Distance learning . . . when it's time to pack the bag and the books

For a considerable number of Irish students, attending third-level in Northern Ireland or Britain makes sense. Students living in the Border counties for example, who prefer to remain close to home, often opt for a Northern Irish college. Meanwhile, the wide range of courses and subject combinations and the sheer number of colleges - there are over 100 universities to chose from - make Britain an attractive option for some students. It may even be easier to obtain a place on particular courses - some arts, engineering and paramedical courses for example - than it is at home.

There are reckoned to be up to 10,000 Irish students currently studying in the British system, one quarter of whom are attending colleges in Northern Ireland. Last year, some 4,000 students from the Republic were offered third-level places in Britain, according to UCAS, the British central admissions service. This year though, applications are down by just under 30 per cent - from 10,533 in 1997 to 7,643 in 1998. This, it is believed, is largely due to the fact that the British government has introduced a means-tested £1,000 tuition fee. But overall, applications to British universities have suffered only a slight setback this year and are down by 2.4 per cent. And, despite the introduction of fees, applications from British under-21-year-olds are up by a little over 1 per cent. The number of applications from mature students though, has fallen.

This year, applications for courses in software engineering, marketing and market research and computer science have shown the biggest increases.

Traditionally the fees of Irish students attending undergraduate courses in UCAS colleges have been paid by the relevant local education authority in Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Students already in the British college system, or who are taking up a place awarded in 1997 after a gap year, are exempt from the new fees. The fact that the £1,000 fee is means-tested means that students whose taxable family income is less than £17,000 sterling, will enjoy free fees. Where the family income is over £27,000 sterling, however, students will be required to pay the full amount. Students who know they are ineligible for the waiving or remission of these fees are still advised to make an application to the relevant local education authority (LEA). The tuition fee represents only a contribution to the total amount of the fees and the remainder will be paid by the LEA.

Procedures may vary from one LEA to another. However, applications for help with fees should be accompanied by a copy of your college acceptance form. If the LEA decides you are eligible for free or reduced tuition fees, you will be asked to complete an assessment form which will require detailed information on your family income and supporting documents from the tax authorities.

If your application is approved, the LEA will send you an awards letter telling you how much help towards your fees they will give. It's vital that you send a copy of this letter to your college to inform them that you are receiving help with your fees. Keep copies of all the application forms you submit, in case of hiccups in the system.

Maintenance grants are available to students from the Republic who are attending third-level institutions in Britain or Northern Ireland. These grants are similar to those awarded to students attending Irish universities and are means-tested and awarded by the local authorities in the usual way. But be warned : if you opt to study a course in Britain which has a set quota of places in Ireland - teacher training, veterinary, physiotherapy or medicine for example - you will be ineligible for a maintenance grant since this would undermine the quota system.

By now, most Irish students who wish to study in Britain or in Northern Ireland have already applied for places and have received firm or conditional offers. However, late applications are still possible. Every year during August and September UCAS offers a clearing system to fill vacancies in British universities and colleges. If you have failed to receive an offer, if you have declined all offers made to you, if you have failed to meet the standards of a conditional offer, even if you have not yet made an application for a British place, you may do so now.

The clearing system in Scotland went into operation on August 7th when the results of the Scottish terminal exams were published. Lists of college vacancies in Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland will be published regularly in the British papers starting tomorrow or you can find them on the UCAS Website www.ucas.ac.uk. until September 25th. The UCAS helpline (0044 1242 227788) is available Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 6.00 p.m. until September 18th.

Anne Byrne, Careers and Guidance correspondent, in her College Places column in The Irish Times, will also keep you up to date on the clearing process. If you are looking for a place in a British college you must act immediately: places in the clearing system are snapped up very quickly. Check out 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. Although you will have to fill out a full UCAS application clearing form (or a clearing form if you have made an earlier application), don't wait to do this first. Talk to the college, accept a place if offered and then deal with the paperwork.

Even if you have received a conditional offer and have failed to make the grade by a small margin, you'd be well advised to ring the college to check whether a place will be offered on the basis of the points you have achieved. Ask to speak to the admissions tutor on the particular course. They may even be able to offer you a related course in the same department either on a similar degree programme or a HND course. The message from the experts is - don't hang about, take immediate action.