Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
8th Feb 2023

Irish universities report significant post-Brexit uptick in EU applications and enrolments

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • EU students’ applications to Irish universities have more tripled since Brexit
  • The number of EU students aged 23 and under enrolled in Irish universities is up 56.5% since 2019

The UK’s departure from the EU has had many consequences, and among these is that Ireland is picking up share of degree-seeking EU students. According to the Central Applications Office (CAO), the number of applications from EU students to Irish universities reached 6,383 in 2022 – more than triple the number lodged in 2017.

A major draw of the UK in Europe prior to Brexit was that EU students were granted the same tuition fees as domestic students, but Brexit terms ended that opportunity in 2021. This is a major factor in the growing attractiveness of Irish higher education in Europe.

Major growth in EU enrolments as well

EU enrolments in Irish universities are also rising rapidly, as shown in the following chart from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) depicting EU enrolments over time. The blue line represents EU students 23 and under, whereas the red line is students aged 24+. The younger cohort’s enrolments were up 56.5% (to 3,083) in 2021/22 versus 2019/20. The older group contributed 20.4% more enrolments in that same time span.

EU student growth trends in Irish higher education by age group. Source: HEA

The next chart depicts non-EU enrolments from countries other than the UK. In this case, 2021/22 enrolments from non-EU students 23 and under are down slightly (-5.7%) from 2019/20, while the older cohort (again, represented by the red line) grew by 11.9% in that two-year timeframe.

Non-EU student growth trends in Irish higher education by age group. Source: HEA

Impact of the UK’s Graduate Route

Irish universities may be finding it slightly more challenging to draw students from non-EU markets since 2021, when the UK introduced its Graduate Route (post-study work rights of 2–3 years for degree international students). Since the launch of the Graduate Route, non-EU enrolments in the UK have skyrocketed, and the UK has gained market share of international students relative to other major destinations as a result.

In 2021/22, non-EU enrolments in British universities surged by 23.8% year-over-year, with new, first-year enrolments growing by 32%. By contrast, EU students in UK universities fell by 21.4% – and 53% fewer first-year students came from the EU compared with the previous academic year.

Some experts are cautioning UK universities against relying too heavily on non-EU markets. A recent study from Universities UK International (UUKi) and Studyportals found that the UK is losing share of interest from EU students (as measured by pageviews on Studyportals websites). A good deal of market share is being picked up by Germany and the Netherlands, as you can see in the table below, but Ireland and Italy are also notably more popular than in the past.

Similarly, some of the fastest growing markets for Canadian and US educators are in Europe.

Ireland has the edge in affordability

In Ireland, undergraduate tuition fees for non-EU students range from €9,850–€19,500 for most programmes, for an average of €14,675.

In the UK, the undergraduate range for international students is £11,400–£38,000 (average of £22,200 per year, for a Euro currency equivalent of €24,780). Since 2021, those fees also apply to EU students in British universities.

In Ireland, most undergraduate EU/EEA students enrolled in publicly funded third-level courses do not have to pay tuition fees.

Share of international students jumps

The HEA reports that international students accounted for 12.4% of the overall student population in Ireland in 2021/22, compared with 10.3% in 2020/21. The top three sending countries are the US (14.8% of all international students), India, and China.

Most Recent

  • What is holding back brand strategy in higher education marketing? Read More
  • Growing use of AI for study abroad decisions highlights importance of multi-channel marketing strategies Read More
  • ICEF Podcast: Beyond the offer letter: The services that drive international student success Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

What is holding back brand strategy in higher education marketing? There is a remarkable consistency in the brand strategies and related marketing communications offered by higher education institutions...
Read more
UK to implement reduced Graduate Route from January 2027 The UK Home Office has confirmed the implementation of one of the key items in its May 2025...
Read more
UK transnational education enrolments poised to surpass onshore students this decade The latest available numbers from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) tell us that there were 732,285 international...
Read more
Trump administration’s proposed deal with select US colleges includes a cap on international undergraduate enrolment Update for 15 October: Since this item was first published, two of the institutions that received the proposed...
Read more
Australia introduces new integrity measures through proposed amendments to the ESOS Act Australian Minister of Education Jason Clare tabled the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025 in...
Read more
Australia: With ELICOS under pressure, peak bodies push for reduction in “extortionate” visa fees The latest data from the Department of Education reveals that enrolments in Australia’s ELICOS sector (English Language Intensive...
Read more
South Korea hits its 300,000 student target two years ahead of schedule In 2023, the South Korean government announced a plan to attract 300,000 international students by 2027: 220,000 in...
Read more
Canada: Study permit numbers are in steep decline in 2025 In 2024, the first year under Canada’s current cap on new international student enrolments, the total number of...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links