Vol. 431 No. 4
90 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education the assistance available from her Department to Irish students studying in the UK; and the entitlements which students have from the UK authorities towards the cost of third level education there.
As regards assistance from my Department, Irish students attending approved institutions in Northern Ireland are eligible for the award of grants under the Higher Education Grants Scheme. Irish students studying elsewhere in the UK are not eligible for grants under the Higher Education Grants Scheme.
However, in the case of students holding higher education grants in respect of attendance at approved institutions in Ireland, payment of grant may be continued for one year in respect of attendance abroad where
(i) the period of study abroad is shown to be an integral part of the student's course, and
(ii) the period of study abroad is a requirement of the course as laid down by college regulations, and
(iii) the student continues to be registered at the home university or college.
As regards assistance from the UK authorities, that of course is a matter in the first instance for those authorities. However, broadly speaking, I understand that EC nationals at undergraduate level attending courses in the UK which qualify for mandatory awards have a similar entitlement to that of UK students in respect of the payment of tuition fees from the UK authorities.
With regard to payments in respect of maintenance, I understand that there is a residence requirement in that students must satisfy the UK authorities that they have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years immediately preceding the commencement of the academic year in question.
Irish students also have a small number of postgraduate scholarships funded by the UK Government available to them to study in the UK with preference given to science and technology disciplines, and these scholarships are reciprocated by the Irish Government for students from the UK who wish to study here.
