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Guarantee on funding for UK students in Ireland

Irish government confirms student funding access for next academic year, despite Brexit

Students from the UK will still be able to access funding from the Irish government if they study at an Irish university after Brexit, the country’s education ministers have confirmed.

Ireland’s minister of state for higher education, Mary Mitchell O’Conner, said on 10 January that students from Britain studying in Ireland will keep their access to the Student Universal Support Ireland fund, Ireland’s student grant, for the 2020-21 academic year. It means costs for UK students in Ireland will stay around €3,000 regardless of Brexit.

But a spokesman for the Irish government told Research Professional News that while those starting university in September would be covered for the duration of their studies, the student funding agreement would be reviewed on an annual basis.

“Students from Britain and Northern Ireland will…continue to avail of access to the free fees initiative subject to compliance with the eligibility criteria,” she said. Although tuition fees are not charged in the Republic of Ireland, students pay a contribution and in 2019-20 the contribution is €3,000.

Students from Ireland studying in the UK in the next academic year will also be able to access the Student Universal Support Ireland grant. Ireland’s minister for education and skills, Joe McHugh, said the announcement would give those in both countries time to plan their higher education choices before September.

“We are heading into a period of change but student mobility between Ireland and the UK has always been a strong feature of our education systems. I am determined that this should grow and serve to remind us all of our shared respect and understanding,” he added.

It comes after the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding in May, which confirmed that students in either country would continue to access education at all levels on “terms no less favourable than those for the citizen of that State”.

The UK government’s Department for Education has been contacted for comment.