In preparation for the implementation of the Maynooth University Strategic Plan 2018-2022, the IO has reviewed student mobility trends over the past six years.
Incoming Mobility Numbers
The number of Erasmus students spending one semester or one year at Maynooth University has risen by 34% from 2011 to 2018. Slovenia has seen the largest growth in incoming students (up 350%), followed by the Czech Republic (up 250%), but Germany, France, and Spain continue to dominate. Students are increasingly joining Maynooth on a semester-long rather than annual basis.
Regarding students coming to Maynooth University from outside Europe, we see an increase of 26% from 2013 to 2017. The Study Abroad market continues to be dominated by the USA with smaller numbers from Canada, Japan and Australia. As with Erasmus, the trend is towards semester-long mobility.
Outgoing Mobility
Overall outgoing mobility has risen by 195% from the 2011 to 2017 period. Much of that increase is accounted for by an increase of 152% in Erasmus numbers. Mobility for Study Abroad outside Europe rose by 37%, but numbers remain small compared to Erasmus outgoing mobility, forming just 10% of the total outgoing cohort in 2017.
Full-degree international students
The number of international students increased by 67% during the 2012-2017 period, with large increases in 2014 and, in particular, 2017.
International postgraduate student numbers have seen even more significant increases, rising by 188% over the 2012-2017 period. As with undergraduates, 2017 saw a significant increase in numbers and, with a considerable increase in applications, another significant increase in postgraduate numbers is anticipated for the September 2018 intake.
In 2017 and 2018, the largest numbers of non-EU full-degree students came from India, China, Nigeria, the USA and Pakistan, with smaller numbers from Saudi Arabia, Ghana, and Malaysia.