Ukrainian student to get RCSI place without fees

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) will on Monday offer Ukrainian asylum-seeking Leaving Cert graduate Anna Kern a place on its physiotherapy course free of charge.

Ms Kern (19) who got 575 points in her exams, received considerable media attention this week after she said rules concerning college admission for asylum seekers would make her unable to afford a third-level education.

The college said it has decided to make Ms Kern an offer outside of the CAO system so as not to impact on any CAO candidates. It will waive her tuition fees and is prepared to cover the cost of her accommodation and living expenses in Dublin.

Ms Kern had put physiotherapy at the RCSI as the top CAO choice but because asylum-seeking students are treated as international students, she faced the full €17,000 a year tuition fee.

Head of admission at the RCSI Philip Curtis said the offer will be made on Monday after which the college will meet Ms Kern, her family and her former principal at Coláiste Nano Nagle Marion Cummins, to arrange further support.

“The adjustment of moving away from your family may be heightened in her situation so I think we’re keen to work through that process with both Marion Cummins … and obviously her mother, because I think it’s going to be an issue for both of them to adjust to that,” he said.

Ms Kern, who is living in direct provision in Limerick with her mother and younger brother and sister, said she had been prepared to request a transfer to a direct provision centre in Dublin if she received a place on the course.

However, Mr Curtis said the college would prefer to find more suitable accommodation for her. “Whatever accommodation she ends up with we would like to ensure that it’s conducive to study and I think if we have to support her in some way for accommodation provision we would be prepared to do that,” he said.

Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan spoke to Ms Kern on Thursday night and told her to accept an offer of a place from the RCSI , if she received one. However also made clear that no public grants are available to assist students such as her. Instead a scheme is being introduced to provide free fees to students who have been in direct provision for at least five years.

Ms Kern moved to Ireland with her family in 2013. She said she enjoys Ireland and worked hard to learn English and study for her Leaving Cert. “In the centre it’s sometimes tough, what can I say, but in general it’s OK.”

She said the scheme being introduced by the Government where students living in direct provision for five years can go to college for free is unfair. “Sometimes people are not here for five years, sometimes they are here for four years only and they have to wait.

“I think that’s unfair. I think they should introduce some new law as well for these people. When they finish their leaving cert they can’t work, they can’t study so they have nothing to do … just go to town every day.”