fbpx
Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
11th Jun 2019

Ireland: Number of non-EEA students in higher education jumps by 45% over five years

The number of new international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) pursuing higher education in Ireland jumped by 45% between 2013 and 2017 according to a recently released study from the European Migration Network, which is part of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) think tank. The study is entitled Attracting and Retaining International Students, and it bases its growth figures on the number of first residence permits issued to non-EEA students arriving in Ireland to undertake higher education. (Residence permits are required for all non-EEA nationals planning to study in Ireland.) In 2013, 9,325 first residence permits were issued to non-EEA students. In 2017, the number had grown to 13,520. According to the Irish Times, the total number of full-time, non-EEA international students reached nearly 18,500 in 2018. Roughly another 5,000 full-time foreign students from within the EU were also enrolled in Irish higher education as of 2017/18.

Need for international students grows

Overall, non-EEA students make up more than half of all international students in Ireland, and they are increasingly vital to the financial health of universities and Institutes of Technology (IoTs) given the higher fees they pay relative to Irish and students from EEA countries in Europe. The tuition charged to international students ranges between €9,000 and €25,000, with fees in some fields much higher (e.g., up to €54,000 a year for medicine). By contrast, Irish students pay €3,000 a year, an amount commonly known as a “contribution charge.” Irish universities and IoTs have been investing more in international outreach over the past few years, in part because they need international students’ tuition to help offset declining government funding in the sector. This spring, executives from the Irish Universities Association warned that universities may end up having to reduce the number of places available to Irish students in order to free up more space for international students as a result of underfunding. This is despite the fact that Irish demand for higher education is expected to rise by 25% in the next ten years due to demographics. Jim Miley, director general of the IUA, warned, “As numbers grow, universities are fearful that they will be put in a position where places for Irish students would have to be curtailed or replaced by higher fee-paying international students.” At the same time, Ireland is poised to become even more popular among international students after Brexit, when it will become the only remaining English-speaking country in the EU, apart from Malta.

Top source countries

According to the Irish Higher Education Authority (HEA), the main non-EEA sending countries for Ireland are:

  • United States
  • China
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Malaysia
  • Canada

As the following chart reflects, Asia sends the largest share of students (43% as of 2017/18), followed by North America (30%), and the EU (20%). Proportion of foreign enrolment in Irish higher education by global region, 2017/18. Source: Irish Higher Education Authority The Chinese market alone is worth at least €35.7 million per year for Ireland and is growing quickly. Many Chinese students receive Irish higher education credentials through joint programmes delivered by Chinese institutions.

Work rights a major draw

Ireland has generous post-study work right policies in place for non-EEA students completing higher-level studies in the country. International graduates of recognised degree programmes at Level 8 (undergraduate) or higher may apply for the Third Level Graduate Scheme which allows them to stay in Ireland for 12–24 months after they have completed their degree. Master’s degree, postgraduate diploma, and doctoral degree holders may remain in Ireland to two years. There are also opportunities for non-EU students to immigrate to Ireland once they are in the Third Level Graduate Employment Scheme as long as they receive a job offer that meets certain conditions. ESRI notes that “2,090 non-EEA students were granted permission to stay under the Third Level Graduate Programme in 2017, up from around 650 in 2012.” A 2018 HEA study, The Internationalisation of Higher Education, which combined survey data and interviews with directors of international offices, faculty and both international and Irish students to arrive at a multi-perspective exploration of internationalisation in Irish higher education, found that in addition to work rights, the main draws for international students choosing Ireland were:

“Ireland’s location in Europe, tuition fees which are cheaper than in other English-speaking countries, and the ease of application through institutional websites” as factors that “gave Ireland advantages over other countries.”

Potential barriers to growth

Sarah Groarke, lead author of ESRI’s Attracting and Retaining International Students report, notes that, “Ireland is successfully attracting and retaining increased numbers of higher-level non-EEA students. However, our report highlights obstacles persist for some students including delays in immigration registration, securing affordable student accommodation and transition to employment after graduation.” The issues regarding employment, the ESRI study found, include:

  • Employers not always being aware that non-EEA students are entitled to work under the Third Level Graduate Programme;
  • A minimum wage threshold set for non-EEA students in order for them to obtain work permits.

Non-EEA students also reported some anxiety regarding delays and difficulties associated with renewing their resident permits at Irish immigration offices.

Students are happy

On the whole, international students in Ireland are happy to have chosen the country for their education. i-graduate International Student Barometer has found that Ireland is performing better than the global average in terms of student satisfaction in a number of areas, including the welcoming and supportive environment that visiting students find in the country: “The majority of students were very happy with the social aspects of their experience which included the availability of facilities, friendships and contacts. They were also very satisfied with their day to day experiences of living in Ireland.” For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • Test Read More
  • International education has a data problem. It’s time to do something about it Read More
  • Criticism mounts as Australian Senate committee hears it is “wrong to go ahead” with ESOS amendments bill as is Read More

Most Popular

  • Recent policy changes slowing student interest in the UK, Canada, and Australia Read More
  • Germany confirms increase in proof-of-funds requirements for student visa applicants Read More
  • New Zealand expands work rights for accompanying dependants of foreign students Read More

Because you found this article interesting

Criticism mounts as Australian Senate committee hears it is “wrong to go ahead” with ESOS amendments bill as is The Australian government remains committed to passing into law a cap – intended to take effect as early...
Read more
Universities UK releases blueprint for higher and international education In a context of policy uncertainty and instability in the tertiary sector, Universities UK has released a blueprint...
Read more
The view from here: How the “Big Four” study destinations are adapting in a year of change All projections point to continuing, strong growth in international student mobility through the rest of this decade and...
Read more
France enrolled over 430,000 international students in higher education in 2023/24 Campus France has announced that France hosted 430,466 international students in 2023/24, a year-over-year increase of 4.6%. This...
Read more
What impact will a slowing economy have on Chinese demand for study abroad? The Chinese government is again reporting on youth unemployment rates after have suspending such data releases for the...
Read more
European study destinations now offering thousands of English-taught degree programmes English-taught programmes (ETPs) are becoming more prevalent in Europe, according to a new research report just released by...
Read more
ICEF Podcast: The future of ELT: A call to action Listen in as ICEF’s Craig Riggs and Martijn van de Veen recap some recent industry news, including Australia’s...
Read more
Canada announces updates for foreign enrolment cap and post-study work rules Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced today several new measures affecting international students in Canada. He stated, “The...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links