Please note: The rejection letter issued by the INIS will be evaluated by the College in order to assess grounds for any refund. All original letters issued by the College along with the student’s IRP card must be returned to AB administration before any refund can be considered.
• Illness or disability suffered after the student’s enrolment has been confirmed. In any such instance, a doctor’s certificate would be required.
• If any student is refused access into Ireland for any reason, when arriving at an airport, any application for a refund must be made in writing and be accompanied by both a copy of the rejection letter from the INIS and a copy of their stamped passport. Please note: the rejection letter issued by the INIS will be evaluated by the College in order to assess grounds for any refund.
  • Please note: There is no automatic right to a refund of fees if at any time a student changes his/her mind about studying at AB College.
• If a student withdraws after course commencement no refund will be given.
• All course cancellations must be made in writing using the Academy’s “Tuition fees Refund” form before course commencement date.
• Students that are found to have provided incorrect information, resulting in their visa being refused, shall be exempt from any form of refund.
• If you miss your flight or it is delayed you must notify the school or your agent in advance, otherwise the transfer will not be refunded.
• Also, if you give up or stop staying at the accommodation during the period booked, a refund will not be given.
• If the refund is applicable, it must be requested online through the Refund Form. The period for refund is from 4 to 06 weeks from the receipt of the refund request form. In the event that a student receives a visa refusal, the refund will be processed within 20 working days from the date the student notifies us. They can only be paid by bank transfer into bank accounts of which the nominated students are the holders, they cannot be paid into anyone else’s account on the student’s behalf. Any charges and fees occurring due to the refund transfer payment will be deducted from the balance being refunded.
• No refunds will be given for exams.

Company policy

Academic Bridge observes strict guidelines with regards to workplace safety, equality, bullying, harassment and protection of minority rights. Any student found in breach of these guidelines will face disciplinary or/and even legal action against them.

Rights

Academic Bridge organises and hosts a number of extra-curricular and social events, both on the school premises and elsewhere, to enrich the student experience and learning outcomes. During these activities it is normal for photographs, videos and recording to be taken, which may be used and published for promotional purposes. If any student does not wish to be recorded or photographed during these activities they must make this clear during the activity, otherwise the school reserves the right to use these materials for the stated purposes.

Complaints and Grievances

If any student wishes to express their dissatisfaction with any area of Academic Bridge operations and procedures, they can raise their concerns with any member of our staff, verbally or in writing. Complaint forms are available at reception and from student advisors. All complaints will be sent to the Managing Director and the Director of Studies and a response will be sent to the student within five working days.

All staff have the obligation to treat complaints seriously and to deal with them promptly and courteously.

Photography and Video Material

By accepting Academic Bridge’s terms and conditions, the student accepts that Academic Bridge can freely use all photography, video and sound material created by the school and/or our staff during the programme which contains the student, without asking further approval from the student.