A new report by ApplyBoard has highlighted the growing popularity of Ireland as a study destination, which saw 40,400 international enrolments in 2023/24, a 15% increase on the previous year. 

“Since 2020 Ireland’s international education sector has achieved three consecutive years of growth, eclipsing 40,000 enrolments for the first time in 2023/24,” Ian McRae, head of emerging markets at ApplyBoard, told The PIE News.

“Students are beginning to shift away from the ‘big four’, favouring destinations that offer lower living costs paired with robust post-study work opportunities,” said McRae, advising Irish institutions to promote Ireland’s affordability and increased work-study alignment to attract global talent.

International Enrolment in Ireland 2017/18-2023/24

Line graph showing international student enrolment trends in Ireland.Photo: ApplyBoard. Source: HEA.

The report, which analyses data from Ireland’s Higher Education Authority (HEA), saw Indian student enrolment increase by nearly 50%, overtaking the US to become the largest global sending market.  

Exceeding India’s dramatic growth were Mexico and TĂŒrkiye, whose student populations grew by 61% and 53% respectively, indicating the increasing diversification of Irish campuses.  

For international students, the growth of Ireland’s study abroad sector shows that “they have more choice than ever before”, said McRae, particularly for students from countries that don’t require a student visa for Ireland.

Though the UK remains in Ireland’s top four sending destinations for international students, its 0.5% decline in 2023/24 stands out in stark contrast to India, the USA and China, whose student populations each reached all-time highs. 

Top student populations enrolled in Irish institutions, 2023/24

RankCountryNo. of studentsChange from 22/23 1India7,070+49%2USA5,655+11%3China4,405+11%4UK3,110-0.5%5Canada1,980+2.5%6Germany1,210+15%7France1,130-2.5%8Italy1,010+6.5%9Spain810+4.5%10Kuwait810+9.5%

Last year saw many of the traditional English language destinations rocked by policy changes, most notably in Canada, Australia and the UK.  

As total global demand for study abroad grows, the changing policy landscape is disrupting established student mobility trends and opening the doors for emerging markets such as Ireland, Germany and South Korea.  

The report highlighted a continuing trend of increased student mobility from within the EU, with notable interest in Ireland from German, Polish, Czechian and Romanian students, thanks to several attractive study and work mobility policies. 

“This rising interest from European students is also likely a byproduct of UK universities charging EU students full international student fees after Brexit”, making Irish institutions the “more affordable options”, stated the report.  

Ireland’s growth increased at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with the latter cohort seeing the larger growth rate of 25% compared to the previous year.  

STEM courses recorded high demand from international students, with sustained interest in health and welfare, business and engineering and a 65% surge in demand for ICT programs, “signalling strong alignment with Ireland’s thriving tech sector”, said McRae.

With engineers, programmers and nurses in high demand across Ireland, the report highlighted the opportunity for international students to fill critical labour market gaps and recommended institutions broaden recruitment efforts to include emerging student populations.