Student data from Ireland’s Higher Education Authority (HEA) revealed that the country reached 40,400 international enrolments in 2023/24. This is the first time the region surpassed the 40,000 mark, ushering in a new all-time high record.
Consistent year-on-year growth
The numbers from 2023/24 are another string of statistics that attests to Ireland’s impressive post-pandemic recovery. Demand for international education in the country has gone up year-on-year, with the region achieving three consecutive periods of growth, rising by 50% since 2021. From 2022/23, international enrolment in Ireland surged by nearly 15%; it already experienced a +12% rise in the prior year). The data suggests that the country is poised for continued advancement and points towards the sector’s future sustainability.
Diverse international student population
India became Ireland’s top market for international students for the first time (outperforming the United States) in 2023/24, following a 49% year-on-year growth. As such, Indian students accounted for 18% of the international student population in the last year. Students from the US and China – two similarly significant cohorts – also went up by more than 10% compared to 2022/23, marking all-time highs for these top three sending countries.
Irish institutions also saw higher demand from students from nearly every region of the world, signalling the sector’s commitment to diversification. Mexico, Turkey, Romania, Indonesia and Germany became some of Ireland’s fastest-growing international student populations. Mexico and Turkey led the list, being the only two countries to eclipse India in terms of relative growth over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, Germany was the only source country besides India with over 1,000 students enrolled in Irish higher education in 2023/24. Interest also continued to surge among European students, a likely byproduct of attractive mobility policies around study and work in the European Union (EU).
Postgraduate education on the rise
Ireland’s international student population increase was observed at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. But while undergraduate enrolments grew by 8% year-on-year, postgraduate enrolments rose by almost 25%. International master’s students comprised nearly a third of all foreign enrollees in Ireland in 2023/24, up from less than 21% in 2016/17. At this pace, postgraduate degrees are expected to eclipse undergraduate degrees in the coming years.
The high demand is likely due to more students eyeing post-study work options. Notably, Ireland’s Third Level Graduate Scheme allows new graduates at the undergraduate or higher diploma levels to stay one year in the country. In contrast, master’s, postgraduate diploma and doctoral degree holders can remain for two years to work.
Increased demand for ICT
Nearly all fields had higher enrolment numbers in 2023/24 (due to overall higher student populations). However, the data reports a rising demand for information technology courses. International students enrolled in ICT programs soared by over 65% in 2023/24. This interest aligns with Ireland’s strong market need for such graduates, given that the country hosts the regional headquarters of several tech leaders such as Google, Microsoft and LinkedIn.
Ireland’s booming popularity
Ireland’s affordability, accessibility and high-quality education create a compelling draw for students looking outside of the Big Four for international education. The numbers from 2023/24 make it clear that the country is poised for sustained growth – an encouraging sign for the sector.
To learn more about opportunities in Ireland and connect with our partner institutions in the country, get in touch with our business development experts today.
