How much will Northern Irish students pay to attend university in Ireland after Brexit?

Students hoping to start degree courses in the Republic of Ireland from this September only have a short time left to send off their university applications.

Deciding where to study can be a daunting process for many – and uncertainty around Brexit has not made it any easier for prospective students.

That is especially so for pupils from Northern Ireland.

In just over two months, the UK is set to leave the European Union. But a lot of confusion still exists over how much Northern Irish students taking up university places in Ireland will be expected to pay after Brexit.

Students from the north had expressed concern over whether they would be treated as non-EU students after Brexit in March, as they would in that scenario have to pay much higher tuition fees.

But earlier this month, with just weeks to go until the university application deadline in the Republic, the Irish government finally provided a degree of clarity to anxious students who had been left in limbo.

Support will still be given to students applying to universities in the UK, as well as Northern Irish pupils wishing to study in the Republic after Brexit, at least for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Student grant and tuition fee arrangements currently in place will thus continue to apply for students entering higher education in September – regardless of whether Brexit happens in March.

But what about Northern Irish (and other UK) students hoping to study in Ireland from next year? Their future is unclear. The Irish government has said that it will review its position before the 2020-2021 academic intake.

There has been a rise in the number of Northern Irish students in the Republic in recent years.

Higher Education Authority figures show there were 1,328 Northern Irish students at universities, colleges and institutes of technology in Ireland in 2018 – a 37 per cent rise on 2012.

But many are concerned that Brexit will negatively affect the cross-border flow of students.

Currently, Northern Irish students pay a “student contribution” of €3,000 (£2,600) a year if they study south of the border – the same as students from Ireland itself. Many receive a student loan to cover the cost.

However, fees could rise to at least €10,000 a year if the Irish government decides ultimately to treat Northern Irish students as non-EU students in the years following Brexit.

So, while a temporary solution has been found for Northern Irish students starting degrees in Ireland this September, beyond that – as with many things at present – the future remains far from clear.

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