ApplyBoard has been active in Ireland for nearly 18 months. During that time, we’ve seen interest in Ireland as an international study destination soar. After seeing a significant post-pandemic rebound in international enrollment, we’ve been eager to learn how Ireland has grown as an international education market in 2023.
Today, we’re unpacking new data from Ireland’s Higher Education Authority (HEA) to get all the answers. We’ll explore international enrollment data, look at the top student populations attending Irish institutions, rank the most popular fields of study, and more.
Key Insights at a Glance
- International enrollment reached a new all-time high in Ireland in 2022/23 at 33,480 students, a 12% increase over 2021/22.
- Based on current growth trajectories, Indian students will soon pass US students to become Ireland’s number one student population.
- In each of the last two years, one in every five international students studying in Ireland was from an EU country.
A Record Year for International Education in Ireland
After Ireland posted a record year of growth in 2021/22, we were eager to see if international enrollment in Ireland would continue rising or come down to earth.
The chart below illustrates the trends in international student enrollment in Ireland from academic year 2017/18 to academic year 2022/23, shedding light on the trajectory of this sector within Ireland’s education landscape:
In 2021/22, over 30,400 international students studied at Irish institutions, a near 20% increase compared to the previous year.1 While this was encouraging, it was unclear just how much of that growth was due to pent-up demand following the global pandemic, and whether that growth was sustainable.
In 2022/23, Ireland set a new all-time high for the number of international students studying at Irish universities. 33,480 international students were enrolled at Irish universities last year, an increase of nearly 12% compared to 2021/22. While the growth curve has softened slightly, this trajectory is still incredibly encouraging for the future of international education in Ireland.
The 12% year-over-year increase was the highest single-year increase Ireland has seen in the past six academic years outside of 2021/22. This is a firm indicator that Ireland is growing in popularity as a study abroad destination. Now, two years clear of the pandemic, we can be confident that this increase in enrollment is an accurate indicator of how Ireland is perceived by prospective students.
Ireland’s Top International Student Populations in 2022/23
How much has the landscape of international education in Ireland changed over the last 12 months? Let’s take a look at the top 15 international student populations for Ireland in 2022/23:2
Once again, the US claimed the top spot on this list, with 5,100 Americans studying in Ireland in 2022/23. American students accounted for 15% of international students in Ireland last year, positioning the US as Ireland’s biggest source market for the 10th time in 11 years.
India (+17.8%) and China (+7.7%) are also both trending in positive directions. Indian growth is surging, while the growth of Chinese students stayed consistent with the previous year.
With over four times the number of Indian students studying in Ireland today compared to 2017, India is likely to be the country that propels Ireland’s growth as a study abroad destination.
The gap between the US and India is closing. India’s growth has outpaced that of the US in five of the last six years, and it continues to make up ground. We’ve seen this trend before in several of the world’s top study destinations.
In Canada, India passed China in 2017 and has been Canada’s number one source of international students every year since. In October of 2023, India officially eclipsed China as the top source of international students in the US and shows no signs of slowing down.
Based on current growth trajectories, India will soon pass the US, becoming Ireland’s new number one international student population—it’s just a matter of when. It’s very likely that India will grab the top spot by 2024/25, but it could happen as soon as next year.
India is the world’s largest source of international students, and Ireland looks to be the destination that Indian students will expand their sights to next.
European Growth in Ireland Continues
Let’s look at which markets are helping shape the future of international education in Ireland. Here are the top 10 fastest-growing international student populations from 2021/22 to 2022/23:
Following Brexit, European countries have been the instinctive choice when it comes to projecting which nations may see an uptick in Irish enrollment. Last year, half of the top 10 fastest-growing countries were from the EU.3
In 2022/23, Spain and Italy return to the top 10, while two of the top three countries are European newcomers. The Czech Republic saw a 156% increase in first-year international students at Irish universities this year, far and away the largest growth of any nation. Poland ranked third, with 43% growth.
Consistent growth from Spain and Italy, combined with Czech and Polish students jumping up the rankings, indicates that we may see European interest continue to ramp up in the near future. While most EU countries will never rival the volume seen from India or China, they provide a baseline boost to the Irish international education landscape that promotes diversity and growth.
In each of the last two years, one in every five international students studying in Ireland was from an EU country. This is likely a product of UK universities charging EU students full international student fees, a move which is likely redirecting more European students to Ireland.4
Top Irish Fields of Study
Let’s see what international students are coming to Ireland to study in 2022/23:
There’s not much change to report in these rankings. In fact, the order of the top 10 fields of study is the exact same as it was last year. STEM continues to drive interest for international students at Irish universities, with 43% of students studying in this area, while business slots in as the second most popular subject.
Health and welfare remains the top choice for international students in Ireland for the third consecutive year, with one in every five international students in 2022/23 enrolling in sought-after programs including nursing, social work, medicine, and childcare.
As more students gravitate toward fields that offer long-term stability—and with Ireland’s aging population on pace to double by 2031—demand for healthcare jobs will likely increase.
Post-Graduate Programmes Ramping up in Ireland
Which study levels are grabbing the attention of international students in Ireland? Let’s have a look. The chart below shows the distribution of international students in Ireland by study level:
Similar to our field of study findings, study level data shows almost no recent change in study level distribution among international students at Irish universities. Since 2016/17, undergraduate students have accounted for 44% to 50% of international enrollment in Ireland, with PhDs claiming between 10% and 14%.
But the popularity of master’s programmes in Ireland is growing. 29.5% of international students there were studying at the master’s level in 2021/22, up from 20.8% in 2016/17.
Master’s programs are both cost-effective and efficient, making them an appealing choice for those with a prior degree seeking swift entry into the job market. In Ireland, the Third Level Graduate Scheme permits a one-year stay for undergraduates, while master’s, postgraduate diploma, and doctoral degree holders can enjoy a two-year work opportunity.
Irish Growth on the Horizon
In 2021/22, Ireland experienced a record-breaking year, prompting questions about the sustainability of its growth. However, data for 2022/23 paints an even more encouraging picture.
India is on the verge of surpassing the United States as the largest supplier of international students to Ireland. Within Europe, Spain, Italy, Czechia, and Poland are also emerging as key players in driving the growth of international students in Ireland.
STEM fields continue to dominate the preferences of international students, while the popularity of master’s programmes is rising.
Further growth of international education in Ireland seems all but certain. At ApplyBoard, we’re excited to facilitate the growth of this budding market for students who are keen to explore what Irish institutions have to offer.
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FOOTNOTES:
1. All data courtesy of the Irish Higher Education Authority (HEA), unless otherwise stated.
2. Great Britain includes students from England, Wales, and Scotland. The HEA defines Northern Irish students as domestic students.
3. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.
4. Select UK universities still offer domestic tuition rates to EU students.
