The cost of living crisis in Ireland is, unfortunately, old news. Combined with the housing crisis currently faced across the country, those hoping to buy a house in Ireland face slim prospects, while dealing with the increasing prices of daily necessities.
However, following recent data produced by the ICEF monitor, such societal factors do not seem to affect the rate at which Irish universities are welcoming international students.
According to the data published on January 15, the number of international students enrolled in Irish higher education reached a record high in the 2023/24 academic year, with 40,400 student enrolled in various Irish institutes of higher education.
This number represents a 15% increase from the 2022/23 academic year, where there were 35,150 international students enrolled in Irish third leve institutes, which in itself represented a 11% increase to the year prior, yet another step in the increasing trend. 2022/23 was also the year which broke the pre-COVID benchmark a testament to the steady increase of foreign enrolment.
It is easy for those of us who have lived in Ireland for most, if not all, of our lives to call on our own experiences with the cost of living crisis and any difficulties surrounding the housing market.
However, many international students coming to Ireland may not be aware of the full extent of both crises, or may face similar issues in their home countries.
Hannah Longo, an exchange student from the University of Massachusetts, spoke to Trinity News about her perspective on the comparative costs.
Longo noted that the cost of living was “was one of the most important factors I considered when choosing the city to study in.”
“For sure, the cost of living is much more expensive here, as well as the transportation and the price of general outdoor activities.”
“The grocery prices are not that different though, which is a plus.”
When asked if the state of costs would prompt her to change decision if she could, Longo responded with “sort of.”
“I would have considered other countries more if I had been fully aware of the housing crisis and the state of public transport here, but I wouldn’t necessarily have chosen differently.”
Sisters Meabh and Hannah Kenny both hail from Massachusetts, and are studying at Trinity full-time.
“It would be a negative for sure, but I think I would make the same decision”
Meabh, a Junior Sophister Law and History student notes that “coming from the US there is a notable difference” in the cost of living in Ireland and the US; however, akin to Longo’s comment, Meabh noted that food is “expensive as shit” over there.
“You could walk into the supermarket, breathe a breath of air, and spend fifty bucks,” she added.
Hannah, a Senior Fresher European Studies student, added her thoughts on her decision to attend Trinity.
“I don’t remember knowing, or fully grasping how expensive is when I was making my decision, and I was able to pristine my preferences over the costs,” she said.
When asked on whether the cost of living factored into her university decision, Meabh said “it did.”
”I was looking at the whole financial picture, and was intimidated by the rent and housing crisis, and the general cost of living – I feel like it has even risen in the past three years of being here,” Meabh said, emphasising that “I’m very, very lucky to be supported by my family.”
“But I love it,” Meabh added, “and I think I’m getting a really great education”.
Hannah, too, noted that “it would be a negative for sure, but I think I would make the same decision.”
“I love it here, and luckily I am able to get by so it’s worth it for me.”
When asked if the benefit of hindsight would entice her to make another decision on where she would go to college, Meabh said: “I don’t want to say that I would make a difference decision, but after being on Erasmus somewhere with a much more manageable cost of living, I maybe would if I had known all of the different possibilities – i might have thought about it differently.”
“It was a lot less stressful, I could have a lot more fun.”
Marta Tozer, hailing from Spain, is a Senior Fresher Music and Russian student from Spain.
When considering how the cost of living impacted her university decision,
Tozer said that “it was one of the most important factors I consider when choosing the city to study in.”
Comparing Ireland to Spain, Tozer noted “for sure, the cost of living is much more expensive here, as well as transportation and the price o general outdoor activities.”
However akin to the comments of her fellow students, Tozer said “the grocery prices are not that different though, which is a plus.”
In considering whether or not the cost would impact her decision with the benefit of hindsight, Tozer said “sort of.”
”I would have considered other countries more if I had been fully aware of the housing crisis and the state of public transport here, but I wouldn’t necessarily have chosen differently.”
Issues surrounding the cost of living and the housing crisis dominate the lives of students in Ireland – evidently, both national and international alike.
However, with the rate of international students ever-increasing, the state of everyday Irish life is being experienced first-hand by those seeking third level education here.
Only time will tell if the newly established government will act to tackle these issues, and the degree to which these acts will be effective.
In the meantime, all students must find some kind of solidarity in the name of our quality of life.
