Ninth Level Ireland

“Queen’s University has chartered a jumbo jet at a cost of around £600,000 to bring hundreds of students directly from China to Belfast in September, the Irish News can reveal. It comes amid fears that a drastic loss of income from its international student intake would leave a hole in its budget running into millions of pounds …” (more)

[Gary McDonald, Irish News, 8 July]

“United Kingdom universities could suffer a 25% drop in international students as a result of the government decision to end home student status for them in England, according to a new survey …” (more)

[Brendan O’Malley, University World News, 1 July]

“On 24 June, universities minister Michelle Donelan announced that, as a consequence of Brexit, EU and EEA students would be classified as overseas students starting from the 2021/22 academic year. They will be charged full tuition (up to £20,000 in some cases), lose access to the tuition fee loan, and no longer be eligible for many needs-based funds …” (more)

[Gábor Csontos, Guardian, 4 July]

“Scholars have been told that giving up their campus accommodation next year will instead allow Trinity to rent out the rooms to non-EU students, boosting the College’s finances ‘at a time when international demand is at risk’ …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 2 July]

“International students will be welcomed to University College Dublin (UCD) for the autumn trimester, while all autumn exchange programmes for UCD students remain cancelled. There will also be no charge for incoming international students on-campus for the first 21 days …” (more)

[Brigid Molloy, College Tribune, 30 June]

“College has asked overseas students that are required to self-isolate to arrive in September with sufficient ‘personal toiletries and medicines’ for the two week isolation period, as well having ‘sufficient clean clothes’, as they will not be provided with individual laundry services during the isolation period …” (more)

[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 30 June]

“The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as domestic students …” (more)

[Brendan O’Malley, University World News, 26 June]

“Thousands of international students arrive on Irish shores every September to begin undergraduate and postgraduate studies at colleges and universities across the country …” (more)

[Conor McCrave, TheJournal.ie, 21 June]

“The English language teaching industry in Ireland is facing an unprecedented catharsis, as a result of the impact of Covid-19. Schools, teachers and students have all been very badly hit. So what does the future hold for the different stakeholders? And can Ireland ever get back to a situation where this driver of multi-culturalism can thrive again? …” (more)

[Shamim Malekmian, Hot Press, 10 June]

“Trinity will significantly drop the academic requirements for non-EU students next year in a bid to cushion the financial blow from the coronavirus, accepting some students whose predicted grades equate to just 80% of the CAO points required for their course, The University Times has learned …” (more)

[Aoife Kearins, University Times, 6 June]

“United States colleges and universities are bracing for declines in international student enrolments in the coming autumn (fall) semester, a prospect that could lead to a loss of revenues as high as US$4.5 billion and further slow the momentum of overseas recruitment, a pair of reports examining the impact of COVID-19 on US higher education suggest …” (more)

[Mary Beth Marklein, University World News, 30 May]

“Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consultation which has taken place to date on the provision of additional spaces at third-level institutions for the coming term; if agreement has been reached that these places will be made available to current leaving certificate students; if additional supports will be provided to third-level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 27 May]

“English language students who are stuck in Ireland because of Covid-19 will be allowed to remain as long as they re-enrol in an online course of study for the remainder of the academic year. Students who left the State before completion of their studies due to Covid-19 may return and resume their studies, according to new measures introduced by the Department of Justice …” (more)

[Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times, 26 May]

“English language students who are stuck in Ireland because of Covid-19 will be allowed to remain as long as they re-enrol in an online course of study for the remainder of the academic year. Students who left the State before completion of their studies due to Covid-19 may return and resume their studies, according to new measures introduced by the Department of Justice …” (more)

[Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times, 26 May]

“University College Dublin (UCD) has ruled out part refunds on fees following a campaign by students who believe the impact of Covid-19 on their third level experience warrants some redress. Over 1,100 students have signed a petition regarding the ‘disruption’ and are seeking a rebate in the order of 30% …” (more)

[Mark Hilliard, Irish Times, 25 May]

“A UCD student from India has begun a petition calling on the college to compensate international students who paid substantial fees to study at UCD only for their year of study to be disrupted by Covid-19 …” (more)

[Emma O Kelly, RTÉ News, 25 May]

“University College Dublin can sustain its operations in the current volatile environment created by the significant uncertainties associated with Covid 19, which has reduced demand from non-EU students. That is according to a note in UCD’s annual accounts where it confirms that the college’s surplus reduced by 44% to €19.46 million in the 12 months to the end of September last …” (more)

[Gordon Deegan, Irish Times, 19 May]

“The return of all universities in autumn could see no large lectures, ‘blended learning’ between virtual and on-campus, large cutbacks in numbers of on-campus accommodation, and a rota for students on when they can be on campus with first years prioritised, according to Jim Miley, Director General at Irish Universities Association (IUA) …” (more)

[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 17 May]

“Anyone working in higher education today does not need a weatherman to know that international recruiting and admissions has changed since COVID-19, and in all likelihood will be changed forever. This year almost all international conferences have been cancelled and, depending on the higher education institution, between 85% to 90% of all international travel has also been cancelled …” (more)

[Gretchen Dobson and Marguerite Dennis, University World News, 16 May]

“Irish universities will struggle to ‘compete’ in the sphere of online learning when it comes to attracting students over the coming years, a top research official has warned. Peter Clinch, the chairman of Science Foundation Ireland, said the ‘centralised’ approach to IT of Ireland’s universities means it will be difficult for them to implement ‘blended learning’ – a combination of online and in-person learning – in the coming months and years …” (more)

[Sárán Fogarty and Donal MacNamee, University Times, 15 May]