The sector demonstrated exceptional resilience in 2024, welcoming 128,761 worldwide college students from over 125 international locations.
The findings come from English Schooling Eire (EEI) by way of its annual report which is carried out with market intelligence agency, BONARD, utilizing knowledge collected by way of a sample-based survey of EEI member colleges.
Lorcan O’Connor Lloyd, CEO of EEI, commented: “This report demonstrates the continued energy and worth of the English Language Schooling sector in Eire. The €792 million determine displays solely the direct financial impression – tuition, lodging, and rapid spend – however the true worth is way higher.
“Worldwide college students increase native economies, help tourism and public transport, and enrich Eire’s social and cultural life,” he added.
Whereas complete scholar numbers develop barely (+2% year-on-year), the variety of complete scholar weeks declined by 8%, reflecting a broader world development in direction of shorter stays. This was largely pushed by the growing recognition of “mini-stays” – short-term group applications for juniors, which surged by 12% in scholar numbers and 10% in scholar weeks.
Regardless of growing competitors from rising locations together with Dubai and the Philippines, Eire’s ELE sector has recovered to 109% of its pre-pandemic scholar numbers.
Grownup learners, who represented 45% of scholars however accounted for 84% of scholar weeks, stay the monetary spine of the sector. As compared, juniors made up 55% of all college students, reflecting Eire’s attraction as a short-term vacation spot for youthful learners.
Amongst all applications for grownup worldwide college students, Common English stays to be the most well-liked course sort, with 90% of reported college students enrolling on this program and a median period of 12.7 weeks.
“This yr’s knowledge tells a narrative of cautious stability,” mentioned Lloyd. “The rise in mini-stays alerts sturdy demand for groupbased, immersive experiences, whereas grownup learners proceed to decide on Eire for longer-term research, pushed by high quality training, cultural attraction, and the heat of our welcome.”
He added: “The information means that future development could more and more come from juniors and extra compact applications.”
LATAM international locations proceed to dominate the grownup phase, with Brazil and Mexico main the best way. Brazil, a prime supply market in Eire since 2014, alone accounted for over 251,000 scholar weeks regardless of a slight drop in scholar numbers primarily within the junior phase.
In the meantime, China confirmed constructive momentum throughout each junior and grownup segments in 2024, with a +74% improve in scholar numbers and +64% development in scholar weeks.
Junior college students got here primarily from Europe, with Italy and Spain accounting for 80% of the scholar numbers, adopted by Germany (2%) and France (3%). Mini-stays proved particularly standard amongst Austrian, Mexican, and Chinese language juniors, whereas grownup learners from Mongolia (22.0 weeks) and Panama (21.9 weeks) had the longest common course period.
On common, every worldwide scholar spent over €5,500 per keep, with 39% of that going towards lodging and one other 39% towards dwelling bills. Tuition accounted for 22% of the spend and continues to be the first income stream for colleges, contributing 52% of complete annual earnings.
By way of employment, in 2024, EEI member colleges reported using almost 3,000 employees through the peak season (June–August). Notably, Dublin has the best focus of EEI member colleges, with over 60% of premises primarily based within the capital.
“The sector contributed nearly €800 million to the Irish economic system in 2024, which is exceptional given that the majority suppliers are small or medium-sized companies,” mentioned Lloyd.
“The financial impression stretches far past tuition charges, encompassing lodging, transport, tourism, and even labour help in sectors like hospitality and homecare.
There may be actual work to do in elevating consciousness of the position worldwide college students play in Eire’s economic system and society
Lorcan O’Connor Lloyd, EEI
“But regardless of this, the sector stays underappreciated in public and political conversations. There may be actual work to do in elevating consciousness of the position worldwide college students play in Eire’s economic system and society.”
The report additionally mentions mounting pressures, resembling scholar visa processing delays, tightening immigration laws, and a extremely aggressive world market. EEI member colleges emphasised the necessity for continued authorities help, clearer visa laws, and sustained advertising and marketing efforts to take care of Eire’s competitiveness.
Lloyd identified that regardless of Eire remaining a really enticing place to check, the place is just not assured.
“In 2024, colleges skilled extra visa refusals, delays in processing, and uncertainty round coverage adjustments,” he mentioned.
“These challenges are already beginning to have an effect on scholar recruitment, significantly from non-EU international locations. The latest determination to double the monetary proof requirement for non-visa college students is a transparent instance of how coverage shifts can have unintended penalties, particularly for key development areas like Latin America and Asia.
“To stay aggressive, Eire wants higher coverage alignment throughout immigration, training, and financial planning, in addition to common and significant engagement with the sector.”
