Taking the UCAS route

Despite the fact that the number of students from the Republic applying to go to third-level institutions in Britain and Northern Ireland has fallen dramatically in recent years, for some students securing a college place at a British college makes excellent sense. With over 250 universities and colleges and thousands of courses to chose from in the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service) system - the equivalent of the CAO - students are guaranteed a wide choice.

The fact that many of the courses are unavailable in the Republic gives students a greater chance of finding a course which precisely suits their needs. For anyone bent on a highly sought after, high points course - pharmacy for example - a place on a British course is ideal, especially if you narrowly miss getting enough points for a course at home.

In 1997 applications to British colleges were running at 11,000 per annum. By this year, though, fewer than 6,000 students from the Republic were applying. Traditionally, Irish students have used the UCAS system as an insurance policy - if they fail to get enough points at home, they'll have a fall back position.

With fewer students applying, it's likely that the people, who do, are mostly those who genuinely intend to take up places there. 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.

The British Government's introduction of means-tested, third-level tuition fees, which this year amounted to £1,050, is widely regarded as a major reason for the fall-off in applications. However, the abolition of third-level fees and the increase in the number of student places in this State have also played a role. Indeed, tuition fees now only apply to colleges in England and Wales, since Scotland, enjoying its parliamentary independence, has abolished them. In England and Wales, though, you will be exempt from fees, if your family income is less than £17,804 sterling. However, if the income is more than £28,590 sterling, you'll have to pay the full whack. Although fees have been abolished in the Republic, Irish students in Britain tend to shrug off the issue. "When you think about it," says a student, "it's on a sliding scale and very often, it's not much worse than paying the student service charge." Students going to college in Britain are eligible to apply for maintenance grants in the normal way. However, if you're applying for a course where the numbers are capped - medicine or dentistry for example - you won't be able to get a grant.

Talk to Irish students studying in Britain and the chances are they'll comment on the UCAS application form, which unlike our CAO form, includes space for a personal statement. Colleges stress the importance of taking time to maximise the opportunity to make an impact here, and students agree. "I really think this is important," says a recent graduate. "It certainly gave me a chance to sell myself and make my mark. I think it's good that in Britain, admission to college isn't based solely on your exam results - your achievements and interests are taken into consideration." British colleges say they're keen to ensure that the students they admit are well suited to their courses. Qualifications apart, good motivation and aptitude are essential. Colleges are interested to discover whether students have benefited from work experience and can show initiative outside the normal academic arena.

In many instances, candidates are interviewed by the institutions before an offer (either firm or conditional on achieving certain grades) of a place is made. If you are considering applying to a British college, there's a few things you need to think about. First of all, you must investigate your course thoroughly. "Make sure that the course is really what you want, in a place you want to be," is the expert's advice. It's well worth visiting colleges to check them out and ensure they're what you really want. Is it important that you have easy access to home? There's no point going to college in some remote spot in Britain, if you want to return to the family nest every weekend. It's worth remembering that British cities like Cardiff, Liverpool, Luton and Birmingham are among those which have direct airlinks to Dublin.

You also need to decide whether you like city life and want to go to college in a town, or whether you'd prefer a more self-sufficient campus in a more isolated spot. Remember, if you're used to a quiet life in rural Ireland, you may find it particularly difficult to settle into one of Britain's overcrowded cities. The downside of going to college in Britain these days is the high cost of sterling, which currently means that for an Irish student, almost everything is over 20 per cent more expensive. Accommodation costs - which are spiralling out of control here at home - tend to be lower in Britain (except in London). The further away from the capital you move, the less costly life becomes.

One of the main advantages of going to college in Britain is the relative abundant supply of campus accommodation. Irish students going to college in Britain for the first time are advised to opt for campus accommodation. It's the ideal way to make new friends and acquire a social life. When it comes to accommodation, some colleges, keen to boost their intakes of Irish students, will give you priority.

Popular areas of study among Irish students, studying in Britain, include arts and media, computing, early childhood and social care studies and sports studies. Social life is as important to British students as it is to their Irish counterparts. Some students believe it is even better. "I was in halls for first year and to stay in for more than one night a week was rare," reports one Irish student. College societies are often better funded in British colleges than they are in the Republic. Students speak highly of what's on offer - two student union clubs, six union bars offering regular pound per pint nights are among the attractions at the University of Aberdeen, for example. The union also organises free buses from the halls of residence to nightclubs and if you have to take a taxi unexpectedly, the union will pay for it. You simply pay them back when you can, according to student Sarah McConnell.

There's no doubt that in recent years students from the Republic of Ireland have been making a huge impact on British college campuses. British colleges are anxious to recruit bright Irish youngsters. Being Irish on a British campus can be a huge advantage. Irish students can thrive in Britain and come out with very good degrees. The influence of Irish students on British campuses is most noticeable on the sports field. Many universities - particularly in Scotland - now boast Gaelic football teams. Such is the craic that even non-Irish students are clamouring to take up the sport.