There are over 10,000 students from the Republic currently studying in the British educational system - at undergraduate, degree and postgraduate levels. Applications to British colleges were running at 11,000 per annum in 1997. By this year, however, that figure had collapsed to 5,855, according to UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. In 1999, 2,602 students from the Republic accepted degree and HND courses in the British system, a fall of 11 per cent on the previous year.
There is a number of reasons for the fall in applications. The number of third-level places in the Republic has increased in recent years; and tuition fees have been abolished while the British government has introduced a £1,000 means-tested tuition fee. The latest figures from UCAS show a 1 per cent decrease in British applications - the main downturn involves applications from over-21-year-olds. Applications from higher-income groups are also down, while an increased number of students from low income families have applied for college, UCAS says. These figures indicate that the introduction of fees has resulted in some sections of the community eschewing third level.
According to students, life at university has become much more difficult since the introduction of fees. "The number of appeals has gone up. Students are now customers. If they have any problem with lecturers, they are standing up and saying `This isn't right'," observes one expat Irish student.
However, for many students from the Republic, going to college in Britain will always be an attractive option. If you live in some parts of Donegal, for example, it's often easier to go to college in Derry or Belfast than it is to get to Galway or Dublin. Traditionally, students from the Republic have accounted for 10 per cent of the annual intake into both Queen's University, Belfast and the University of Ulster.
However, the introduction of fees has meant a decrease in the numbers applying. According to Stirling Wisener, QUB's admissions' officer, intake and admissions from the Republic have dropped significantly in recent years, and this year's applications are down 10 per cent on last year. In the past, students used the UCAS system as an insurance policy - in case they missed out on the CAO courses they wanted. Now, Wisener says, the applications that do come in from the Republic are predominantly from students who really want to attend Queen's and the college remains popular with people living in border areas.
With 257 universities and colleges to chose from in the UCAS system, students are guaranteed a wide choice of courses - some of which may not be available in the Republic. Some British courses, too, offer easier access than do their Irish counterparts.
UCAS highlights a boom in applications for computer-based courses. At degree level, computer science is up by 11 per cent and software engineering applications are up by 9 per cent, last year they rose by 19 per cent. Nursing, too, is up by 14 per cent. Physical or mathematical science with social science or business is up almost 15 per cent, media studies applications are showing a a 19 per cent increase, while mathematical science and infomatics combinations are up by 17 per cent, according to UCAS. Teaching, though, gets the thumbs down - applications for primary teaching have fallen by almost 4 per cent. For secondary teaching the drop is just under 13 per cent.
If you are planning to go to college in Britain, you will need to deal with the fees issue. Depending on your income, you may be entitled to assistance to cover your fees either fully or partially. This year the full contribution of £1,050 is means-tested. If the parental income is less than £17,804 sterling, students will be exempt from fees. However, if the income is more than £28,590 you'll have to pay the full whack. Rates in between are assessed on a sliding scale.
There has been a rush on Scottish institutions this year, as fees have been abolished for the academic year 2000-1. The application procedures are complicated and you would be wise to contact the British Council (01 6764088/ 6766943) for their information sheet.
Students intending to enrol in colleges in England and Wales should acquire an EU2 form (it should be sent out by the institution from which you have received an offer). If you haven't received it, contact your institution or the Department of Education and Employment (0044 1325 391199). A copy of the form should be completed and returned to the department. Even if you believe you're ineligible for support, you must complete the form, otherwise you may be charged tuition fees at the overseas rate, the British Council warns.
Students applying to university or college in Scotland apply to the Student Award Agency for Scotland, once they have received an unconditional offer. In the case of students going to Northern Ireland, applications should be made to the appropriate Education and Library Board.
Students from the Republic attending third-level colleges in Britain and the Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for maintenance grants. These grants are similar to those awarded to students attending universities here and are means-tested and awarded by the local authorities in the usual way. However, it's worth noting that if you're planning to study a course in Britain for which there is a set quota of places in Ireland (medicine, teacher training or physiotherapy for example), you will be ineligible for a maintenance grant.
It's not too late to apply for a place in Britain. Every year during August and September, UCAS offers a clearing system to fill vacancies in British colleges and universities. Last year over 60,000 students found places this way.
Clearing has already started in Scotland, but for England, Wales and the Northern Ireland, vacancies will be published regularly from August 17th until September 16th in the London Independent or you can access the UCAS website www.ucas. ac.uk. BBC2 Ceefax will also be listing vacancies on a daily basis on pages 700-799.
Students eligible to enter clearing are those who have received no offers or have declined offers, those who have been made conditional offers but have to achieve the required result, and late applicants to the system.
Places in the clearing system tend to be snapped up quickly, so you are advised to act without delay. Check the list of vacancies, decide which courses you're interested in and then ring the relevant college and speak to the admissions tutor for the particular course.
If you have already made a UCAS application, you may by now have received a CEF (clearing entry form), which gives you detailed instructions about how to enter. If you don't have one, apply to UCAS immediately. This form will contain an individual pre-printed number and is non-transferable. The number is important and must be quoted to any institution that is considering your application.
