Student mobility from Northern Ireland more complex than ‘brain drain’ narrative, new research finds

New research published today finds that student out-migration from Northern Ireland (NI) is not unusually high by UK standards, with the greater challenge lying in attracting students into NI, strengthening post-secondary, non-tertiary pathways and local graduate employment opportunities. Consideration must also be given to demographic change, particularly given that NI is experiencing the most rapid decline in its young population of any UK region.

The peer-reviewed, independent study examines student mobility to and from NI and challenges the commonly held perception that the region faces an exceptional "brain drain" problem. While a proportion of students leave NI to pursue higher education elsewhere, mainly in England, the research finds that outward mobility is broadly in line with patterns observed in many other UK regions.

The study shows that around 78 per cent of NI students remain within the region for higher education, while 22 per cent study in Great Britain (GB). These levels of outward mobility are comparable to those seen in other parts of the UK and are influenced by a range of factors, including course choice, university reputation, cost considerations and an attraction to the student lifestyle. Where NI does differ from other regions is attracting students to study there.

The research also highlights NI’s strong participation in higher education. The region has the highest university application rate among 18-year-olds in the UK, indicating a strong demand for higher education opportunities.

Analysis of the labour market and demand for graduates showed that NI experiences high levels of overqualification and falling numbers of graduate roles, while simultaneously businesses struggle to fill roles, indicating a mismatch between workers’ qualifications and job requirements.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Anne Devlin (ESRI) said:

"The evidence suggests that the debate should move beyond a narrow focus on the so-called ‘brain drain’. While we recognise that young people do leave for study, this is not uncommon within the UK. Student mobility decisions are shaped by a wide range of educational, social, and personal factors.

Focus instead should be on the sustainability of our universities, which are an important part of our local economy, the availability of graduate opportunities locally, and encouraging students from GB to study in NI particularly in light of NI’s relatively lower cost of living."