The imposition of third-level education fees in Northern Ireland could spell the imminent extinction of the much-talked about "Southern student", long seen as a freeloader in the eyes of some unionists. The reforms could also have a significant impact on the Republic's third-level system. Under the system, recommended in a major report on third-level education in Britain which was published last week, undergraduates from families earning more than £16,000 per year will have to pay fees of up to £1,000. Maintenance grants will also be scrapped.
The proposals would mean a complete reversal of the situation of recent years on this island. In the past students who would have had to pay fees in the Republic saved themselves the expense by studying in the North. In future Northerners could save money by availing of the new fee-free system in the Republic. Under EU regulations students from another member-state are entitled to the same benefits as those from the country in which they are studying.
In the academic year 1995-96, 3,125 students from the Republic were undertaking full-time undergraduate courses in Northern Ireland, or 13 per cent of the total. When students in part-time undergraduate or post-graduate courses are added, the figure rises to 4,163.
The Ulster Unionist MP, Mr John Taylor, has long campaigned against Southern students studying north of the Border, saying they were costing the British taxpayer £5 million a year and denying places to students from the North.
Last week Mr Taylor took some solace from the measures. "One of the best bits of news is that hopefully these 3,000 Southern Irish students will cease to come to Northern Ireland and we will now have 3,000 extra places for university students from our own families in Ulster," he said in a radio interview.
Students from the Republic were not as enthusiastic about the reforms, which are to be phased in from October next year. Ms Mary Claire Grealy from Roscommon, the cultural affairs officer of the students' union at Queen's University, said: "It's unfair to look at this as a political issue. We are all going to face hardships, especially those from less well-off backgrounds. It's going to mean a two-tier system."
Ms Grealy, an undergraduate student of modern history and politics, said she decided to study at Queen's because of the specific subject areas that were offered. The fact that there were no fees was a factor, but she added: "It was also about going away and experiencing a UK university".
Mr Cormac Bakewell, students' union president at Queen's University, said they wanted to maintain a diverse student body. "It would be a pity if people from any part of the world were dissuaded from studying here because of the expense."