'Sally Rooney' effect helps Dublin rise in rankings of world best student cities
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Dublin has risen up the rankings of the world’s best student cities ahead of Miami, Washington, and Rome for the second consecutive year.
It jumped five places in the rankings in the prestigious QS Best Student Cities 2024 to rank 32 out of 160 cities.
The performance of Trinity College — whose campus recently got global attention for its starring role in Sally Rooney's Normal People — along with the city's diverse student population and lively arts scene are among the factors credited with its popularity among international students.
Dublin scored highly in desirability which gauges the safety, pollution levels, and demand, and in student ratings but rated very poorly when it came to affordability as it is one of the most expensive cities in the world for students.
Senior Vice-president of the QS, Ben Sowter, said Dublin’s on-campus diversity, educational quality, and immense cultural cache have contributed to “glowing reviews from its current and former students surveyed by QS”.
He said: “Dublin offers students a vibrant and inclusive cultural experience, with its rich history, lively arts scene, and renowned hospitality making it an inviting study destination. In QS' Desirability indicator, which assesses factors such as air pollution, safety and liveability alongside student feedback, Dublin performed outstandingly, climbing five ranks.”
London took the top spot, Melbourne landed in second place and Tokyo came third in the influential rankings of the world’s most student-friendly cities. Dublin was placed ahead of Barcelona (38), Brussels (50), Rome (56), Washington DC (62) and Miami (78).
Mr Sowter noted Dublin climbed five positions from the previous year. “This improvement is attributed to its diverse student body and the consistent advancement of its universities across QS’ rankings portfolio, particularly Trinity College Dublin,” he said.
Dublin is up from No. 37 in 2023 and No. 39 in 2022 on the rankings which examines affordability and desirability.
QS does not have specific data on the popular culture influence of 'Normal People' but Mr Sowter said it's clear that global exposure through media and pop culture can significantly impact perceptions. He said: "(It can) enhance an institution’s appeal to international students.
“Similar hypotheses have been drawn about South Korea with the rise of K-Pop and the Korean Wave, while in the UK, locations have seen major tourism booms following media exposure in hit television shows like Welcome to Wrexham and Ted Lasso.”
He said it is important to consider the role played by Trinity College in Ireland’s literary tradition.
“Ireland boasts an immense literary tradition, and Normal People, based on the book by Sally Rooney, a Trinity College Dublin alumnus, is a prime example of contemporary Irish fiction that resonates globally.
“Additionally, significant recent literary works by Irish women, such as Rooney and Claire Keegan, another Trinity alumnus, have gained international acclaim. These successful alumni can enhance a university's performance in rankings, particularly in reputational and outcomes related indicators.”
He added that this is reflected in the sustainability indicator used in the World University Ranking, in which University College Dublin is among the 50 best in the world.
He said an area where Dublin faced challenges to its progress in the Best Student Cities Ranking was in employer activity, which assesses job prospects in the city. "This is somewhat surprising given Ireland's strong economy and business-friendly environment in which many multinational companies have established operations.”
But he said Dublin's significant rise in the 2024 QS Best Student Cities Ranking reflects its growing appeal as a premier destination for higher education.
“As many of the world’s established global study destinations tighten controls on inbound mobility, Dublin's universities have a unique opportunity to attract international scholars who are exploring beyond traditional names for their studies abroad.
“The city's diverse student body, the excellence of institutions like Trinity College Dublin, and its rich cultural landscape contribute to its attractiveness.”
In the wake of Brexit, he said Ireland's status as the only predominantly English-speaking EU country means there are no visa requirements for EU citizens and no permission is necessary to remain there after graduation.
“This is undoubtedly an incentive for international students and a competitive advantage for Irish institutions. Furthermore, this advantage could grow even more significant as the UK, along with other countries, re-evaluates graduate visa rules."