fbpx
Countdown to the ICEF Monitor Global Summit: 7d 8h 48m 31s
Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
10th May 2023

Strong recovery of Irish ELT in 2022 means that student weeks have now topped pre-pandemic volumes

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • English-language centres in Ireland are reporting strong growth in 2022, with student numbers now approaching pre-pandemic levels and student weeks exceeding those recorded in 2019
  • Along with key EU senders, several major markets in Latin America are contributing to growth
  • A strong summer season for Irish ELT centres looks likely this year

Ireland's English Language Teaching (ELT) sector is reporting very strong numbers for 2022. The latest data from peak body Marketing English in Ireland (MEI) reveals that student weeks for adult learners exceeded pre-pandemic levels last year by nearly 10%, while weeks for junior students reached roughly 90% of pre-COVID volumes. Overall, Irish ELT centres delivered 6% more student weeks than they did in 2019.

Even so, the total number of ELT students remained -12% below 2019 levels, though there was strong growth for both adults and juniors. Most adult learners (representing 87% of adult student weeks) went to Ireland for General English programmes.

Student numbers for Irish ELT, 2018–2022. Source: Marketing English in Ireland (MEI)
Student weeks for Irish ELT, 2018–2022. Source: Marketing English in Ireland (MEI)

The tables here highlight the notable growth in junior numbers for summer 2022, and it appears the sector is heading for another strong peak season in 2023.

We can parse student totals by sending region and visa status, as summarised below.

Student numbers and weeks for Irish ELT, by sending region and visa status, 2022. Source: Marketing English in Ireland (MEI)

The table points us to a fascinating aspect of the student mix in Ireland, where EU students accounted for 71% of all enrolments in 2022. But because those students came, on average, for a much shorter period of study, non-EU students (who represent less than 30% of students) accounted for about two-thirds of student weeks.

"Students from outside the EU/EEA generally stay for longer periods than their EU/EEA counterparts (3.7 weeks)," observes MEI. "Students from non-EU/EEA countries where visas are not required stayed an average of 18.5 weeks, whereas students from non-EU/EEA countries where visas are required stayed an average of 15.9 weeks."

Italy and Spain were the big EU senders in 2022, contributing a combined 146,241 weeks (more than half of all weeks spent in Ireland by EU students that year). Other important EU sending markets include France (22,713 weeks in 2022), Austria (6,797 weeks), Germany (13,117 weeks), and Switzerland (5,265 weeks).

Brazil, meanwhile, is the clear leader (by a considerable margin) among non-EU sending markets whose students do not require a visa for Ireland. With 254,277 weeks in total, Brazilian students accounted for nearly half of all non-EU bookings all by themselves.

In general, no-visa-required Latin American markets played an important role in the sector's performance in 2022. Mexico (53,995 weeks), Chile (33,609), Argentina (19,987), and Bolivia (14,416) round out the top five senders.

Non-EU markets whose students require a visa for Ireland accounted for a relatively small proportion of total weeks (130,254 weeks, representing 16% of the 2022 total). Within that sub-group, Turkey (60,130 weeks) and Mongolia (29,948) were the leaders last year and together accounted for seven out of ten non-EU students (visa required) for Irish ELT centres.

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • Canada: Mid-year data indicates that international student commencements could drop by nearly 50% for 2024 Read More
  • Why private VET providers are hardest hit by student caps in Australia Read More
  • Is employability still the holy grail for the new generation of international students? 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

Canada: Mid-year data indicates that international student commencements could drop by nearly 50% for 2024 On 2 January 2024, when Canadian Immigration Minister Mark Miller announced a two-year cap on new study permits,...
Read more
Why private VET providers are hardest hit by student caps in Australia The following is a guest post from Claire Field, which was originally published on her blog. Claire is...
Read more
Australia: Private VET providers receive “devastating” enrolment cap allocations for 2025  In August, the Australian government announced that, pending approval of proposed legislative amendments, a cap on new international...
Read more
Market Snapshot: International student recruitment in Colombia FAST FACTS Capital: Bogotá Population: 53 million (2024) Youth population: 17% of the population is aged 15–24 Median...
Read more
Report reveals continued recovery for ELT sector in 2023, but also policy headwinds in 2024 The Global ELT Annual Report for 2024 was released this week by industry research specialist firm BONARD. It...
Read more
How diverse is the international student population in leading study abroad destinations? The last time we looked in on the distribution of nationalities in four top study destinations, we reported...
Read more
Snapshot survey says international applications to US colleges still growing, but at a slower pace The Spring 2024 Snapshot Survey from the Institute for International Education (IIE) suggests that international applications to US...
Read more
Australia announces cap on student commencements for 2025  Despite vigorous opposition by Australia’s international education stakeholders to the prospect of a cap on foreign student numbers,...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links