13: ILAC and Erin College Went Down Together. Students May Get 25 Cents on the Dollar.

Two of the best-known names in language travel stopped operating on the same Friday. ILAC, once the largest private English school in Canada, filed for bankruptcy and took its whole group down with it: ILAC International College, ILAC International High School and Tamwood. Erin College in Dublin and Cork closed after losing its place on Ireland's ILEP list and blamed a "political and arbitrary" decision.

We give you the facts in two minutes, then follow the money. Languages Canada's eCAP plan promises "up to 25% of unearned tuition" if your student can't be placed, first come first served, and only until the fund runs out. Ontario's and BC's protection funds don't cover most short ESL courses. In Ireland, the High Court record shows Erin owed €952,563 in potential refunds to visa-refused students, with €74,000 in the bank. Not political. Arithmetic.

Our take: both schools were running on prepaid student money, and the moment it had to go back, it wasn't there. Plus three things to do Monday morning if you have students at either school, and one school to watch.

In this episode

• ILAC files for bankruptcy under the BIA, KPMG appointed trustee, entire group closed
• EC English closed 25 schools four days earlier, 375 students in Toronto and Vancouver
• What eCAP actually pays, and why the provinces won't catch the rest
• Erin College's "not financial" claim versus the court record
• TrustEd Ireland, escrow, and why Erin was running out of road anyway
• Limerick Language Centre, same court case, still open
• Monday morning checklist for agents

Sources

• ILAC closure notice: https://ilac.com/community-message
• ONCAP (Onex) portfolio page for ILAC: https://www.oncap.com/operating-companies/ilac-education-group
• Tamwood acquisition by ILAC, 2023 (PIE News): https://thepienews.com/tamwood-international-college-sells-ilac/
• EC English closes all schools (PIE News): https://thepienews.com/ec-english-closes-all-global-schools/
• Languages Canada statement on EC English placements: https://www.languagescanada.ca/en/blog/blog/languages-canada-statement-on-ec-english
• Languages Canada eCAP plan (PDF): https://www.languagescanada.ca/web/default/files/membership/eCAP%E2%84%A2%20-%20EDUCATION%20COMPLETION%20ASSURANCE%20PLAN%20(Dec%2015%202020).pdf
• Languages Canada 2025 survey via ICEF Monitor: https://monitor.icef.com/2026/08/canadas-language-training-sector-in-state-of-crisis-after-further-enrolment-declines-in-2025/
• Ontario career college exemptions: https://www.ontario.ca/page/exemptions-registration-career-colleges
• BC tuition protection: https://www.privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca/students/complaints-tuition-protection-claims
• Erin College High Court hearing (Irish Times, 10 Aug 2026): https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/08/10/english-language-school-ordered-to-maintain-untouchable-account-for-student-refunds/
• Erin College and Limerick Language Centre closure warning (Irish Examiner): https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-41893999.html
• ILEP, Immigration Service Delivery: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-options/interim-list-of-eligible-programmes-ilep/
• TrustEd Ireland policy statement (PDF): https://www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Policy-Statement-TrustEd-Ireland-and-Immigration-Requirements.pdf
• First English schools awarded TrustEd Ireland (ICEF Monitor): https://monitor.icef.com/2026/08/trusted-ireland-quality-mark-rollout-continues-with-awards-to-first-group-of-english-language-schools/
• Erin College terms and conditions: https://erincollege.com/terms-conditions/
• ICOS on learner protection: https://www.internationalstudents.ie/info-and-advice/courses-and-colleges/learner-protection
• Student Campus Limerick closure (Limerick Post): https://www.limerickpost.ie/2026/06/26/hundreds-impacted-from-closure-of-english-language-school-in-limerick/
• Irish study visa refusal rates (Irish Examiner): https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41871153.html

Erin College's own closure statement was posted to its Instagram (@erin.college) and isn't on its website yet, so there's no link for it. If you want one, screenshot the post and link the Instagram profile.