English Courses at Cork English College, Ireland
Your English courses at Cork English College take place in the centre of Cork, where the school has taught since 1978. It is still run by the family that founded it. Every lesson lasts 60 minutes, so 20 lessons a week give you a full 20 hours of class. You study in 3 buildings over the River Lee, and you can sit 7 international exams in those same rooms.
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Cork English College, CEC for short, teaches English from 3 buildings in the middle of Cork, in the south of Ireland. One is on Patrick’s Hill, above the city, and 2 look over the River Lee. CEC opened in 1978 and is still family owned. Adults can choose General English, exam preparation, business English or the 25-week study and work programme. Students of 11 to 17 have a summer school that has run since the college opened. They combine English with Munster Rugby, football, golf, horse riding or STEAM. And teenagers who want a full year can join an Irish secondary school and live with a host family. CEC is accredited by ACELS and EAQUALS, and it is the only Quality English school in Cork.
CEC runs 13 programmes. Adults can choose General English or the intensive version, preparation for 7 exams, or the 25-week study and work programme. There is also business and executive training, and a 50+ course. For juniors, there is the summer school, with 5 combined options from Munster Rugby to STEAM, and a full year in an Irish secondary school.
Every adult lesson lasts 60 minutes. Classes average 6 to 8 students, with 12 at most in the mornings. You take the placement test online before you fly, so you join the right class on your very first morning.
- 60-minute lessons, 6 to 8 per class, max 12
- 9 levels from A2 to C2, on the European framework
- 3 buildings in the centre of Cork
- ACELS accredited, EAQUALS member, Quality English
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Why do students choose Cork English College in 2026?
Teaching in Cork since 1978, and still run by the founding family. Here is what that means for you, and you can check every point before you book.
Every CEC lesson lasts 60 minutes, on every adult programme. So 20 lessons a week give you a full 20 hours of class. Over 12 weeks, that is 240 hours of English. On the intensive course, 26 lessons give you 26 hours every week. You always know exactly how much class you are booking.
CEC is an open exam centre for IELTS, Cambridge, OET, TOEIC, TOLES, LanguageCert and Trinity. IELTS runs every month of the year in Cork, on paper or on computer. Cambridge exams are held at the college several times a year. So you prepare in the same rooms where you sit the exam. On the day, you walk into a room you already know.
The junior summer programme has run since 1978, and families choose it for its partners. English plus Rugby is taught with coaches from Munster Rugby, one of the best known clubs in Europe. Your son or daughter finishes with a certificate from the club as well as from the college. The same morning classes also pair with football coached by Valencia CF staff, or golf at the Fota Island Golf Academy. There is horse riding at Castlemore Stables and STEAM workshops with Designer Minds, too. And the multi-activity option gives students a bit of everything.
If your son or daughter wants more than a summer, CEC places students of 13 to 18 in Cork secondary schools for the academic year. Most join Transition Year. They live full board with host families the college has worked with for years. The partner schools are chosen for their results, and CEC reports that 80 to 90 per cent of their leavers go on to third level education. Entry is from B2, so your son or daughter can follow every class in English from day one.
Working while you study is one of the big reasons students choose Ireland. If you are from the EU, you can work during your studies, whatever the length of your course. If you are from outside the EU, you take the 25-week study and work programme. It comes with an 8-month permission and an exam at the end. You can work 20 hours a week during term and 40 hours during the holidays. CEC helps you find the job, with a Jobs Club, CV clinics and free workshops.
CEC has been owned and run by the same family since 1978. It is accredited by ACELS, the Irish English language scheme, and by EAQUALS. It is also the only Quality English school in Cork. It was voted Best Language School at the Irish Education Awards 3 years running, in 2019, 2020 and 2021. It was named Cork Business of the Year in 2019. CEC answers bookings and enquiries within 24 hours, and there is a 24-hour emergency line for students.
Cork English College has taught English in Cork since 1978, and it is still family owned and family run. It is accredited by ACELS, the English language scheme run under Ireland’s national qualifications authority, and by EAQUALS. It is the only Quality English school in Cork. It is a member of English Education Ireland, Select Ireland, ALTO, IATEFL and the Cork Chamber. It is an Erasmus+ and Bildungsurlaub provider, and an open exam centre for IELTS, Cambridge, OET, TOEIC, TOLES, LanguageCert and Trinity. It was voted Best Language School at the Irish Education Awards in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and Cork Business of the Year in 2019.
Source: Cork English College
Cork, the city Ireland calls its real capital
Cork is Ireland’s second city, home to about 210,000 people on an island in the River Lee. It is small enough that you can walk almost everywhere. Condé Nast Traveler readers voted it the third friendliest city in the world. Lonely Planet wrote that everything good about Ireland can be found in County Cork. Cork was European City of Culture in 2005, and it still loves its festivals: jazz, film, choral music and midsummer.
Cork is a great base for a student, too. It is the starting point of both the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East. So the coast, Kinsale, Cobh, Killarney and the Cliffs of Moher are all day trips. The airport is 8 km from the centre, with more than 50 international routes. Apple, Amazon, Pfizer and dozens of other multinationals run bilingual teams from Cork. And there are 2 universities, plus the food that makes people call Cork the gourmet capital of Ireland.
What English courses does Cork English College offer?
CEC runs 13 programmes: for adults, for teenagers in summer, and for students who want a full year in an Irish school. Adult lessons last 60 minutes. Classes average 6 to 8 students, with 12 at most in the mornings. Levels run from A2 to C2 on the European framework.
The course most adults book, from A2 to C2, for anyone aged 16 or over. You get 20 lessons a week of 60 minutes each, every morning from 8:40 to 13:00. You work on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation through the 4 skills. The focus is on saying exactly what you mean, with your teacher correcting you as you go. You take the placement test online before you travel. Every week, you meet your teacher for feedback, and every Friday there is a short progress test. When you are ready, you move up a level on a Monday. You can add afternoon electives: TOEIC, OET or one to one.
The same mornings, plus 6 more hours in the afternoons, for 26 lessons of 60 minutes a week. The afternoon classes are built around topics and speaking: interviews and CV writing, food and restaurants, work and jobs. There is an e-learning masterclass in the middle of the week. It is a great choice if you have a set number of weeks and want to finish a level higher. It is also ideal if you want your speaking to catch up with your grammar.
CEC is an open exam centre, so you prepare and sit the exam in the same building. IELTS preparation runs all year, and the IELTS exam runs every month in Cork, on paper or on computer. The Cambridge courses last 9 or 10 weeks, with the exam at the end. There is also a 4-week accelerated version if you are already close to your level. They are timed to the Cambridge sittings the college hosts during the year. You can also prepare for OET if you work in healthcare, TOLES if you work in law, and TOEIC, LanguageCert and Trinity. A placement test shows which exam is right for you before you book.
The programme that brings most non-EU students to Ireland. You get 25 weeks of morning classes within an 8-month permission, with 8 weeks of holidays included. You can work 20 hours a week during term and 40 hours during the holidays. You take a placement test on arrival. In your first week, there is an induction on the course, the immigration process and which exam to finish with. The programme ends with an IELTS, Cambridge or TIE exam. CEC adds a Jobs Club, CV clinics and free career workshops. If you are from the EU, you can work on any course length, and you can take the same programme with no visa requirement.
For the English your job needs. Business English is 20 lessons a week, for students aged 21 and over, from B2 upwards. You work on negotiations, meetings, clear and polite emails, and the language of the business news. The Executive programmes go further and are designed around you or your team. Specialists teach finance, law or sales and marketing, from financial statements and tax to contracts, litigation, brand management and pricing. One to one lessons run from 1 to 15 hours a week. They start with a needs analysis, so every lesson fits what you need.
A week of English and Ireland for students over 50, in a class of around 15 people your own age. Mornings are General English, from A2 to B2. The afternoons are what people book it for. There is a Cork city orientation, Nano Nagle Place, the Jameson distillery, a chocolate workshop and a night of Irish music and dancing. On the Saturday, you spend a full day in Killarney National Park. It runs on a few set weeks between spring and late summer. You can stay with a host family, or in a residence, a B&B or a hotel.
The summer school for students of 11 to 17, and the programme CEC has run since the year it opened. Mornings are English, in a class of 15 at most, placed by level on arrival. The afternoons and evenings are what your son or daughter will remember. There are half-day trips, activities on campus and a full-day excursion every week. Evenings bring Irish dancing, karaoke, discos and a talent show. Choose a host family with a commuter bus ticket, or a single ensuite room on the Munster Technological University campus with residential staff. There is a weekly assessment and a diploma at the end, and Cork Airport transfers are included.
English in the mornings, and afternoons on one of Ireland’s best known resort courses. Your son or daughter spends 4 afternoons a week at the Fota Island Golf Academy, with 4,000 square yards of practice ground. PGA coaches cover everything from chipping and putting to iron play and driving. A private bus runs from the school. The rest of the week includes the summer school’s excursions and evening programme. It is open to any level of English and any level of golf, with full board at a host family or the residence.
For the student who loves horses and the outdoors. Your son or daughter gets 5 hours of riding training a week at Castlemore Stables, an equestrian centre in the Cork countryside. A private bus runs from the school. The instructors welcome complete beginners and experienced riders alike. Mornings are the same English classes as the rest of the summer school. The evening programme and the weekly full-day excursion are included. Full board, at a host family or the residence.
The one families ask us about by name. Students of 13 to 16 study English every morning. In the afternoons, they train with coaches from Munster Rugby, one of the best known clubs in European rugby. They learn the skills and the values the club teaches: teamwork, respect and integrity. Your son or daughter gets a Munster Academy shirt, plus a certificate from the club alongside the CEC diploma. It includes full board at a host family or the MTU residence, evening activities and a full-day excursion every week.
5 afternoons a week of training and matches with coaches from the Valencia CF academy. Every session is in English, so football time is English practice too. Your son or daughter gets the full Valencia kit: shirt, shorts and socks. Mornings are the same English classes as the rest of the summer school. Evenings bring karaoke, bingo and the disco, and on the Saturday there is a full-day excursion outside Cork. Full board, at a host family or the residence.
For the student who loves science. Your son or daughter spends 3 afternoons a week in hands-on STEAM workshops with specialist facilitators. They explore science, technology, engineering, art and maths by building things and taking them apart. 2 more afternoons are for sport, to keep the week active. Mornings are English with the rest of the summer school. The evening programme and the weekly full-day excursion are included. Full board, at a host family or the residence.
A full academic year, 40 weeks, in an Irish secondary school in Cork, for students of 13 to 18 from B2 upwards. Most students join Transition Year, the Irish fourth year built around projects, work experience and learning outside the classroom. Other years can be arranged too. Your son or daughter lives full board with a host family the college has worked with for years, and is supervised throughout. The partner schools are chosen for their exam results, and CEC reports that 80 to 90 per cent of their students go on to third level. Groups can also book shorter stays and mini-stays during term.
Most adults start with General English. Families come for the summer school and the high school year, some for a fortnight and some for a full Irish school year
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What should you know before applying to Cork English College?
The things worth settling before you book. We took the answers from the college’s own brochures and student handbook, and from what students ask us every week.
Costs, Dates, Application Process and other Considerations
Application Process - Send us the contact form and an advisor gets back to you with the steps for your country. You find out which documents you need, how long each stage takes, and whether your nationality needs a visa for Ireland. CEC asks every new student to take its placement test online before travelling. So you walk into the right class on your first morning, and the lessons start straight away. If your son or daughter is under 18, we put the supervision, the host family and the airport transfer in writing before anything is booked. We prepare the application and send it for you.
Dates of the Program - General English, the intensive course, IELTS preparation, business English and one to one all start every Monday of the year. Some courses run on set dates. The Cambridge courses last 4, 9 or 10 weeks and are timed to the exam sittings the college hosts. The 50+ week runs a few times between spring and late summer. The summer junior programmes have 2 start dates each summer, with a minimum of 2 weeks. The high school year starts with the Irish school year. These dates change every year, so tell us the month you have in mind and we will confirm the dates that still have places. The college closes for a short break at Christmas and on bank holiday weekends. On bank holiday Mondays, there is a free cultural tour.
Length of the Program - From 1 week to a full academic year. General English has no maximum. The Cambridge courses last 4, 9 or 10 weeks. The study and work programme is 25 weeks of class within an 8-month permission. The 50+ course lasts 1 week, and the summer junior programmes start at 2 weeks. The high school programme is 40 weeks, or a single term. Give us your dates and we will tell you which options fit them.
Costs - Your total depends on the programme, the number of weeks, the accommodation and the season, and the weekly rate drops the longer you book. Use the form at the bottom of this page and you get the full quote in writing before you commit to anything. It covers tuition, the enrolment and materials fees, accommodation, transfers and this month’s promotion. Two costs are good to know early. Exam entry is paid on top of an exam preparation course. And non-EU students need medical insurance, which we arrange with the booking. If you want a figure first, our cost of studying abroad calculator adds up the course, the room and the week.
Health Insurance - If you are from outside the EU, you need private medical insurance for your whole stay, and it is checked when you register with immigration. CEC arranges a policy with your enrolment if you do not already have one that qualifies. Long bookings also include the learner protection insurance that Irish law requires of language colleges. If you are from the EU or the EEA, bring your European Health Insurance Card for public treatment. We usually recommend a policy on top, to cover repatriation and course cancellation.
Minimum Age - Adults can join General English and the exam courses from 16. The study and work programme and one to one start at 18, and business and executive training at 21. The summer junior school takes students from 11 to 17, and the Munster Rugby programme from 13 to 16. The Young Adult programme is for 16 to 19, and the high school year for 13 to 18. Every junior centre is recognised by the Irish Department of Education, and CEC’s own staff supervise every activity.
Minimum English Level - For General English, there is no minimum. It runs across 9 levels, from A2 up to C2, and the summer junior programmes welcome beginners too. A few courses have an entry level. For the exam courses, it depends on the exam you are aiming for. Business English starts at B2. The high school year also starts at B2, so your son or daughter can follow a full year of Irish school in English. Everyone takes the online placement test before arriving, and the teacher confirms the level in the first class.
Visa Regulations - It depends on your passport. If you are from the EU or the EEA, you need no visa and you can simply arrive. If you are from outside the EU, check whether your nationality needs a visa before you travel. For a stay of more than 90 days, you register with immigration after you arrive. You also need a course of at least 25 weeks from the official list, and the study and work programme is one. CEC holds an immigration meeting in your first week and helps you prepare the documents. A member of staff can go with you to the registration appointment and to open a bank account. We prepare the application from our side, and our team handles the translations.
Working While You Study: - Yes, and Cork is a great city for it. If you are from the EU or the EEA, you can work part time or full time during your studies, whatever the length of your course. If you are from anywhere else, you need the 25-week study and work programme. With it, you can work 20 hours a week during term and 40 hours during the holidays. CEC runs a Jobs Club, CV clinics and free career workshops to get you ready. Apple, Amazon, Pfizer and many other multinationals run bilingual customer teams in Cork. And hotels, cafés and restaurants hire students all year. Tell us if working is part of your plan and we will tell you what applies to your nationality.
Accommodation - You have 3 options, all arranged by the college. Most students choose a host family, and it is the one we recommend for a first stay. The accommodation officer chooses and visits every family in person. Meals are included, and you practise English at the dinner table. Self-catering student apartments have 5 to 8 bedrooms, ensuite or shared. Bed linen and kitchen equipment are provided, and you do your own cleaning. The college also works with hotels, B&Bs and hostels across Cork, which suit older students and executives. Junior students stay full board with host families, or in single ensuite rooms on the MTU campus with residential staff. Write to us and we will price each option for your dates.
Extra Curricular Activities - There is something on every day, and a CEC guide goes with you on every trip at no extra cost. In the afternoons, there is a city tour, the Crawford Art Gallery, UCC and the Glucksman, Cork City Gaol, Blarney Castle, Cobh, Kinsale and Fota Wildlife Park. If you want to stay in, there is a pronunciation class. In the evenings, you can go bowling or to the cinema, try Irish dancing, hear live traditional music or take a brewery tour. There are escape rooms, karaoke and a Cork City FC match, too. Full-day trips go to Killarney National Park, the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, Bunratty, the Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny. Some trips have a small charge for entry or transport. On bank holiday Mondays, the cultural tour is free.
Airport Pickup - Cork Airport is 8 km from the city, with more than 50 international routes. The shuttle into town takes 10 to 15 minutes. If you land in Dublin, the direct coach to Cork takes about 3 and a half hours. You can also take the train from Dublin to Kent Station, a 10-minute walk from the adult school. CEC arranges airport transfers with your booking. For junior students arriving at Cork Airport, transfers are included in the programme.
First day of classes - Be at the adult centre at 8:30. You start with a welcome presentation, where you meet the team and get your timetable and the practical information. Class starts soon after 8:40, because you took the placement test online before you travelled. Your teacher checks your level during that first lesson. In the afternoon, there is a city tour with a CEC teacher, and you can sign up at the welcome meeting. If you are from outside the EU, you also get the date of your immigration meeting later that week.
Keep in mind that the biggest cost is usually not the course itself, but living costs. So before you choose the cheapest school, look at the whole picture
Source: ViveCampus
3 buildings over the River Lee
CEC is at Saint Patrick’s Bridge, in the middle of Cork. A second building sits up Patrick’s Hill, looking over the city, and a third is close by. Classrooms have interactive projectors. There is a student common room, cinema rooms for the film afternoons, a multimedia lab and free wifi throughout. The buildings are wheelchair accessible. Kent Station is a 10-minute walk, and the bus station is even closer.
Address: Saint Patrick’s Bridge, Cork, T23 D863, Ireland
About Cork
Cork is Ireland’s second city, with around 210,000 people living on and around an island in the River Lee. You can walk across the centre from end to end. Most of the sights are free, and the main shopping streets are for pedestrians. Cork calls itself the real capital of Ireland, and it is the country’s food capital. The English Market has been open since 1788, and the restaurants built the city’s reputation. Condé Nast Traveler readers voted Cork the third friendliest city in the world. It was European City of Culture in 2005, and you still see that in the calendar. There is the Guinness Jazz Festival, the International Film Festival, the International Choral Festival and Midsummer. Cork is also the starting point of both the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East. So Kinsale, Cobh, Killarney, the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher are all easy day trips. The airport is 8 km out, with more than 50 international routes. And Apple, Amazon, Pfizer and dozens of other multinationals are based here, many of them hiring in more than one language.
Weather in Cork
Cork is on the coast, so the weather is mild all year and changes quickly. Summer, from June to August, sits around 18 to 20 degrees, with long evenings that are perfect for the activity programme. Autumn is soft and green, and it is festival season. Winter, from December to February, stays around 7 or 8 degrees, with some rain and short days. Spring brings the light back from March. The college gives new students good advice: pack for every kind of weather, and bring a light raincoat even on a sunny morning. A clear sky at nine can be a shower at one.
Cork in images
A river through the middle of the city, a covered market from the 18th century, a harbour where ships once left for New York, and green countryside 20 minutes away. Cork gives you plenty to do after class.
Source: Pure Cork
What do students say about studying at CEC?
Two students who have already done it, in their own words. Eleonora came from Italy for General English, and Martín from Argentina for the rugby programme. Together they cover what people ask us about most: the teachers, the city and the friends you make along the way.
I’m writing because I am very grateful to Cork English College. I have improved my English a lot and made many friends. Cork is a very safe city with plenty to do, even though it is smaller than Dublin. The teachers here are not typical English instructors; they become like a second family.
Hi, I’m Martín, and I took CEC’s English and rugby program. I would recommend it to everyone. I made many friends, and the training sessions with the Munster coaches were on another level. I feel that I have improved my game so much over these three weeks. They have been intense, but it’s an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Student testimonials from Cork English College share students’ experiences at the language school.
Source: ViveCampus
Cork English College in images
How ViveCampus can help you
A ViveCampus advisor helps you find the right programme for you, based on your goals, needs and budget.
Our advice is completely free, and the process is 100% transparent. You make all your payments directly to Cork English College.
When you apply through ViveCampus, you get support from both the school and our team. We help you through the application, the visa, the accommodation and your arrival.
You also get an international student card with thousands of discounts, plus other benefits your advisor will explain.
Steps you should follow
1. Tell us your goal A short chat about your needs, level, budget, dates and what you are looking for.
2. We clarify your doubts We answer all your questions about costs and requirements.
3. We handle the paperwork Application, letter of acceptance and the documents your visa or permit needs.
4. Ready to Start Accommodation confirmed, payments processed, and someone to call whenever you need a hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What people ask our advisors before booking a course at Cork English College. Visas and work, levels and exams, the summer school or a school year for your son or daughter, and your first week.
Do I need a visa to study at Cork English College?
It depends on your passport. If you are from the EU or the EEA, you need no visa: you arrive, you enrol, and you can work. If you are from outside the EU, some nationalities need a visa before travelling and some do not. For a stay of more than 90 days, you register with immigration once you are here. You also need a course of at least 25 weeks from the official list, and the study and work programme is exactly that. CEC holds an immigration meeting in your first week and prepares your documents. A member of staff can go with you to the appointment. We handle the application from our side, plus the translations your file needs, at no extra cost.
How much does Cork English College cost?
It depends on the programme, the number of weeks, the accommodation and the season, and the weekly rate drops the longer you book. Send us the contact form and we send you a full written quote. It covers tuition, enrolment and materials, accommodation, transfers and any discount for your dates. Two costs are separate from the course, and it helps to know them early. One is the entry fee for your exam. The other is medical insurance for non-EU students, which we arrange with the booking. For a rough total first, try our cost of studying abroad calculator. Our advice is free.
What level of English do I need to start?
For General English, none. CEC runs 9 levels from A2 to C2 and welcomes students at the start of that scale. The summer junior programmes take beginners too. A few courses have an entry level. For the exam classes, it depends on the exam you are aiming for. Business English starts at B2. The high school year also starts at B2, so your son or daughter can enjoy a full year of Irish school taught in English. Everyone takes the placement test online before travelling, and the teacher confirms the level in the first class.
How big are the classes, and how long is a lesson?
Adult classes average 6 to 8 students, with 12 at most in the mornings. Junior classes have 15 at most. Every lesson on every adult programme lasts 60 minutes. So 20 lessons a week give you a full 20 hours of class. Over 12 weeks, that is 240 hours of English.
What makes the summer junior programmes different?
They have run since the college opened in 1978, and they are built around real partners. English plus Rugby is taught with coaches from Munster Rugby, and your son or daughter gets a certificate from the club. Football is coached in English by Valencia CF academy staff. Golf is at the Fota Island Golf Academy, with PGA coaching. Horse riding is at Castlemore Stables, in the countryside outside the city. The STEAM workshops are run with Designer Minds. And the multi-activity option lets students try everything. Mornings are English, in classes of 15 at most. CEC staff supervise the afternoons and evenings, and every centre is recognised by the Irish Department of Education.
Can a teenager do a whole year in an Irish school?
Yes, and CEC is well known for it. Students of 13 to 18, at B2 or above, join a Cork secondary school for the academic year. That is 40 weeks from August. Most join Transition Year, the Irish fourth year built around projects and work experience. Your son or daughter lives full board with a host family the college has worked with for years, and is supervised throughout. There is a welcome pack, school materials and a certificate at the end. The partner schools are chosen for their results, and the college reports that 80 to 90 per cent of their leavers go on to third level. Groups can also book shorter term stays and mini-stays.
Can I work while I am studying in Ireland?
Yes. If you are from the EU or the EEA, you can work part time or full time, on a course of any length. If you are from anywhere else, you need the 25-week study and work programme. It comes with an 8-month permission. You can work 20 hours a week during term and 40 hours during the holidays. CEC helps you with a Jobs Club, CV clinics and free workshops. And Cork has plenty of jobs: Apple, Amazon, Pfizer and many other multinationals run multilingual teams here, and hotels, cafés and restaurants hire students all year. Before you book your flight, we confirm what applies to your nationality.
When can I start at Cork English College?
General English, the intensive course, IELTS preparation, business English and one to one start every Monday of the year. The other courses run on set dates that change each year. The Cambridge courses are timed to the exam sittings the college hosts. The 50+ week runs a few times between spring and late summer. The summer junior programmes have 2 start dates each summer, with a minimum of 2 weeks. The high school year starts with the Irish school year, in the autumn. Tell us roughly when you want to travel and we will confirm the dates that still have places. The college takes a short break at Christmas and closes on bank holiday weekends, with a free cultural tour on the Monday.
What accommodation is available?
You can choose a host family, a self-catering student apartment, or a hotel or B&B, all arranged by the college. The accommodation officer visits every host family in person, and chooses them for the atmosphere and the food as much as the room. A host family also puts English at your dinner table. The apartments have 5 to 8 bedrooms, ensuite or shared. Linen and kitchen equipment are provided, and you do your own cleaning. Junior students stay full board with a host family, or in a single ensuite room on the MTU campus with residential staff. Send us the form and we will compare the options side by side for your dates.
Where exactly is Cork English College?
At Saint Patrick’s Bridge, in the centre of Cork. A second building is on Patrick’s Hill, overlooking the city, and a third is close by, all a few minutes apart. Kent Station is a 10-minute walk, and the bus station is even closer. The airport shuttle takes 10 to 15 minutes from the door. Classrooms have interactive projectors, and there is a common room, cinema rooms, a multimedia lab, free wifi and wheelchair access. The junior summer centres are in other parts of Cork. Host family students go to Douglas Community School, and residential students to the MTU campus in Bishopstown.
What else comes with a course at CEC?
Before you travel, you take the online placement test. On your first day, there is a welcome presentation and a city tour. Every week, you meet your teacher, and every Friday there is a progress test. Every 2 weeks, you have a speaking assessment, and at the end you get a certificate with your final level. You also get a CEC student card with discounts around the city, and access to the college’s e-learning platform. The activity programme comes with a guide on every trip. CEC answers enquiries within 24 hours, and there is a 24-hour emergency number while you are in Ireland.
Is Cork English College accredited?
Yes. It is accredited by ACELS, the Irish scheme that inspects English language providers, and by EAQUALS, the European accreditation for language education. It is the only Quality English school in Cork. It is a member of English Education Ireland, Select Ireland, ALTO and IATEFL. It is an Erasmus+ and Bildungsurlaub provider, and an open exam centre for IELTS, Cambridge, OET, TOEIC, TOLES, LanguageCert and Trinity. It was voted Best Language School at the Irish Education Awards in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
What makes Cork a good place to study English?
Its size and its prices, mostly. Cork has around 210,000 people, so you can walk across the centre and accommodation is easy to find and affordable. There is part time work for students, too. After a fortnight, the same faces start to recognise you. The food and the festivals are big for a city this size, and the coast and the countryside are half an hour away. Condé Nast readers rated Cork the third friendliest city in the world, and students tend to agree.
How do I apply to Cork English College from my country?
Start with the form on this page. A ViveCampus advisor replies in your language with everything that depends on where you live. You find out whether your passport needs a visa, which documents to gather, and how the 25-week route works if you want to work. You also get the total cost and the start dates that still have places. If your son or daughter is under 18, we put the supervision, the host family and the transfers in writing, so you can read them before you decide. You do not need anything ready for that chat, and it is all free.
Which of the summer junior programmes should we choose?
Every programme has the same mornings: English in a class of 15 at most, placed by level on arrival. So the choice is all about the afternoons. English plus Rugby, for 13 to 16 year olds, trains with Munster Rugby coaches, and your son or daughter gets a club certificate and an Academy shirt. English plus Football is 5 afternoons a week with Valencia CF coaches, in English, and they keep the kit. English plus Golf is 4 afternoons at the Fota Island Golf Academy with PGA coaching, for beginners and players alike. English plus Horse Riding is 5 hours a week at a stables in the Cork countryside. English plus STEAM is 3 afternoons of workshops with Designer Minds, plus 2 of sport. And English plus Multi-Activity, the original, mixes trips, sport and culture. Tell us your son or daughter’s age and what they love, and we will tell you which one suits them and which fills up first.
What is included in a junior summer booking, and who looks after my child?
The price covers the course, full board accommodation, the activity programme and the transfers. Your son or daughter stays with a host family, with a commuter bus ticket to get to class. Or they take a single ensuite room on the Munster Technological University campus, with residential staff living on site. Every week includes half-day trips, activities on campus, a full-day excursion and evening activities. CEC staff supervise all of it, and every centre is recognised by the Irish Department of Education. Students are assessed every week and go home with a diploma. The sports programmes add a certificate from the partner club. Transfers from Cork Airport are included, and we arrange a Dublin arrival separately. Write to us with your dates and we will set it all out before you commit to anything.
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Source: ViveCampus
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