Brexit sparks surge in foreign applicants for Irish universities

Irish universities have recorded a surge in applications from international students which academics say is linked to uncertainty over Brexit and the election of US president Donald Trump.

The spike in numbers is highest at University College Cork, where applications from non-EU students are up by 40 per cent. They are up by some 26 per cent at University College Dublin, while Trinity College Dublin also has also recorded significant increases.

The upward trend, along with our rising young population, raises the prospect of universities capping the number of places available to Irish students.

Earlier this summer, UCD president Andrew Deeks said such a move would have to be seriously considered unless there was movement by the Government on funding the expansion of higher education.

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The Irish Universities Association has also warned that the third-level system would not be able to expand much further unless additional resources were made available.

Ned Costelloe, the association's chief executive, said: "Addressing the capacity issue is becoming increasingly urgent. It will affect national and international recruitment [to college], unless we do something soon."

The spike in applications among non-EU student numbers is mostly from India, China, the US and Canada. These applications are mostly at post-graduate level. International students are highly lucrative for colleges given that they pay significantly higher tuition fees.

Under pressure

UCC president Patrick O’Shea said that while the sector was under pressure, Irish students should not lose out as a result.

“[At UCC] we’re not going to admit international students at the expense of Irish students, nor will we admit them simply for money. This is an opportunity to focus on quality and build the capacity of the system,” Mr O’Shea said.

Trinity College Dublin provost Patrick Prendergast said it appeared Brexit was playing a key role in more international students considering Ireland as a place to study.

UK universities have recorded a reduction in the number of international students applying to study there, while many US universities have recorded similar decreases.

“Where students might have thought of the UK only, they are now hedging their bets and applying not just to the UK, but to other English-speaking colleges,” Mr Prendergast said.

Government moves over recent months to make it more attractive for foreign students to study here after they graduate may also be factors behind the increases. Students from India, for example, may now remain in Ireland for two years.

Pressure on capacity at third level is also likely to be increased with greater numbers of students in Ireland choosing to remain at home rather than studying in the UK. Latest figures bear these trends out, with a drop of 18 per cent in the volume of Irish students applying to the UK’s Ucas system.