Ireland is open to international students and they may be encouraged to study in the country due to its handling of coronavirus, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has said.
He said it remains his department’s priority to get as many students back to college as possible, but public health concerns may mean students study online.
“The priority now is getting people back into college and getting as much face-to-face time as possible because I do strongly believe the importance from a mental health point of view that people need to interact with others, face-to face,” he said.
He also said international students can come to the country to study despite the quarantine rules for travellers.
He said: “I am hearing from some universities that some international students will be able to travel into Ireland, quarantine for the two weeks. Maybe link in with the colleges online during that period of time and they will be happy to do that because they will be here for a year, not just a week or two.
“I’m also hearing from universities that there’s a little bit of encouragement in that people are now looking internationally at Ireland and they believe that Ireland is a country that handled Covid-19 well and they see us as a country that takes public health seriously.
“Therefore, if you’re living in another country you’re more likely perhaps to encourage your children to travel to that country to study and then perhaps other countries that didn’t.
“Ireland is absolutely open to international students and there is no travel ban, but let’s be clear – if you’re coming to Ireland for any reason we expect you to self-isolate for two weeks.”