The University of Galway’s English Language Centre is delighted to launch a new part-time Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL ) course, offering students the opportunity to gain a professional teaching qualification.
Designed for those interested in education, languages, and travel, the programme equips participants with the practical skills and confidence needed to teach English both in Ireland and abroad.
Galway has long been recognised as a destination for English language learning, with a strong tradition of welcoming international students and a number of well-established institutions providing high-quality English language programmes for decades. These schools have played an important role in the social, cultural and economic life of the city, helping to make Galway a vibrant and internationally connected place to live and study.
However, the sector has changed significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic, with fewer young people choosing to undertake a TEFL qualification as a pathway to a highly rewarding gap-year experience, international travel, or a long-term career in English language teaching.
Through this new initiative, the University of Galway's English Language Centre aims to support the revival of TEFL teacher training alongside other institutions in the city and encourage a new generation of graduates and professionals to consider the many opportunities that English language teaching can offer both in Ireland and internationally.
Whether you are considering a future in teaching, planning a gap year after graduation, or looking to enhance your employability in an increasingly global job market, a TEFL qualification can provide a rewarding pathway to work and cultural exchange around the world.
The course will run from January to May 2027 at the English Language Centre, University of Galway, and will be delivered through a flexible part-time schedule of evening and weekend classes, making it accessible for students and working professionals.
A key feature of the programme is its strong practical focus. Participants will develop hands-on teaching skills through authentic teaching practice in real international classrooms at the University of Galway's English Language Centre. Working directly with English language learners from a range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds, participants will gain valuable classroom experience while learning how to plan lessons, manage a classroom effectively, and support language development in a multilingual and multicultural setting.
The programme is open to: All external applicants aged 18+; Undergraduate students currently enrolled in full-time study; International applicants with a minimum English language proficiency of C1; No prior teaching experience or degree qualification in education required.
Course details
Dates: January 2027 to May 2027
Location: English Language Centre, University of Galway
Format: Part-time (evenings and weekends ), in person
Fee: €1,750 (payment plan available )
Places are limited, and early booking is advised.
For further information and course booking, visit the University of Galway TEFL webpage or contact Dr Maeve Egan, Manager, English Language Centre at [email protected].
