“United Kingdom universities could suffer a 25% drop in international students as a result of the government decision to end home student status for them in England, according to a new survey …” (more)
[Brendan O’Malley, University World News, 1 July]
“On 24 June, universities minister Michelle Donelan announced that, as a consequence of Brexit, EU and EEA students would be classified as overseas students starting from the 2021/22 academic year. They will be charged full tuition (up to £20,000 in some cases), lose access to the tuition fee loan, and no longer be eligible for many needs-based funds …” (more)
[Gábor Csontos, Guardian, 4 July]
“Several Irish universities, including University College Dublin (UCD), have ruled out fee reductions for students this Autumn semester despite fundamental changes in how courses will be delivered as a result of COVID-19 disruptions …” (more)
[Rowan Kelleher, College Tribune, 2 July]
“The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as domestic students …” (more)
[Brendan O’Malley, University World News, 26 June]
“Existing fee arrangements will be maintained for Irish students enrolling in UK universities in 2021/22, Ireland’s government has confirmed. Due to the Common Travel Area agreement between Ireland and the UK, students starting in 2020/21 had been told existing arrangements would apply to them – meaning UK students in Ireland would continue to pay €3,000, and Irish students would still pay the same fees they did before Brexit …” (more)
[Molly Furey, University Times, 25 June]
“Several Irish universities say they have no plans to reduce fees for courses beginning this autumn, even though some may be fully or partially moved online due to the impact of Covid-19. As universities and colleges introduce more blended and online learning for the upcoming academic year, on-campus physical learning hours are likely to be significantly impacted for many courses …” (more)
[Brian O’Connell, RTÉ News, 24 June]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has expressed concern about the lack of a plan to reduce Irish student fees in the programme for government put forward by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party this week. In a statement issued today, USI said that while some elements of the programme were promising, there was a lack of detail on how a number of actions will be taken …” (more)
[Patrick Coyle, Trinity News, 18 June]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called for clarity from the government on the details of a new funding model for third-level education, as well as criticising plans to keep Ireland’s highest-in-the-EU student fees at their current level …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 15 June]
“Almost four months after the general election, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party have drawn up a programme for government, which will now be put to their members for a vote …” (more)
[Aoife Kearins and Emer Moreau, University Times, 15 June]
“A deal for a Government programme has been finalised by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and The Green Party, with Micheál Martin set to take on the role of An Taoiseach before it is rotated to Leo Varadkar in 2022. The programme for government includes the abolishment of the Direct Provision system and changes in governance for the Higher Education sector …” (more)
[Mahnoor Choudhry, College Tribune, 15 June]
“There will be no increase to third-level fees under the next government, according to talks sources. It’s understood Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party have agreed, that despite calls from some within the sector to increase fees in order to protect Irish universities, there will be no additional fees for irish students …” (more)
[Aoife Moore and Daniel McConnell, Irish Examiner, 12 June]
“Last month, over 1,100 University College Dublin (UCD) students signed a petition calling for a partial refund of their fees for the 2019/2020 academic term. Two-thirds of the petitioners are postgraduate students, and just over half are doing a one-year masters degree. UCD currently refuses to grant refunds to any students …” (more)
[Meadhbh Park and Blathnaid Corless, College Tribune, 9 June]
“Conor Anderson, incoming University College Dublin (UCD) Students’ Union president, informed students that the university is not set to be compensating fees due to Covid-19 crisis. In a post to the Facebook group ‘Students for Fees Compensation’, Anderson outlines the response he received from his meeting with UCD Registrar and Deputy President, Mark Rogers …” (more)
[Savannah Murray, College Tribune, 5 June]
“Sir, – As a prospective student who will hopefully be starting an engineering degree in Queen’s University Belfast this autumn, it is with growing concern that I read of various developments regarding next year’s teaching methods …” (more)
[Szymon Gorczynski, Irish Times, 4 June]
“Most universities and third-level colleges are returning rent fees to students, while also facing a €500 million funding gap because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This estimate by the Higher Education Authority poses a significant problem for universities: squeezed from all sides by a drop in international students, a drop in advertising, and a loss in on-campus accommodation fees …” (more)
[TheJournal.ie, 1 June]
“Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if grant thresholds are being extended; and if the registration fee has been considered for abolition (details supplied) …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 27 May]
“The government does not currently intend to expand the criteria for eligibility for free third-level fees, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has said. Responding to a question in the Dáil from Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin about whether the government will conduct a review of its college fees policy for students returning home from abroad to study, McHugh said that the Department of Education and Skills ‘is not planning to amend the qualifying criteria of the Free Fees Initiative’ …” (more)
[Emer Moreau, University Times, 17 May]
“Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of abolishing third-level student fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 13 May]
“Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is conducting a review of the university fees policy for persons returning home abroad to study and that are no longer deemed to be Irish citizens for the purposes of university fees …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 13 May]
“There has been ‘no indication’ from the Department of Education and Skills that any changes to third level institutions’ fee levels are imminent, according to a spokesperson for the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Concerns have emerged on how University College Dublin (UCD) intends to mitigate a negative financial impact of up to €100 million by the end of this year …” (more)
[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 12 May]
