International students are happiest in Ireland, a new Europe-wide survey suggests.

With an average rating of just over 9 out of 10, Irish universities topped this year¡¯s StudyPortals International Student Satisfaction Awards, edging ahead of last year¡¯s leaders, Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

The awards are based on reviews submitted by about 17,000 international students studying across Europe, and made by , a Netherlands-based university course site.

The UK was rated 10th?in the survey with an average satisfaction rating of 8.75. The winners were announced at the European Association for International Education¡¯s annual conference in Glasgow last week.

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France finished bottom of the table with an average rating of 8.2, with complaints continuing to revolve around the poor student services and excessive bureaucracy.

Among the Irish institutions singled out for praise is Maynooth 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, one of five universities across Europe to receive an outstanding rating from the organisation based on student responses.

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The National 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Ireland, the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Limerick and 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College Cork were rated as ?¡°excellent¡±, while 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College Dublin was awarded ¡°very good¡± status.

Five UK universities are rated as excellent: Durham 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College London, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Leeds, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Leicester and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Edinburgh; and four received very good awards: Cardiff 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Aberdeen, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Bristol, and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Glasgow.

?jack.grove@tesglobal.com