Ϲ Monitor Articles about Ireland /category/regions/europe/ireland/ Ϲ Monitor is a business development and market intelligence resource providing international education industry news and research. Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:17:59 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-LOGO_2022_FLAVICON-2-32x32.png Ϲ Monitor Articles about Ireland /category/regions/europe/ireland/ 32 32 Italy announces its “biggest language training and international mobility programme ever” /2026/07/italy-announces-its-biggest-language-training-and-international-mobility-programme-ever/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:35:00 +0000 /?p=48451 The Italian government is about to operationalise the largest language learning and mobility scholarship programme in the country’s history. Announced earlier this month, the scholarship programme will fund 150,000 Italian high-school students (at the upper-secondary level) and 15,000 accompanying teachers to study and live abroad in another European country. The programme will draw €420 million…

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The Italian government is about to operationalise the largest language learning and mobility scholarship programme in the country’s history. Announced earlier this month, the scholarship programme will fund 150,000 Italian high-school students (at the upper-secondary level) and 15,000 accompanying teachers to study and live abroad in another European country.

The programme will draw €420 million from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), which support cohesion and equality across member states, and it will be administered by the Ministry of Education. Students will see their travel, living costs, food, and accommodation covered under the terms of the scholarship.

Minister for Education and Merit Giuseppe Valditara and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the initiative together at a conference called “.” Details about timing will be released in the coming months.

Most scholarship students will go for two-week periods for language studies or immersion in a foreign high school environment, but in some cases, longer durations will be possible. While away, students may participate in a range of academic and social activities, including visits to companies and other workplaces.

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Meloni urged the audience to consider the new initiative as more than an opportunity to learn another language:

“Living and studying in another country, even if only for a few weeks or months, means learning to deal with new situations, becoming more independent, and engaging with people who have different customs, ideas and cultures from your own. It therefore means expanding your minds and your ability to understand others. It means building self-confidence, learning to cope and broadening your horizons. Furthermore, for us it means enriching our community, because when the young people participating in this project come back, they will bring back much more than just better knowledge of and fluency in a foreign language. They will bring back new ideas, new friendships, greater self-confidence and a broader view of the world, all of which certainly represents an asset for them, but it will also be valuable for their friends, their families, their classmates and the whole of Italy.”

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni aspeaking at the “Italian students in Europe” conference, July 2026.

The scholarships will be awarded based on merit but also using the ISEE (equivalent economic situation indicator) to ensure that students from all backgrounds can participate regardless of income. Prime Minister Meloni spoke to the importance of language learning for removing barriers across class:

“Today, we live in an increasingly interconnected world. Universities, employers, research institutions, and companies are looking more and more for people who are able to navigate international contexts, and speaking another language, particularly having a good knowledge of English, is very important. However, it is even more important to be able to use that language in real life, and you can’t do that by simply learning a language from textbooks; you can only do that by managing to experience that language, immersed in the context in which it is spoken.

This is why we decided to invest in this initiative, above all because we believe our talented young people deserve the same opportunities as all their peers in Europe, for example. We believe that, in this day and age, young people’s talent cannot and must not be limited by a language barrier.”

The significance of this new mobility programme arises in part from the fact that Italy is already a major EU sending market for language studies, and it is, for example, a top market for English-language training providers in the UK, Ireland, and Malta.

To be more specific: Italy was the second-largest sending market for Irish ELT schools in 2025, accounting for 14% of student weeks delivered that year. It was the leading source market for UK ELT in 2025 as well, where Italian students booked just over 14% of all English-language learning weeks. And in Malta, Italy was again the second-largest sending market for 2025 with 12% of student weeks for the year.

For its part, English UK was quick to recognise the importance of the new €420-million scholarship programme and signalled to its members that it is already “working with the Department for Business & Trade and the British Embassy Rome to present a unified UK offer.”

For additional background, please see:

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Ireland’s ELT sector reports modest growth in student numbers but weeks are down amid “real and consequential” challenges /2026/06/irelands-elt-sector-reports-modest-growth-in-student-numbers-but-weeks-are-down-amid-real-and-consequential-challenges/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:01:15 +0000 /?p=47988 The English Language Training (ELT) sector in Ireland delivered 609,734 weeks of English instruction to 124,789 students in 2025. This amounts to a +2% increase in student numbers, but – owing to a significant decrease in the average length of study – an -18% decline in total student weeks. These are the topline findings from…

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The English Language Training (ELT) sector in Ireland delivered 609,734 weeks of English instruction to 124,789 students in 2025. This amounts to a +2% increase in student numbers, but – owing to a significant decrease in the average length of study – an -18% decline in total student weeks.

These are the topline findings from the , released this week by peak body English Education Ireland.

That +2% growth, says English Education Ireland CEO Lorcan O’Connor Lloyd, is “a meaningful achievement in a challenging environment, and a testament to Ireland’s enduring reputation for quality, safety, and a genuinely welcoming student experience.”

“Yet the challenges we faced were real and consequential. Stricter visa and immigration policies, rising costs of living, and broader pressures on global student mobility combined to reduce average programme duration significantly, from 6.4 weeks in 2024 to 4.9 weeks in 2025. Total student weeks fell by 18%, and the financial impact was felt acutely by schools whose revenue is tied to length of stay. The sector’s direct economic contribution rose to €817.6 million, but that figure masks the pressure many of our members experienced at the operational level.”

Shifting market segments

Junior programmes accounted for 57% of enrolments in 2025, but only 20% of student weeks. The more detailed breakdown in the table below makes it clear that there are important shifts within those two broad categories, with shorter mini-stay programmes gaining in popularity in contrast with significant declines in student weeks for the high-school and adult segments.

ELT students and student weeks in Ireland in 2025 by market segment. Source: English Education Ireland

“One of the most significant structural shifts visible in this year’s data is the continued movement away from adult learners toward younger students,” says Mr O’Connor Lloyd. “Adult students, while still generating 80% of student weeks, have been in gradual decline for several years, as rising English proficiency in key source markets, greater price sensitivity, and evolving immigration conditions have made longer adult stays more difficult to sustain. This is not a trend unique to Ireland, and our data places us alongside comparable European destinations such as the UK and Malta in navigating this shift.”

Where do students come from?

As we see in the additional table below, the top ten sending countries for Irish ELT accounted for 80% of the market in 2025.

The top ten sending markets for Ireland’s ELT sector in 2025. Source: English Education Ireland

Looking just at student weeks, eight out of those top ten markets were either flat or declining last year. Mr O’Connor Lloyd adds:

“Alongside these pressures, the data points to areas of real strength and emerging opportunity. Italy consolidated its position as our largest source market, sending 47,693 students, a 5% increase. Japan delivered one of the standout performances of the year, with adult enrolments rising 47% and junior enrolments up 59%. Argentina, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Hong Kong all improved their positions, pointing to a broadening of Ireland’s international appeal and offering a clear direction for future market diversification.”

For additional background, please see:

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Irish higher education reports a fourth straight year of foreign enrolment growth /2026/03/irish-higher-education-reports-a-fourth-straight-year-of-foreign-enrolment-growth/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:08:30 +0000 /?p=47178 The number of international students enrolled in Irish universities has been growing steadily from a COVID-era dip in 2020/21. The latest data from Ireland’s Higher Education Authority (HEA) confirms that 2024/25 marked a fourth straight year of growth for the country’s foreign enrolment base. Student numbers grew by just over 10% year-over-year, setting a new…

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The number of international students enrolled in Irish universities has been growing steadily from a COVID-era dip in 2020/21. The latest data from Ireland’s (HEA) confirms that 2024/25 marked a fourth straight year of growth for the country’s foreign enrolment base. Student numbers grew by just over 10% year-over-year, setting a new historical high point and approaching the 45,000-student threshold for the first time.

Foreign enrolment in Irish higher education, 2007/08-2024/25. Source: HEA

Nearly three in four international students in Irish universities (74%) come from outside of the European Union. The three leading sending markets – India (20.6%), the United States (13.8%), and China (9.9%) – account for nearly half (44%) of all foreign enrolment in the sector. India and the US are driving the overall growth trend in Ireland, with Indian numbers jumping up 30% year-over-year in 2024/25, and US enrolments moving up 8% over the same period.

Reflecting the pattern we have observed in other major study destinations, Chinese enrolments in Ireland softened last year, easing -.3% from the year before.

The distribution of Irish higher education’s foreign enrolment by country of origin, 2024/25. Source: HEA

The overall growth for 2024/25 was evenly split between undergraduate and post-graduate enrolments, which grew by 9% and 11% respectively. International enrolments in Ireland have historically been more weighted to undergraduate studies. In the years since the pandemic, however, that gap has narrowed and, as of last year, the foreign enrolment base in Ireland is almost perfectly balanced between undergraduates (22,825) and post-graduates (21,710).

Why do students choose Ireland?

A series of interviews conducted by in August 2025 provides a window into why international students choose to study in Ireland.

Some choose Ireland as an English-speaking alternative to the UK, post-Brexit. Others are drawn by the affordability of higher education in Ireland, and some for what they see as a more supportive and safe environment.

Speaking to The Times, Adetunji Adeleke, a doctoral student from Nigeria, said, “At the time, I was deciding between a PhD in the US or Ireland. A conversation with my prospective supervisor changed everything for me. I felt that my supervisor had the necessary skills to supervise my PhD and that she was very interested in my research proposal. I have read about many people dropping out a PhD because they had a bad supervisor, so her enthusiasm and skills swayed my decision.”

Kiran Singh, a master’s student from America, added that she chose to study in Ireland because it was “significantly more affordable compared to similar options in the United States”.

However, the students also shared important cautions regarding the linked issues of costs of living and availability of housing in Ireland, with one American student explaining that rents in Dublin were comparable to those in major American cities, such as Boston or New York.

For additional background, please see:

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Global ELT volumes dipped in 2024 /2025/09/global-elt-volumes-dipped-in-2024/ Sat, 06 Sep 2025 21:16:52 +0000 /?p=46074 Globally, the ELT sector gave back some hard-won, post-pandemic gains in 2024. An annual study of eight top English language learning destinations – Australia, Canada, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa the UK, and the USA – finds that they collectively hosted one million language learners in 2024 for a total of 7.6 million weeks.…

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Globally, the ELT sector gave back some hard-won, post-pandemic gains in 2024. An annual study of eight top English language learning destinations – Australia, Canada, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa the UK, and the USA – finds that they collectively hosted one million language learners in 2024 for a total of 7.6 million weeks. This represents, however, a -10% decline in student weeks from 2023 levels, and a 6% drop in enrolments, across those eight destinations.

And it means, says BONARD’s , that the ELT sector was sitting at 73% of its pre-pandemic enrolment, and 75% of 2019’s student weeks, for 2024.

Total number of English language students and student weeks in the eight major ELT destinations, 2015–2024. Source: BONARD

As to why, the report points to the same headwinds that are buffeting student flows to major study destinations in 2024 and 2025, but also that students are finding alternative options for language study.

“The data shows two dominant forces reshaping student mobility: visa barriers and affordability,” said Sarah Verkinova, Head of International Education at BONARD Education. “This has pushed many students to explore alternative destinations such as Dubai and the Philippines, which together attracted more than 100,000 ELT learners in 2024.” Among the top eight destinations represented in the report, only Ireland and Malta are trending above their respective pre-COVID benchmarks. BONARD attributes that progress to Ireland and Malta’s visa-friendly policies and work rights for language learners that helped, “attract students discouraged by stricter regulations, high course fees, and other expenses in other destinations.”

ELT student weeks by destination, 2019–2024. Source: BONARD

The report adds that, while ELT volumes in the UK declined in 2024, the United Kingdom remains the most popular destination for English language study, with an estimated 38% market share. Part of that strength arises from the UK’s dominant position in the junior market. Junior students accounted for 62% of total ELT enrolments in the UK in 2024, the most of any of the top eight destinations. Ireland and Malta – again, the only two destinations to reach above pre-pandemic levels in 2024 – also hosted significant numbers of junior students last year (55% and 50% of ELT enrolments respectively).

Softening source markets

The top ten sending markets for ELT accounted for nearly two-thirds (63%) of all student weeks in 2024. Brazil moved past Colombia to become the largest ELT market during the year. With the exception of Colombia, all of the top five senders have declined from pre-pandemic levels.

Top 20 EST source markets (in student weeks), 2019, 2023, and 2024. Source: BONARD

The outlook for this year

“In 2025, government interventions and economic conditions will continue to shape global ELT trends,” says the report. “Policy shifts, visa regulations, and financial pressures are expected to influence both student decision-making and destination performance.

“Junior student mobility to the traditional ‘Big Four’ countries is projected to decline further. Concerns around safety and perceptions of a less welcoming environment are discouraging parents and students from choosing these study destinations…In summary, 2025 is likely to bring another year of decline for the eight major ELT study destinations. The same combination of factors will continue to weigh on the sector: immigration and visa policies in several countries, persistent visa and affordability barriers, and significant share of international students, particularly from China, choosing not to travel.”

For additional background, please see:

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Irish ELT sector sounds note of “cautious stability” for 2024 /2025/06/irish-elt-sector-sounds-note-of-cautious-stability-for-2024/ Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:56:45 +0000 /?p=45669 After a year of very strong growth in 2023, Ireland’s English Language Teaching (ELT) sector is reporting remarkably stable numbers for 2024, with overall enrolments for the year virtually identical to those from the year before. The full-year data comes from peak body English Education Ireland and was produced by sector research specialists BONARD. As…

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After a year of very strong growth in 2023, Ireland’s English Language Teaching (ELT) sector is reporting remarkably stable numbers for 2024, with overall enrolments for the year virtually identical to those from the year before.

The full-year data comes from peak body and was produced by sector research specialists BONARD.

Overall number of English language students (shown in blue) and student-weeks (in gold) taught by English Education Ireland members, 2019–2024. Source: EEI

As the chart reflects, however, student-weeks declined by -8% year-over-year owing to a continuing decline in average course duration. From a pre-pandemic average of nearly 12 weeks, the average time on course for an ELT learner in Ireland has been trending downwards since 2020 to reach a historical low of 6.4 weeks in 2024.

That trend reflects in turn an underlying dynamic where the composition of enrolment in Irish ELT is shifting toward a greater share of junior students, and those students are coming for shorter programmes. The report notes that, “In a global context, Ireland presents a relatively balanced ELT market in terms of the share of adult and junior students, similar to other European destinations such as the UK and Malta. In contrast, ELT sectors in countries like Australia, the USA, and Canada have traditionally catered predominantly to adult learners.

Given that rising levels of English language proficiency have increased local provision and that price sensitivity is growing, the adult segment is expected to continue contracting. Future growth in the ELT sector is likely to be driven by the junior segment.”

In 2024, junior students accounted for more than half (55%) of all ELT enrolments in Ireland, but that programming for younger students added up to only 16% of all student-weeks for the year. Put another way, the 45% of adult learners enrolled last year accounted for roughly 84% of total student-weeks. We see the year-over-year impacts of those trends in the more detailed breakdown by learner and programme type in the table below.

ELT students and student-weeks by programme in EEI member schools, 2024 compared to 2023. Source: EEI

Writing in the foreword to the 2024 report, English Education Ireland CEO Lorcan O’Connor Lloyd says, “The global landscape of English Language Education continues to shift, shaped by economic headwinds, evolving student expectations, and a more competitive international marketplace.”

“This year’s data tells a story of cautious stability. While overall student numbers remained steady and above pre-pandemic levels, a decline in student weeks reflects a growing trend toward shorter stays. The increase in Mini-stays signals strong demand for group-based, immersive experiences, while adult learners continue to choose Ireland for longer-term study, driven by quality education, cultural appeal, and the warmth of our welcome.”

Where are students coming from?

Perhaps not surprisingly, the mix of sending markets varies quite a bit between the junior and adult segments. In broad terms: most junior students come from elsewhere in Europe – and especially from Italy and Spain – whereas adult students come from further afield, and from Latin America (e.g., Brazil, Mexico, Chile) and Asia in particular.

The top ten source markets overall are shown in the graphic below, with year-over-year changes in student numbers and student-weeks reflected for each. These ten student markets accounted for 80% of ELT programming in Ireland in 2024.

Top ten sending markets for Irish ELT in 2024, with year-over-year changes indicated for both student numbers and student-weeks. Source: EEI

Nearly seven in ten (69%) ELT students booked their programme in Ireland through an education agent. The sector’s direct economic impact for the year is estimated at €792 million.

For additional detail, please consult .

For additional background, please see:

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Ireland: Non-EU international students will be most affected by a new, increased threshold for available funds /2025/04/ireland-non-eu-international-students-will-be-most-affected-by-a-new-increased-threshold-for-available-funds/ Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:15:08 +0000 /?p=45419 The Irish government has announced increases in the minimum funds requirements for foreign students. The changes will come into effect on 30 June 2025. International students who are not required to have a visa (mostly students from the EU) will need to prove the same level of financial savings as those who require a visa…

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The Irish government has announced increases in the minimum funds requirements for foreign students. . International students who are not required to have a visa (mostly students from the EU) will need to prove the same level of financial savings as those who require a visa (mostly students from non-EU countries).

The announcement was sudden. The government provided just over 90 days’ notice, which means that students with visa-free-status who are close to beginning studies in Ireland – e.g., they have paid required tuition fees, booked flights, etc. – will now need to access €2,000–3,000 more than what they were told to have when they applied for their course.

For all international students applying to courses of more than eight months, the minimum level of financial support will be €10,000 for the first year, and proof of that amount plus course fees for every subsequent year.

For courses of less than eight months, the requirement is €833 per month or €6,665 (in total), which represents a 120% increase over the 2023 threshold, and which is up from the €4,680 required currently. Those shorter courses are often delivered by the English-language sector, which has signalled its alarm over the financial requirement increase.

Call for a review

English Education Ireland, the national body representing over 60 accredited English-language schools, is calling for . Lorcan O’Connor Lloyd, the association’s CEO, says:

“This change has come without consultation, justification, or notice. It is difficult to see how a 120% increase in two years [for courses of less than eight months] can be considered proportionate when the cost of living has risen just 2% annually. The affected students are legally permitted to work part-time while in Ireland, yet are now being required to show financial backing as if they were not. This policy undermines the very structure of Ireland’s work-study visa system.”

On behalf of its members, English Education Ireland is calling for:

  • An immediate pause and review of the policy
  • A transition period to protect students already booked
  • Full consultation with the education sector moving forward

The association states: “If unchallenged, the policy will lead to mass cancellations, reputational damage to Ireland, and loss of key emerging markets that have helped rebuild the sector post-pandemic.”

The growing popularity of Ireland

In the past five years, international students have become increasingly drawn to Ireland for reasons including Brexit (which, among other things, ushered in full international fees for EU students in the UK), stiffer immigration regimes in Australia and Canada, and a volatile political climate in the most expensive destination, the US.
 
In 2023/24, the number of international students in Irish higher education exceeded 40,000 for the first time and was 15% higher than in 2022/23. Supercharged growth has come from Mexico (61%) in particular, a country whose students have visa-free status in Ireland. Mexico is a price-sensitive market, so the more significant financial requirement for visa-free students beginning on 30 June may influence demand.

In addition, Latin American countries are some of the most important growth markets for Ireland’s English-language learning sector. In 2023, the top markets in the non-EU/EEA segment where visa is not required were:

  • Brazil (53% of all students in this segment)
  • Mexico
  • Japan
  • Chile
  • Argentina

For additional background, please see:

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European destinations attracting more international students amid continuing housing challenges /2025/01/european-destinations-attracting-more-international-students-amid-continuing-housing-challenges/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:33:29 +0000 /?p=44916 Many European countries have welcomed more students than ever over the past few years (e.g., Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, and Ireland). International students are drawn to quality education and to lower tuition relative to the leading destinations of Australia, Canada, UK, and US (aka the “Big Four”). But in Europe, students often face the same…

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Many European countries have welcomed more students than ever over the past few years (e.g., Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, and Ireland). International students are drawn to quality education and to lower tuition relative to the leading destinations of Australia, Canada, UK, and US (aka the “Big Four”). But in Europe, students often face the same kind of issue as do students in the Big Four: insufficient purpose-built student housing (PBSA) and expensive rental fees.

Last year, there was a shortage of 3 million beds for students across Europe and the situation is expected to worsen in the next five years, when there will be a need for an additional 200,000 more beds, according to . This is in part because Europe’s student population is expected to grow by 10% by 2030/31, reaching 23.5 million, with half being international students.

Top student cities in Europe are the worst off in terms of supply, with 40 cities accounting for 40% of the 3-million bed shortage.

Only 40% of PBSA beds across Europe are privately funded. The rest are publicly owned or subsidised and not always accommodating of all types of students/budgets. The situation, says JLL, equates to a “€450bn investment opportunity.”

As it stands, most PBSA investment in Europe is in the UK, and JJL observes that “key markets in continental Europe would need to grow, on average, 13 times to match the UK 2018-2022 [investment] average.” For example:

“The largest student markets like Germany and France could see their investment grow from an average of €0.5bn to €7bn necessary to meet unmet demand. In more nascent markets like Italy, at the current pace of investment it would take over 100 years to deploy the necessary investment.”

To narrow the gap between supply and demand, Dominika Mocova, a senior analyst at JLL EMEA Living and Research Strategy, says: “Greater market transparency and understanding from planning authorities is necessary to unlock the full potential.”

Her colleague Julia Martin, JLL’s head of EMEA Student Housing, points out that PBSA is part of ensuring a good student experience: “The affordability and provision of a well-rounded student experience continues to set PBSA apart from traditional rental accommodation.”

Ms Martin continues:

“With developers now having a better grasp of the cultural nuances and design requirements through the different European countries, they are set to introduce the next generation of fit-for-purpose schemes, aimed at addressing the growing demographic student population as well as rising international student demand for quality accommodation across Europe. The continent is now home to the highest number of globally ranked universities, with 203 universities in the top 500 according to the 2024 QS World University Ranking. Given the current shortage of student accommodation in key cities and the vast untapped potential in countries such as Italy and Germany, addressing the standing imbalance between supply and demand will unlock a huge €450 billion growth opportunity in the market, with PBSA playing a crucial role.”

Ireland: Construction causing delays

In 2024, Ireland’s education department examined the student housing situation in a paper called Funding the Future: An Annual Options Paper on the Cost of Higher Education 2024. It found that:
 
“On average there are three applications for every one student bed on campus. This does not take into account the Technological University sector. Those students who are unsuccessful in obtaining a place are forced into the private market.”
 
As reported in :

“Construction cost increases, fuelled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Brexit and Covid, are having a significant impact on the supply and affordability of new rental accommodation for higher-level students … The impact on supply has been significant, with more than 10,900 units with planning permission within the university public and private student accommodation sector not having been activated.”

France: Danger of dropouts and student hardships

In Paris, a January 2024 study by SeLoger.com found that the number of available rentals for students in Paris dropped by 50% compared with 2023 and 73% over three years. Jacques Baudrier, deputy mayor for housing, told : “The private sector has nothing left to rent, agencies are closing, and the crisis is exponential.”

Barbara Gomes, delegate for Tenant Protection in Paris, explained:

“If you can’t find housing, you give up your studies or move farther away, and the longer commutes add to fatigue. More than half of the students work part-time, and the risk of academic failure increases with such challenges.”

Spain: Tourism overload

In Spain, where soaring tourist numbers are squeezing residents out of the housing market, the government is taking action to provide more student accommodation for students enrolling in certain types of tertiary institution. A protocol was signed at the end of 2024 by the ministries of housing, economy, and universities that mandates that new private universities offer housing for their students.

In addition, reports The Guardian, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government has instituted a tax of up to 100% on properties bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK. President Sánchez defended the new policy by noting:

“In 2023 alone non-EU residents bought about 27,000 houses and flats in Spain. And they didn’t do it to live in them, they didn’t do it for their families to have a place to live. They did it to speculate.”

A persistent and challenging issue in higher education

International students have enough to think about without worrying about whether they will find affordable housing on or at least near to campus. Housing stress is closely associated with poor mental health, and it means that affected students’ attention is often – and of necessity – elsewhere than in their studies. In extreme cases, housing issues can cause students to drop out.

Stephen Madsen, writing for , a US-based economics and policy thinktank, notes: “As the market continues to struggle with meeting the demand for affordable housing options, increasing on- or near-campus student housing can be an attractive amenity and marketable edge for universities looking to maintain or increase enrollment.”

But he also points out the sometimes-impossible solutions higher education institutions are up against:

“Ultimately, financing and development costs remain the largest hurdle in addressing this issue for many institutions. Public funding for universities has fallen in many states over the past several decades—limiting many institutions’ ability to take on additional debt for capital improvements. During the same period, the cost of residential construction has risen significantly. The combined effect leads to a challenging development environment for higher education institutions, absent outside equity or public subsidy.”

Mr Madsen provides several examples of US colleges working hard and thinking creatively to try to come up with solutions:

  • “Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT is providing a stipend, or financial incentive of $10,000, to take a half-year leave of absence to upper classmen to accommodate housing for incoming students. 
  • In Knoxville, TN, the University of Tennessee has rented out local Knoxville hotels to accommodate incoming students. 
  • Virginia State University, in Petersburg, VA built on-campus modular developments to house incoming students.”

Mr Madsen concludes: “For [institutions] looking to ensure an affordable and inclusive education, the housing issue must continue to be addressed.”
 
For additional background, please see:

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Tracking the internationalisation goals for 10 leading destinations /2025/01/tracking-the-internationalisation-goals-for-10-leading-destinations/ Wed, 22 Jan 2025 22:15:24 +0000 /?p=44898 The following article is adapted from the 2025 edition of Ϲ Insights magazine, which is freely available to download now. Ask 10 people working in our industry what “internationalisation” means, and you’ll get 10 answers. For some, it simply means attracting a certain volume of foreign students to a campus. For others, the goal is…

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The following article is adapted from the 2025 edition of Ϲ Insights magazine, which is .

Ask 10 people working in our industry what “internationalisation” means, and you’ll get 10 answers. For some, it simply means attracting a certain volume of foreign students to a campus. For others, the goal is broader: programmes, campus, and partnerships are designed to have a global flavour.

At the government level, the concept of internationalisation changes over time and according to considerations that include foreign enrolment growth rates, labour market gaps, demographics, geo-politics, domestic politics, and the need to participate in global science or research projects.

The official international education strategies highlighted below emphasise the great extent to which foreign students figure into larger narratives around globalisation, security, and soft power. As those narratives evolve, so too do the strategies.

Australia

Strategy for International Education 2021–2030

Priorities

  • Pursue sustainable growth1
  • Diversify student nationalities
  • Meet national skills needs
  • Enhance student experience
  • Improve global competitiveness

International enrolment goal

Australia is implementing an effective cap on the number of new students beginning in 2025.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

786,900 (+27% y-o-y)

Canada

International Education Strategy 2019–2024 (now expired; an updated strategy is pending)

Priorities

  • Encourage Canadian students to go abroad, especially to Asia
  • Diversify (source countries and students’ fields, levels of study, and locations of study within Canada)
  • Increase support for Canadian educators
  • Increase scrutiny and regulation of agents
  • Invest more in digital marketing

International enrolment goal

No stated goal currently. Rather, the national government introduced a cap on new study permits for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Target markets

Brazil, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam.

International student population (2023)

1,041,000 (+29% y-o-y)

France

Bienvenue en France

Priorities

  • Diversify beyond Africa
  • Triple scholarships
  • Simplify visa processes
  • Make it easier for students to find housing
  • Increase French campuses/partnerships abroad

International enrolment goal

500,000 international students by 2027.

Target markets

Expand recruiting outside Africa.

International student population (2023)

430,500 (+5% y-o-y)

Germany

Strategy 2025

Priorities

  • Make Germany a top five study abroad destination
  • Increase academic success of international students
  • Increase share of international academics at German universities to 15%
  • Encourage German students to study abroad
  • Invest in more collaboration with foreign institutions

International enrolment goal

350,000 international students by 2020 – met in 2021.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

367,600 (+5% y-o-y)

Ireland

Global Citizens 2030

Priorities

  • Attract the highest quality students and researchers
  • Adopt a “moderate” growth strategy of about 10%
  • Position Ireland as a thought leader in talent, innovation, and science policy in “small advanced economies”
  • Enhance student experience
  • Measure impact of international students beyond enrolments and economic value

International enrolment goal

15% of overall student population by 2025 – nearly met (international students now compose 14% of overall student population).

Target markets

Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Africa, South America

International student population (2023)

35,100 (+11% y-o-y)

Japan

Council for the Creation of Future Education Goals

Priorities

  • Improve learning environments to attract promising foreign students
  • Send 500,000 Japanese students abroad by 2033
  • Develop a multinational labour market
  • Make it easier for foreign graduates of top 100 universities to immigrate
  • Streamline visa processes

International enrolment goal

400,000 by 2033.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

279,300 (+21% y-o-y)

Malaysia

Education Blueprint 2015–2025

Priorities

  • Claim position as an international education hub with a difference: values-driven and globally relevant education
  • Provide rich cultural experiences, balance of quality and affordability, and good quality of life
  • Reach new markets through innovative programmes and partnerships
  • Improve and streamline visa and immigration processes
  • Communicate niche strengths in academic and research expertise (e.g., Islamic banking and finance, and tropical-related science and technology)

International enrolment goal

250,000 by 2025.

Target markets

Iran, East Africa, China, India, Indonesia.

International student population (2023)

Over 170,000 (+30% over 2021)

South Korea

Study Korea 300K Project

Priorities

  • Expand scholarships for STEM students
  • Stimulate economy through foreign talent
  • Enhance global competitiveness of domestic universities and high-tech companies
  • Become a top 10 “study abroad powerhouse”
  • Increase Korea’s share of the global study abroad market from 2% to 3%

International enrolment goal

300,000 by 2027.

Target markets

China, Vietnam, Poland, UAE, India, Pakistan.

International student population (2023)

207,100 (+24% y-o-y)

New Zealand

International Education Strategy 2022–2030

Priorities

  • Diversify sending markets and products, services, and modes of delivery
  • Spread out international enrolments across regions
  • Prioritise student well-being and excellence of education
  • Commit to a sustainable sector that brings economic, social, and cultural benefits to the whole country
  • Retain talented international graduates

International enrolment goal

None specified.

Target markets

China, India, and intent to diversify further.

International student population (2023)

69,100 (+67% y-o-y)

United Kingdom

International Education Strategy to 2030 (2023 Progress Update)

Priorities

  • Increase education exports to £35 billion per year by 2030
  • Host 600,000 international students per year
  • Expand transnational education
  • Collect accurate and coherent data for the sector
  • Improve visa processes for students, including increased personalisation

International enrolment goal

600,000 by 2030 – met in 2020.

Target markets

China, Hong Kong, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

International student population (2023)

758,855 (+12% y-o-y)

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