China becomes third-largest source country for foreign students in Ireland

Chinese mainland students account for 10.9 percent of the international student body in Irish higher education, positioning China as the third-largest source country for international students in Ireland, according to the 2025 Report on Studying in Ireland.

The report, jointly released by EIC Education, Education in Ireland, and University College Dublin at the Irish embassy in China on Wednesday, affords valuable insights into the trends in applications for studying in Ireland, as well as popular programs, scholarships, and employment opportunities.

"Its aim is to offer comprehensive guidance and support for Chinese students planning to study in Ireland," said Sunny Sun, assistant general manager at EIC Consultancy and director of UK & Ireland Program Management at EIC.

According to data from the Irish Visa Office, the number of visas issued to Chinese students for studying in Ireland reached 3,560 in 2024, the highest in a decade and marking a 10.52 percent increase compared to 2023.

Among these students, the ratio of undergraduates to postgraduates is about 1:1.4.

From 2015 to 2019, the number of Chinese students pursuing higher education in Ireland steadily increased, followed by a decline from 2020 to 2022. While the numbers began to rise again in 2023.

According to the Higher Education Authority of Ireland, in the 2023-2024 academic year, the top five fields of study chosen by students from the Chinese mainland were engineering, manufacturing, and construction; business, administration, and law; information and communication technologies; natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics; and arts and humanities.

Data from EIC Education shows that over the past six years, the most popular major among applicants from Chinese mainland has been "electronic and computer engineering", accounting for 14.35 percent of applications, followed by business-related majors such as finance (8.72 percent), marketing (7.46 percent), management (5.77 percent), and accounting (5.53 percent).

The high demand for the electronic and computer engineering major is due to Ireland's highly developed information industry. Graduates in computer-related fields not only enjoy ample employment opportunities but also have access to cutting-edge technology knowledge and R&D centers established by companies on campuses, said Sun from EIC.

Additionally, the white paper explores the reasons why Chinese students choose Ireland as their study destination. It found that 59.1 percent of respondents came to Ireland for further education because Irish university diplomas are internationally recognized. Meanwhile, 55.7 percent are attracted by favorable work visa policies and local job opportunities, and 42.6 percent find the cost of studying in Ireland relatively low and cost-effective.

"Ireland's rising popularity as a study destination among Chinese students is partly due to the stable and friendly diplomatic relations between China and Ireland, so international students are warmly welcomed, unlike the uncertain visa and study policies seen in some countries," said Peter Yang, senior market advisor of Education in Ireland.