Record numbers choose to become ‘eternal student’

THE eternal student has become a reality in many Irish households as record numbers of students choose to remain on in college for further studies after graduating with a basic degree.

Despite the buoyant jobs market, more students than ever are shunning the conventional workplace and pay packet in order to pursue postgraduate studies.

Enrolments in postgraduate education jumped by 30% — representing more than 5,000 extra students — in the five years to 2005, according to figures released yesterday by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).