About 25 per cent fewer students from the Republic will take up third-level college places in Britain and Northern Ireland this year.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has received 2,873 acceptances from students in the Republic to date, compared with 3,878 last year. Mr Anthony McClaran, deputy chief executive with UCAS, says he expects the number will rise slightly as the college offers season has not yet closed.
The number of applications from students in the Republic has fallen from 11,213 last year to 8,063 to date. The introduction of fees for third-level UK courses has coincided with the introduction of the free-fees scheme here, and this may be a contributing factor.
Speaking to The Irish Times at the Higher Options conference in the RDS, Dublin, yesterday, Mr McClaran said he would be wary of jumping to conclusions, as the pattern varies each year.
The introduction of fees has had no effect on the pattern of applications from school-leavers in Britain, although the percentage of mature students applying for third-level places has declined, he said. In all, 271,668 students have accepted places through UCAS to date compared with a final figure of 272,059 last year.
The Higher Options conference, which is organised by The Irish Times and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, has attracted up to 250 third-level colleges from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
Mr Tony Barnhill, admissions officer with the University of Ulster, says applications from the Republic have dropped by 28 per cent this year.
Traditionally, about one-tenth of UU's students are drawn from the Republic. This is significant culturally as well as statistically, said Mr Barnhill.
Ms Lis Lewis, schools and colleges liaison adviser with the University of Bradford, has noted a slight decline in interest this year. The college traditionally attracts Irish students to courses such as pharmacy, optometry and physiotherapy.
However, the University of Wales Aberystwyth reports more interest from students this year. Marketing and recruitment officer Ms Mary Richardson says some students have inquired about the possibility of earning cash, and the availability of part-time jobs.
Most students were aware that the fees were means-tested and that a sliding scale of fees applied.
Vacant college places in Britain and Northern Ireland continue to be advertised through the clearing process. Last year, more than 40,000 college places were accepted through clearing.
This year a similar number of places has already been accepted through clearing, and the process continues until the end of the month. Vacancies are posted on the UCAS website, www.ucas.ac.uk