Indian students planning to study in Ireland have suffered a major setback, with the rejection rate for student visa applications rising sharply. Around 3,300 of nearly 5,100 applications from Indian students were rejected, taking the rejection rate to 64%. The main reason was reportedly the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to prepare visa applications.
University admission cleared, but visa applications raised questions
The students had secured admission to universities in Ireland. However, when they submitted their Statement of Purpose (SOP) to the Irish foreign ministry as part of their study visa applications, many of the letters appeared to have been generated using AI.
Visa officers found the responses too similar and extremely generic. The applicants were unable to clearly explain why they wanted to study in Ireland. Several applications also lacked clarity about the students’ plans to return to their home country after completing their studies.
US entry gets tougher, students now look towards Germany, France
Indian students are facing increasing difficulty entering the US because of policies introduced by US President Donald Trump. With visa applications now being rejected in Ireland as well, many Indian students are turning towards countries such as Germany and France in search of admission opportunities.
The number of Indian students in Ireland has risen sharply over the past decade. There were around 700 Indian students in Ireland in 2013. The number increased to nearly 11,000 in 2024 and around 13,000 in 2025.
Subjects such as STEM, cyber security, AI, data analytics, and healthcare are particularly popular among Indian students. Studying in Ireland also provides Indian students with job opportunities in neighbouring Britain after graduation.
India is one of the biggest sources of international students for Ireland. Last year, Indians accounted for around 20% of all foreign students in the country, the highest share among Asian countries.
UK tightens visa rules, universities withdrawing offers
The UK is also tightening its approach towards international student admissions. Several British universities have withdrawn study offers already made to students.
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