A group of international students attending a language school in Cork have been left out of pocket following its closure without notice yesterday.

Students attending courses at the Allied Irish College on South Mall in Cork city arrived to find the school’s signs torn down and the doors locked.

A 26-year-old biology graduate from Brazil said she had been transferred to Allied Irish College from Millennium College Dublin. She paid €1,000 and planned to stay three months. "I don't know what to do. I hope to find another course but I have lost my money and I can't pay again," she said.

The school is the fifth language college to close in recent weeks. Millennium College and three other Dublin schools have closed over the past month.

Letterheads for both Allied Irish College and Millennium College Dublin contain the name of a Latvian national listed as a board of director.

Joanna Gadajska is registered as a director at the Dublin school, while she and Rezaul Haque are listed as directors for Allied Irish College. Mr Haque is believed to be from Bangladesh.