Spotlight on Studying in Ireland

Ireland has earned a more prominent place among the world's leading study destinations in recent years. Its location in Europe, relatively affordable tuition fees, and streamlined admissions processes provide a partial explanation for the country's growing popularity among students and agents alike. But safety, quality of life, and a generous post-graduate work offer are other important factors for many international students.

It is not surprising then that number of non-EU students in Irish higher education has grown by nearly 50% over the last five years.

The Irish government has moved to ease travel restrictions with the publication of a list of 15 countries – travellers from which will no longer need to undertake a mandatory quarantine on arrival in Ireland. The Green List is subject to regular review every fortnight. The initial Green List countries are: Malta, Finland, Norway, Italy, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Slovakia, Greece, Greenland, Monaco, San Marino, and Gibraltar.

Italy, the leading market for Irish ELT, is on the list but easing travel restrictions for this key sending country at this point in the year will do little to blunt the significant revenue and enrolment shortfalls projected for 2020.

The Irish government has further eased visa conditions for international language students. However, current plans indicate that schools will not re-open for in-person instruction before August while a new recovery plan for the ELT sector proposes additional emergency relief for Irish language schools.

For more information on studying in Ireland, go to the Ireland page on this web site, or contact StudyWesternEurope EU <- click for e-mail

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