Ireland: A skyrocketing study destination for African students
More African students are expressing interest in Ireland as a study destination, as indicated by figures from a Kenyan placement agency., Post a Comment
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[starportillo](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/author/beyondstellar/)
[June 29, 2021August 3, 2021](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/2021/06/29/)
More African students are expressing interest in Ireland as a study destination, as indicated by figures from a Kenyan placement agency.
Due to its affordable cost of living and educational fees, the Republic of Ireland saw a 61% increase in its students over the past three years. From 800 learners in 2018, the numbers spiked to 1,300 in 2020.
[Koala Education Consultants](https://www.koala.co.ke/) Director Farook Lalji mentioned that big universities in Ireland such as the University of Limerick and Trinity College Dublinhave landed spots on the [QS World Universities Rankings](https://www.qs.com/) and the [Times Higher Education Rankings](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings).
In effect, students from countries such as the United States of America, China, Malaysia, Canada, Saudi Arabia have chosen Ireland as a primary study destination. Meanwhile, African students are gradually making it to the list as well.
Just last year, the European Migration Network revealed a 45% spike in non-European Economic Area (EEA) students within Ireland.
Countries such as the United States of America, China, Malaysia, Canada, Saudi Arabia have chosen Ireland as a primary study destination. \| [School photo created by rawpixel.com – www.freepik.com](https://www.freepik.com/photos/school)
### **A shift in study destinations**
Lalji explained that the growing numbers are brought about by African students who are “increasingly frustrated by a high visa rejection rate” in other Western countries such as Canada. As a result, learners began searching for alternative study destinations with low visa rejection rates as well as low-cost living expenses and tuition fees.
“Ireland’s proactive student policy makes it a very viable destination, and being part of the EU makes it very strategic as travel and work opportunities are now even better,” Lalji added.
\| **READ MORE:** [Safest Study Destinations in 2021 are New Zealand and Canada](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/safest-study-destinations-in-2021-are-new-zealand-and-canada-navitas/)
* * *
The director also stated that Ireland has always been a tech hub for Europe and houses some of the largest companies such as Google, HP and Microsoft.
“Innovation is something that Ireland is well known for, and most institutions have excellent courses that embrace innovation,” he emphasized.
Ireland sees students from African countries as intelligent and hardworking.\| [People photo created by wayhomestudio – www.freepik.com](https://www.freepik.com/photos/people)
### **Ireland on African students**
[Reports](https://www.iua.ie/for-students/international-students/) from the Irish Universities Association noted that African students make up only 3% of the international learners currently studying in Ireland.
Despite the turnout, the numbers ranked higher than students from South America, Oceania, and other non-EU countries. Ireland is particularly interested in African countries because of their students’ noted intelligence and hard work.
Overall, Ireland predicts that it could outweigh other European study destinations for African students, given the figures.
As part of their educational offerings, Ireland has also opened part-time work and post-study opportunities for international students.
“Students have been very happy with the visa process and the onshore experience has been very good, and while online learning is still required, we see this continuing till the end of 2021, Lalji concluded.
* * *
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Eligibility criteria
Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.
- Citizen or permanent resident of an eligible African country
- Willing to study in Ireland
- Strong academic record — typically a minimum GPA equivalent to a UK 2:1 / US 3.3
- English-language proficiency demonstrated by IELTS, TOEFL or an MOI letter
- Two academic or professional references able to speak to your potential
Required documents
A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.
- Valid international passport (bio page scan)
- Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
- Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
- Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
- Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
- Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
- Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders
Deadline timeline
The sponsor has not published a fixed deadline yet. Use the milestones below as a generic 12-month plan; substitute dates once the intake window opens.
- 12 months out
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
- 6 months out
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
- 3 months out
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
- 1 month out
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
- Application deadline
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Ireland: A skyrocketing study destination for African students?+
Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the the stated level level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Various, and be able to relocate to Ireland for the duration of the programme.
Is the Ireland: A skyrocketing study destination for African students fully funded?+
Funding model: Funding type varies — check the official site. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.
When is the application deadline?+
The application deadline is varies by intake — see the official site. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
What documents do I need to apply?+
At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.
How can I improve my chance of winning?+
Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.