Over recent years, international education has seen a significant surge in popularity among Indian students. While traditional study-abroad destinations like the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand continue to be favored, there is a growing interest in Ireland as well.
Ireland, often referred to as the Emerald Isle, boasts one of the world's top education systems. According to data from the Higher Education Authority, over 10,000 of the 72,000 students who graduated in Ireland in 2021 were international students. Additionally, figures from the Ministry of External Affairs indicate that about 5,000 Indian students were enrolled in Irish institutions in 2022, with expectations that this number will increase tenfold over the next decade.
Ireland is renowned for being a safe, friendly, and welcoming nation. It holds the 3rd spot on the Global Peace Index and is ranked 13th on the World Happiness Index. According to the OECD 2019 Education Report, young people in Ireland enjoy the fourth highest standard of education globally
In the Bloomberg Innovation Index 2021, Ireland was ranked as the 17th most innovative country worldwide. Additionally, Ireland hosts five of Forbes' top 10 companies: Apple, Google, Alphabet, Amazon, and Samsung.
Some of the other reasons students look at Ireland is
1. It is the only country in the European Union where English is the official language- It's hugely comforting to know that Ireland is one of the very few English-speaking countries in Europe, so settling in and making the most of your stay with us is super easy. Whether it's dealing with lecturers or simply asking for directions, there’s no danger of anything getting lost in translation.
2. Proximity to the rest of Europe and the US- Cities like London (England), Glasgow (Scotland) and Cardiff (Wales) are all within a one-hour flight away while Paris (France), Prague (Czech Republic), Lisbon (Portugal) and Barcelona (Spain) are all within three hours travel time. New York to Dublin is about 6 hrs by flight
3. It is an affordable option- As most postgraduate program are only 1 year in duration, students look at Ireland as an affordable option. This enables them to graduate faster and look out for a job much quicker
4. Duration of the course and Intake- Universities in the US, Australia, UK have multiple intakes in a year whereas most universities in Ireland have only a single intake, which is September. The course duration of postgradute programs are 1 year. So students graduate quicker
5. Post-Study Work Visa Opportunities- A significant attraction for studying in Ireland is the availability of post-study work visas. The Irish government provides one-year stay-back visas for bachelor’s graduates and up to two-year stay-back visas for master’s graduates, allowing students to both study and work in Ireland.This opportunity enables international students to apply for permanent residency. Many choose to remain and work in Ireland due to these appealing post-study work visa options.