Ireland has become the leading source of European Union students to UK higher education institutions, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) says.
It reveals that, despite a sharp decline in EU student numbers overall, Irish enrolments have hit a record high to become the largest contributor from the block in the 2023-24 academic year.
Data indicates that only 75,500 EU students were enrolled in UK universities during 2023-24, a figure that has more than halved compared to previous years.
However, within this reduced pool, 9,690 students come from the Republic of Ireland — accounting for 13% of the total and marking a modest rise from the previous year.
The figure is up 6% since 2019-20.
EU student numbers fall
This growth contrasts sharply with declines from other EU nations, such as France, Italy and Spain, which saw reductions of 16%, 22% and 19% respectively over the same period.
Four years ago, Ireland ranked eighth among EU countries sending students to the UK, but it now holds the top spot.
However, since Brexit, EU student numbers have been steadily falling and now constitute just a small fraction of non-EU international enrolments.
Hesa also highlights that 35% of Irish students in the UK during 2023-24 studied in Northern Ireland.
That's an increase from 23% in 2019-20.
More Irish students enrol
Hesa says: "In 2023/24, more students from Ireland enrolled at UK providers than from any other EU country.
"While enrolments from the top 10 EU countries have declined since 2021/22, the number of students from Ireland followed a different trend and saw an increase in 2023/24.
"The top 10 EU countries for student enrolments remained the same since 2018/19, despite changes in rankings.
"Despite an overall decline in entrant enrolments from the top 10 EU countries since 2021/22, the number of entrant students from Romania surged by 42% in 2023/24."
Overseas student numbers
The data also shows that for the first time in a decade, UK university enrolments dropped in 2023/24 compared to the previous year.
The overall reduction was a modest 1%, but this masked a steeper 7% fall in overseas student numbers.
This decline was largely due to significant drops from key international markets, including Nigeria (-36%), India (-15%) and China (-4%).
In 2023/24, a total of 732,285 overseas students attended UK universities, with 656,735 originating from outside the EU.
Ireland student housing shortage
UCAS figures underline the Hesa data as a record number of Irish students have sought places at UK universities for this September, driven in part by a shortage of student housing in Ireland.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service reports that 5,750 applications were lodged by Irish students by the January deadline, up from 4,990 the previous year, despite a sharp fall in EU applicants.
This is the highest tally of Irish applications to UCAS since 2011, with numbers rising steadily since 2020 after a previous downturn starting in 2012.
The director of learning at the Irish Universities Association (IUA), Lewis Purser, told Times Higher Education that rising numbers of Irish school-leavers mean that domestic and international study applications will continue to grow.
That demand, he said, is being driven by less competition in some disciplines and the prospect of accessing affordable student accommodation.
Student accommodation in Belfast
The managing director of Accommodation for Students, Simon Thompson, said: "For student landlords, the shifting landscape of international student enrolments presents both challenges and opportunities, particularly with Ireland’s growing presence in UK universities.
"As Irish student numbers surge by 61% over four years, driven in part by accommodation shortages at home, demand for housing near institutions, especially in Northern Ireland, is set to rise.
"This influx of Irish students is a golden opportunity for landlords in Belfast and beyond."
He added: "Student landlords who can offer flexible, attractive housing options should do very well."
