Trinity has been placed eighth in the Times Higher Education (THE) “Most International Universities in the World” rankings.
According to this year’s figures, College has risen eight places in the 2021 rankings, from 17 in 2020.
Trinity is the only university in Ireland included in the International Rankings, falling after the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
Earlier this year, Trinity was placed 155 overall in THE World University Rankings for 2021, maintaining its status as Ireland’s leading university.
The Times Higher Education Most International Universities 2021 was determined by four components: the proportion of international students, the proportion of international staff, international co-authorship and international reputation.
An institution’s international reputation was based on the annual Academic Reputation Survey, which asked leading scholars to name the world’s best universities for teaching and research in their field. Institutions needed to receive at least 100 votes to be eligible for inclusion in the most international universities.
Currently, 32% of Trinity’s students are international students. Overall, there are more than 32,000 international students studying in Ireland.
According to a study by the European Migration Network, immigration of non-EEA nationals for higher education increased by 45% between 2013 and 2017.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges to current and prospective international students, including travel difficulties, financial problems, online learning and a disappointing student experience caused by the current restrictions.
On January 26, government announced a plan for mandatory quarantine measures on all international arrivals, and introduced additional travel restrictions. All passengers entering Ireland are required to have a negative or ‘not detected’ Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours before arrival.
Ireland remains open to international students, and Trinity has implemented a range of additional supports for international and domestic students. College has organised transport from the airport for all new students arriving for Semester 2, and can provide students with accommodation and groceries for the 14 day quarantine, at the students own cost.
In December, the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris announced that all full-time EU students would receive a Covid-19 Once Off Emergency Allowance of €250. Credited to their college balance, the payment aims to compensate students for the impact of the pandemic on their studies.
The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) criticised the government for excluding non-EU students from the scheme, describing the decision as “deeply unfair”.
“The same equal relief should be afforded to all those in education, regardless of where they come from,” executive director Laura Harmon said.
According to a survey conducted by the ICOS and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), 67% of international students said they were concerned they will not be able to pay their rent. One in five international students lost their jobs, while many others have not been able to find casual work to support their studies as hoped under the current circumstances.
