With nearly 200 universities and colleges of higher education, 20,000 different degree courses and 300,000 places available each year, Britain offers an attractive alternative for students who wish to broaden their experience whilst studying for a degree. The wide choice of courses, combined with easy and inexpensive travel, has led increasing numbers of Irish students to look towards Britain when seeking third-level studies in recent years. In 1996, over 12,000 Irish students applied for a university or college place in Britain, of whom nearly 4,000 actually registered. As in this State, competition for places varies between subjects. Medicine and paramedical courses (optometry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and the like) produce over 10 applications for every acceptance.
Inevitably, grade requirements are also high in these areas; with pharmacy departments, for example, looking for at least 2As and 3Bs at higher level. Almost one quarter of Irish students who apply to Britain are looking for places in these areas.
However, one of the advantages of such a wide choice of institutions and courses is that there are other areas where competition may be less fierce. In sciences and engineering, for example, where subsequent employment prospects are still very good, the number of applications per place is generally less than half that for health subjects. Grade requirements are also lower, with 2Bs and 3Cs being not untypical.
Demand and entry requirements for business studies and many of the social sciences is generally higher than engineering, but below that for health subjects.
Unlike this State, applications for places in Britain are made before results are known via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) which operates a similar service to CAO. Students normally apply between September 1st and December 15th in the year preceding entry, making six choices.
At the discretion of individual institutions, applications after that date can still be received, although in popular subjects early application is advisable. Also, Oxford and Cambridge require applications to be made before 15 October.
Once institutions have considered applications, students will often be invited to visit. Offers that are then made are conditional upon students achieving specified grades in their Leaving Cert. Students subsequently select two offers, one "firm" and a second one (generally with lower grade requirements) as their "insurance" offer. If students pass at the required grade levels, they are guaranteed a place at the university concerned.
With increased intensity of competition for well-qualified students for places in Irish universities, it is hardly surprising that more have chosen to come to Britain. In part, this has been made easier by relaxation of rules that allow maintenance grants to be transferred to any British university. Also, EU legislation means that most professional qualifications achieved in a British university are recognised, not only in this State, but throughout EU member states.
From the perspective of the universities themselves, Irish students are very welcome applicants with the broad base of their school studies being especially appropriate to many subjects. In particular, there is a growing interest in NCEA Diplomas and Certificates from RTCs. Diploma level students may be considered for direct entry into the second year of a degree course.
The other main attraction of study in Britain, apart from the wide variety and availability of places, is cost. Many British universities are close to regional airports which have frequent and inexpensive flights to Ireland; others can easily be reached by cheap ferry crossings. Once at university, inexpensive accommodation means that, even allowing for occasional visits home, it can still work out cheaper to study in Britain than, say, Dublin.
There is, however, one uncertainty this year. Following the recent Dearing enquiry into higher education, the British government has indicated that it intends to apply tuition fees to students for 1998. These will be means-tested and are not intended to discourage applications from students from poorer families. Precise details have yet to be worked out and it is unclear how these will be applied to students from other EU countries, such as this State.
The universities are anxious not to discourage applicants by this change and will be well represented at The Irish Times/Institute of Guidance Counsellors Higher Options Conference at the RDS this week and again at the Cork Careers Options Conference next month.
The experience of the University of Bradford, where numbers have doubled over the last four years, reflects the increased interest being shown by Irish students in studying in Britain. Being just seven miles from Leeds/Bradford airport, which has several daily flights to Dublin taking around one hour, convenience of travel has clearly been an important consideration. Modest living costs, vocationally-focused courses and the existence of strong Irish communities - both in Bradford and neighbouring Leeds - have all added to the appeal among Irish students.
For many Irish school leavers, looking for a place at a British university could well be a very sensible next step.
Colin Mellors is pro-vice-chancellor of the University of Bradford.
