Foreign students make up a significant share of higher education enrolments across the European Union, according to new data from Eurostat. In 2023, some 1.76 million students from outside their country of study were registered in tertiary education institutions across the bloc, representing 8.4% of all students.
Cyprus stands out as one of the EU countries with the highest proportion of international students. With foreign students accounting for 22.3% of its tertiary student body, Cyprus ranks third overall, behind Luxembourg (52.3%) and Malta (29.6%). At the other end of the spectrum, Greece (3.0%), Croatia (3.7%), and Spain (4.3%) recorded the lowest shares of international students.
Eurostat’s figures also shed light on where these students come from. In 20 EU member states, the largest group of international students originated from elsewhere in Europe. Slovakia topped the list with an overwhelming 91.3% of its foreign student population coming from within Europe, followed by Slovenia (89.4%) and Croatia (89.0%).
Asia was the leading source region in several northern and central European countries. Nearly half of Ireland’s foreign students (45.0%) came from Asia, as did large shares in Finland (43.3%), Germany (40.1%), and Italy (36%).
France presents a different picture: more than half of its foreign student population in 2023 (52.3%) came from Africa. The same trend was evident in Portugal, where 42.1% of international students were African.
In Spain, meanwhile, the majority of foreign students (46.7%) hailed from Latin America and the Caribbean, reflecting linguistic and historical ties that continue to shape mobility patterns.
The figures underscore how cultural, linguistic, and geographic connections play a key role in shaping the flow of international students across Europe, with smaller states like Cyprus carving out a leading role in attracting them.
What Cyprus’s Foreign Student Boom Means for Its Future
Cyprus’s position among the top EU destinations for foreign students could carry long-term implications for both its education system and labour market. A high concentration of international students brings economic benefits through tuition fees, housing, and local spending, while also enhancing the country’s academic profile abroad.
If Cyprus succeeds in retaining part of this talent pool after graduation, it could help address domestic labour shortages in key sectors, diversify the workforce, and support the island’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for education and research. However, sustaining this momentum will require continuous investment in higher education quality, as well as policies that facilitate graduates’ transition into the local economy.