KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Dublin, Ireland lands fourth place as one of the Best European Cities for Global Learners
- The Irish capital earned a happiness score of 7.04
- Dublin earns a fair safety score of 48.3 out of 100
- In terms of cost of living, it scored 70.38 for its very affordable rental and grocery prices
- The top five countries that made it to the list were Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Dublin, and Stockholm.
Dublin, Ireland has long been considered a premier international education destination. In an August 2022 report by Preply, titled “Study Abroad Index: The Best Countries & Cities to Study Abroad,” Dublin scored 7.04 on the Happiness Scale and landed among the top five cities preferred by foreign students.
It is no wonder that Dublin would be one of the top five cities preferred by international students. Apart from its harmonious community and interesting culture, it also offers one of the most affordable living costs. According to the same report by Preply, Dublin’s cost of living score is 70.38.
In Dublin, the average monthly cost is €976.12 per month for a single person; rent for a single bedroom in the city center is €1,906.46; and for groceries, the average bill is around €83.06 a month which is relatively low as compared to other cities such as London where it costs around €120 a month.
As far as the price index is concerned, Ireland is relatively cheaper than other EU countries that offer great study-abroad experiences. For instance, Switzerland, which is reported by different sources to be the most expensive country compared to other EU countries, has a price index that ranges from about 120 to 240. This means that it is commonly 20-140% more expensive than cities of origin like New York and Prague, for example. Meanwhile, Ireland has a price index of 76 to 190, which makes it close to 30% cheaper than the cost of living in New York or 90% more expensive than in Prague
Cheaper costs of living offer a reprieve to international students who are venturing to overseas studies as a stepping stone to improve their family’s financial situation. This also means that they can worry less about financing their education and focus more on achieving their academic and career goals without worrying about how to pay for expensive rent and daily sustenance.
At a time when the global economy is volatile and each nation is facing high prices, monetary considerations for studying abroad become even more important for students and their families–especially for international student cohorts coming from lower-income households. Some reports show that foreign students from this group have families who go out of their way–such as selling assets like houses, lots, or cattles–to finance study abroad ventures in the hopes of alleviating the family’s long-term socio-economic situation.
Additionally, the same Preply study indicates that Dublin has a fair safety score of 48.3 out of 100. This is backed by a 2022 report by the Global Peace Index which ranked Ireland as third on the list of the world’s safest countries.
A safe study abroad destination means that foreign students have more time and headspace to focus on more important and rewarding experiences than worrying about their welfare, such as excelling in their academics, taking up side jobs or on-the-job training, and doing enriching activities like exploring nearby cities. This sense of safety also provides confidence to their families back in their countries of origin.
Meanwhile, in a 2021 report done by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) “Better Life Index,” Ireland is named as one of the countries that have the most optimal school systems in terms of performance. This gives students, domestic and international students alike, a high-quality education.
Aside from Dublin, the other European countries in the top five favored destinations based on the Preply study included Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, and Stockholm.
In my past conversations with aspiring foreign students and their families, criteria like safety, quality of education, and affordability are crucial for their study abroad considerations. Additionally, a general sense of harmonious living empowers global learners and their families to take the leap of faith in seizing such once in a lifetime opportunity. (SUNEETHA QURESHI)
SUNEETHA QURESHI
MSM President
Suneetha has worked for over 15 years in the international education sector and 25 years overall for her work for other industries. As president of MSM, she fortifies its business development outreach globally, particularly in the face of MSM’s foray into edtech-based recruitment via MSM Unify. She preserves the premium, value-adding services provided to each MSM partner institute, including dedicated teams on the ground, agent management, lead generation and inquiry management, application prescreening, and student and parent support through pioneering pre-departure briefing sessions.
She has an impeccable track record of successfully launching the representative offices in Asia and Africa of many North American and European higher education institutions. Her key strengths include hiring, training, and developing teams as evidenced by the successful results of the dedicated in-country college and university client teams.
Suneetha also has taken the lead in developing several initiatives at MSM, including building robust standard operating procedures, the Rise ‘n Shine team engagement platform, and the organization’s data analytics and audit segments.
References:
- “Cost of Living in Dublin.” Numbeo.com, 2019, www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Dublin. Accessed 29 Oct. 2022.
- “Dublin Named One of Top Five Cities for Study-Abroad Students.” IrishCentral.com, 27 Sept. 2022, www.irishcentral.com/culture/education/dublin-top-five-cities-study-abroad.
- Editorial Staff, Vision of Humanity. “10 Most Peaceful Countries in 2022 Global Peace Index.” Vision of Humanity, 20 June 2022, www.visionofhumanity.org/10-most-peaceful-countries-in-the-world-in-2022/. Accessed 2 Nov. 2022.
- Institute for Economics & Peace. Institute for Economics & Peace. Global Peace Index 2022: Measuring Peace in a Complex World. Sydney, June 2022, www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/GPI-2022-web.pdf. Accessed 29 Oct. 2022.
- “International Students | Irish Universities Association.” Irish Universities Association, 2019, www.iua.ie/for-students/international-students/.
- “OECD Better Life Index.” Oecdbetterlifeindex.org, 2021, www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/ireland/.
- “OECD Better Life Index” www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org, www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/education/#:~:text=Estonia%20is%20the%20highest%2Dperforming. Accessed 29 Oct. 2022.
- “Peacefulness Declines to Lowest Level in 15 Years.” Vision of Humanity, 15 June 2022, www.visionofhumanity.org/peacefulness-declines-to-lowest-level-in-15-years/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2022.
- Thackray, Lucy. “Revealed: Where Ireland Ranks among the Safest Countries in the World.” Independent.ie, Irish Independent, 21 July 2022, www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/revealed-where-ireland-ranks-among-the-safest-countries-in-the-world-41856879.html. Accessed 28 Oct. 2022.
- Mykhalevych, Nadiia. “The Best Countries & Cities to Study Abroad.” Preply.com, 11 Aug. 2022, https://preply.com/en/blog/study-abroad-index. Accessed 28 Oct. 2022.
- “About Cost of Living Indices at This Website.” Numbeo.com, 2009, www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/cpi_explained.jsp.
- “Cost of Living in a Global Comparison.” Worlddata.info, 2018, www.worlddata.info/cost-of-living.php.
- “Cost of Living Ranking in Europe. Updated Nov 2022.” Expatistan, Cost of Living Comparisons, www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/index/europe. Accessed 7 Nov. 2022.
- “Europe: Cost of Living Index by Country 2022.” Www.numbeo.com, www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp?title=2022®ion=150. Accessed 7 Nov. 2022.
- “The Most Expensive Cities in Europe – Updated in October 2022 | Go VisaFree.” GoVisaFree, 2 Nov. 2021, govisafree.com/most-expensive-cities-in-europe/. Accessed 7 Nov. 2022.