Universities say they may be forced to cap places for Irish students over the coming years due to funding shortages facing the sector. The Irish Universities Association (IUA) says a combination of growing student numbers over the coming years and State under-investment means colleges will be forced to make hard decisions. “As numbers grow, universities are fearful that they will be put in a position where places for Irish students would have to be curtailed or replaced by higher fee-paying international students,” said Jim Miley, director general of the IUA. The number of international students from outside the EU studying in Irish universities has increased by 42 per cent in recent years, up from 13,000 in 2014 to 18,500 last year. Irish higher education institutions receive far less for Irish students who pay a contribution charge of €3,000 a year.

Source: The Irish Times April 04, 2019 00:00 UTC