Feared influx of Irish students at Scots universities fails to materialise

The latest UCAS figures undermine claims that Scotland’s universities would see an influx of students from Northern Ireland exploiting a loophole in the funding arrangements.

Any student from Northern Ireland with an Irish passport would qualify as an EU citizen and would therefore be exempt from fees in Scotland.

Universities, including Dundee and Glasgow Caledonian, had reported a large increase in students from Northern Ireland applying as EU citizens.

However, yesterday’s figures showed a drop in the number of acceptances for Northern Irish and Irish students.

Education secretary Mike Russell said: “Significant drops in the number of students being accepted from both Northern Ireland and the Republic clearly demonstrate that recent scaremongering around an influx of Irish students this year has been a nonsense.”

CHRIS MARSHALL