Frequently Asked Questions

All students must maintain an attendance rate of at least 85% throughout their studies. For non-EU students on a student visa, this is an Irish immigration (ILEP) requirement — falling below 85% can jeopardise your visa renewal or result in visa cancellation. SEDA monitors attendance through Apprentisys, our Student Management System.

Students who arrive more than five minutes late will not be permitted to join the class until the scheduled break. Students who leave class early will not receive attendance for that session. Punctuality is essential for your language development and immigration compliance.

No unscheduled breaks are permitted, except in documented cases of illness or close family bereavement. If you need time away for other reasons, speak to the Academic Office before making any arrangements.

After a settling-in period at the start of your course, Apprentisys automatically monitors your attendance. If it falls below 85% without valid medical documentation, you will receive a first attendance warning. If attendance does not improve, a second and then a third and final warning will follow. After three warnings with no improvement, you may be expelled from the programme.

Submit a Return to Class Request via the online form in the MySEDA app. Include a clear explanation of your absences and any supporting documentation (e.g. medical certificates). The Academic Director reviews requests each Friday; decisions are communicated before the start of the next teaching week. If approved, you may return on the following Monday. If you do not receive a response by Monday, contact the Academic Office at [email protected].

On the first day of any absence, you must inform the Academic Office at [email protected] and provide a brief explanation of your illness. If you require a medical certificate, attend a consultation with a registered GP and upload the certificate through the MySEDA app within 3 days of the consultation.

A valid certificate must be issued by a doctor registered with the Irish Medical Council following a genuine medical consultation (in-person or verifiable telemedicine). It must include the doctor's name, registration number, contact details, date of issue, and the exact dates you were unfit to attend class. Self-certification is not accepted. Hospital certificates are only accepted for the period of confirmed hospitalisation — any additional days require a GP certificate.

SEDA does not accept certificates from online providers that do not involve a genuine consultation (e.g. Get Health Care, Get Sick Cert, Get Medical Cert), certificates from therapists or counsellors not registered with the Irish Medical Council, hospital appointment letters or discharge summaries without a GP certificate, or any false, altered, or misleading documentation. Submitting a falsified certificate is treated as gross misconduct and may result in expulsion.

MySEDA is your main digital platform for managing your studies. Through the app you can check attendance and assessment results, view your timetable and notifications, access documents and letters, manage payments, submit return-to-class requests and medical leave, access the SEDA Digital Classroom, and stay informed about college activities and student supports. Check the app regularly for important academic and administrative updates.

Your timetable is available in the MySEDA mobile app and web dashboard under "My Schedule". Login details are provided in your welcome package email. For technical issues accessing the app, contact the Academic Office at [email protected].

Yes. All visa-compliant long-stay programmes at SEDA must include an externally assessed end-of-course exam. Booking and completing your Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) or GESE exam is a mandatory requirement of your Student Visa (Stamp 2) compliance and ILEP registration.

Arrive at 9:15 a.m. at SEDA College, 68–73 Capel Street, Dublin 1. The exam runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Bring original photo ID (passport, residence permit card, or driving licence — digital copies are not accepted), a pen, and a water bottle (label removed). Pencils, erasable pens, and correction fluid are not permitted. Phones and smartwatches must be switched off and stored before the exam begins.

SEDA uses continuous assessment aligned to CEFR levels (A1–C1). You will receive regular formative feedback through weekly writing tasks, speaking assessments, and quizzes. Long-stay students also sit formal progress tests every 12 weeks to support level progression and preparation for the end-of-course Trinity exam. Assessment tasks are designed to reflect real-world language use and are marked using standardised rubrics.

Progression is based on your developing language proficiency, assessed through continuous classroom work and 12-week progress tests. Your teacher may recommend a level transfer following placement testing or academic review. SEDA's CEFR-aligned syllabi guide teaching and assessment from A1 through to C1, ensuring you are always studying at the level appropriate to your ability.

AI tools may be used to support learning — for example, developing vocabulary, generating ideas, or improving drafts — but all assessed work must be demonstrably your own. Submitting AI-generated content as original work is not permitted unless explicitly authorised by your teacher, and any permitted AI use must be clearly acknowledged. Misuse of AI is treated as academic malpractice and may result in warnings, grade nullification, or expulsion.

Academic misconduct includes plagiarism, cheating, fabrication of data, unauthorised collusion, contract cheating (paying someone to complete work), and misuse of AI. SEDA verifies authorship through in-class assessments, continuous classroom observation, and speaking assessments. Consequences range from a formal warning and resubmission with penalty, to grade nullification, suspension, or expulsion in serious cases. You may appeal within 10 working days of a decision.

Yes — all students must have the correct coursebook for their level. You must obtain it within 3 weeks of starting your course, or within 2 weeks of moving to a new level — whichever is sooner. If your course fee includes a book, collect it from the Academic Office; otherwise, purchase one from the Academic Office or a local bookseller. Failure to have a coursebook by the deadline results in a formal warning, and continued non-compliance may lead to being barred from class.

You may use a digital coursebook on a tablet or laptop if it supports full participation in class activities. You may not use a phone to access your coursebook, as phones are too small for collaborative learning and increase the risk of distraction from apps and notifications.

First, try to resolve the issue informally by speaking to the person involved or reporting it to a teacher, Student Services, or administrative staff. If that does not work, complete the Student Feedback (and Complaints) Form (available online and from the Academic Office) and submit it to the Director of Quality. Complaints are acknowledged within 5 working days and a decision is provided within 15 working days. Complaints about academic misconduct should follow the Malpractice Policy instead.

If you disagree with a complaint outcome, submit a written appeal to the Senior Management Committee (SMC) within 10 working days. The SMC conducts an independent review and issues a final, binding decision within 20 working days. For expulsion decisions, you may also appeal to the Expulsion Appeals Panel within 10 working days — the panel's decision is final.

Complete the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form (available through the MySEDA app or from the Academic Office) as early as possible. Supported documentation may be required. The Director of Studies reviews requests and communicates the decision to you and your tutor within 5 working days. Accommodations may include modified assessment materials, additional time, rest breaks, or assistive technology. For Trinity exams, SEDA assists with submitting access arrangement applications to Trinity College London.

The Personal and Professional Development Advisory (PPDA) Team and Student Support Advisors provide pre-arrival induction, on-arrival integration support (accommodation, banking, local services), workshops on professional and workplace skills, the SEDA Jobs Club (CV writing, interview skills, job placement), career guidance for university or long-term employment, and visa and immigration advice. Visit the SEDA Student Support Office, attend scheduled workshops, or contact [email protected].

Key expectations include: speak English only in class; arrive on time (more than 5 minutes late means no entry until break); use phones only when the teacher permits as part of a classroom activity; communicate respectfully with staff and classmates; do not eat or drink in the classroom. Disruptive or disrespectful behaviour may result in being asked to leave class (with loss of attendance for that session), formal warnings, and ultimately expulsion with GNIB notification.

The SEDA building in Dublin is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Cork campus is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Both campuses have a Student Lounge on the ground floor where you can relax and get refreshments.

For general academic support in Dublin, email [email protected]. For Cork, contact [email protected]. For Trinity exam enquiries, email [email protected]. For immigration compliance matters, contact the Academic Director Jane Langley at [email protected]. For all other enquiries, email [email protected].