This year, the number of students from the Republic beginning first year in third-level colleges in Britain and Northern Ireland has fallen by 25 per cent. The number of applications fell from 11,000 to 8,000. The introduction of fees for third-level UK colleges coupled with the abolition of fees here may be a contributory factor.

Not all students will have to pay fees, which are payable on a means-tested basis. The maximum payable is £1,000stg and, depending on income, a sliding scale applies.

Students from the Republic need to set a little time aside this term as the closing date for applications is December 15th. The Oxford and Cambridge closing date of October 15th - well flagged in Education & Living - has already passed.

There is a centralised body for third-level applications which is analogous to the CAO here. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) handles hundreds of thousands of applications each year.

The UCAS application form and allocation of places differs radically from the CAO form and the points system. Your guidance counsellor will have copies of the form as well as the official guide and handbook. UCAS also produces leaflets for students and parents.

If you are no longer in education, you can get a form from UCAS, Jessop Avenue, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3SH, England. (Website: http:// www.ucas.ac.uk)

As you work your way through the application form, keep the instructions close by. This 20-page booklet contains an amount of detailed information. It's vital to refer to it as you complete each section. As with any important form, it would be useful to photocopy it for a trial run.

Page one

Section one

This is the easy part. You are being asked for personal details such as your name, correspondence address, email address (if you have one).

Section two

Again, this should present few difficulties. If you have a disability or a special need you should put the relevant code in the box. Use code 0 if you have no special needs. The fee code required is 02 for most Irish applicants.

Section three

This is the section where you list your choice of courses. All courses, - degrees, higher national diplomas and diplomas in higher education - must be listed in this section. You have six choices and these should be listed in the order in which they appear in the UCAS handbook NOT in your order of preference as is the case with the CAO form.

The rest of page one is self-explanatory.

Page two

Here you are asked for the qualifications you have completed as well as qualifications pending.

Section ten

The personal statement required here is your opportunity to sell yourself to the admissions tutor. Discuss your statement with your parents, guidance counsellor, class tutor and anyone else who will help.

UCAS lists a number of headings you should cover and you should make sure you get to grips with these. A little originality is sure to go a long way with tutors faced with enormous bundles of application forms with little to differentiate them.

When you have signed the declaration that the information you have given is correct, it's time to hand the form over to your school principal or guidance counsellor who will complete the final section which asks for a reference. Give him or her plenty of time to think about it.

Mature applicants are advised by UCAS to select "a responsible person with recent knowledge of them to provide a reference." Examples are an employer, training officer, adult guidance officer or careers officer.

After you have completed your form, don't forget to fill out the acknowledgement card with your name and address on it. Attach British stamps to it or international reply coupons to the value of 40p stg.

The normal application fee is £14stg which should be paid by cheque or postal order. A reduced fee of £5stg applies if you are applying to one course at one institution only.

Fees and grants

If you are interested in going to college in Britain or Northern Ireland, you may want information on fees and grants. The British Council produces useful information each year.

Contact: The British Council, Newmount House, 22-24 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.