Ireland attracts increasing numbers of postgraduate students

A new report by Enterprise Ireland shows international students are generating almost €430 million for the economy annually - but more must be done to capture a greater share of the market, according to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD.

The report, International Students in Higher Education in Ireland 2009-2010, has found a significant increase in the number of international students taking postgraduate programmes, especially at PhD level.

The survey has found that 23pc of international students in Ireland are studying at post-graduate levels.

Of these, 8pc - or over 2,000 students - are taking PhDs.

Post-graduate students are mainly taking science subjects, although significant numbers are studying humanities, engineering, computer science and medicine courses.

This year, 25,781 international students from 159 countries are studying at higher level in 51 colleges covered by the report.

Over one-third of students come from Europe while 17pc come from the US - making it the most important country of origin for international students in higher education.

After the US, the most important countries of origin are China, France, Britain, Germany, Spain, Malaysia, India and Canada.

Minister O’Keeffe, who as Minister for Education and Science assigned responsibility for marketing and promoting the ‘Education Ireland’ brand overseas to Enterprise Ireland, said the results of the report were ‘encouraging’.

However, he said that with international student numbers expected to rise by 300pc over the next 15 years, ‘Ireland must be better positioned to capture a far greater share of that high-growth global market’.

‘We must work smarter and harder to coordinate our activities so that we can attract more international students to Ireland and reap the immediate economic dividend in terms of spending revenue as well as the their longer-term value to the economy.

‘Today’s foreign students will become tomorrow’s business-leaders and decision-makers and students educated here can be our ambassadors on foreign shores,’ said Minister O’Keeffe.

Orla Battersby, Enterprise Ireland’s Manger of International Education, said: ‘International education is a high-growth sector in Ireland and one that has significant potential for further development.

‘The number of students electing to study in Ireland grows year on year as global demand for quality overseas tertiary education continues.

‘The profile of international students choosing Ireland to study in Ireland, particularly our high proportion of international PhD students, is a strong reflection of the international esteem in which Ireland’s third-level education and research activity is held.’