Annual fees of up to £1,000 may be levied in colleges in Britain and Northern Ireland next year. A means test will be applied but it's not yet clear how this will work for Irish applicants.

In certain paramedical courses, Irish students may be eligible for full fees as fees are paid by the local health authority not the local education authority.

Maintenance grants are payable by the Irish Department of Education for full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years' duration in a university or third-level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in Britain. So, if you are eligible for a maintenance grant you will get one whether you study in Ireland, Britain or Northern Ireland. But, there are some important exceptions, notably courses such as medicine and dentistry, with restricted entry here.

For information contact the British Council, Newmount House, 22-24 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. Phone - (01) 676 4088.