Brazilian students planning to study English in Ireland are being urged to check the fine print carefully after a wave of refund complaints, visa-linked payment problems, and scam warnings has put parts of the language-school sector under pressure. The latest cases involve students waiting months for money that should, under Irish rules, be returned within 20 working days if a visa application is refused.
Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), Ireland’s national public service broadcaster, reported that the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) had received complaints involving more than 30 prospective students and about €60,000 in unpaid refunds across ten schools. In one case, Lorena Prasca Ramirez, a Colombian student, paid €2,810 for a 25-week course at NED College in February 2025, later had her visa refused, and then spent months chasing a refund.
The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) says the problem is not just about money, but about trust. The organisation has stressed that students from developing countries are often in a vulnerable position because they pay upfront and may have little power if a school delays or ignores refund requests. English Education Ireland (EEI), the sector body representing many schools, has said the situation is not representative of its members, while also arguing that stronger enforcement is needed where schools fail to meet their obligations.
What Brazilian students are paying
The cost of studying English in Ireland can be significant. Publicly listed Dublin schools advertise adult courses starting at around €240 a week, with more intensive programmes reaching about €395 a week. That does not include accommodation, flights, insurance, transport or food, all of which can push the total bill into the thousands very quickly.
That matters because refund disputes are not abstract. The Irish Times reported that more than 150 Brazilian students were affected after a 2025 programme collapse, with many having paid thousands of euro for tuition, accommodation, insurance, transfers and flights. Some had transferred money only a week before the closure, which shows how quickly a study-abroad plan can turn into a financial disaster.
Scam cases involving Brazilians
The risks are not limited to refund delays. The Irish Times reported on the so-called “ghost student” scam, where foreign students, including Brazilians, were allegedly sold fake enrolment letters, insurance and attendance documents through messaging apps and social media. Some paid between €600 and €1,800 for false paperwork, which can leave them exposed to visa refusal and immigration problems.
That is why any promise of “easy approval” should be treated with suspicion. A legitimate school should not encourage fake documents, pressure students to pay without a proper refund policy, or avoid clear written communication. In this market, informal agents and shortcuts can cost far more than the course itself.
Why this matters now
The Irish government has already signalled tighter oversight of English language schools, especially those seen as acting as a back door to work rather than genuine education providers. A new accreditation approach and spot-check regime are meant to weed out weaker operators, but the recent refund cases show that enforcement remains a real issue.
For Brazilians in Ireland, the practical advice is simple: check whether the school publishes a refund policy, confirm that payment is being made into a proper protected account, keep every receipt and email, and never trust anyone offering fake documents or guaranteed visa success. Ireland remains a strong destination for English study, but the safest route is still the most transparent one.
Useful links
- Irish Council for International Students: https://www.internationalstudents.ie/info-and-advice/know-your-rights/course-fee-refunds
- RTÉ: https://www.rte.ie/news/education/2026/0422/1569450-english-language-schools/
- The Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2024/03/19/irish-ghost-student-visa-scam-raises-alarm-in-dublin-language-schools/
- English Education Ireland: https://englisheducationireland.ie/
