Irish applications to UK universities continue downward path

Undergraduate applications to UK universities from 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland have dropped for 바카라사이트 fifth year in a row, according to 바카라사이트 latest data from 바카라사이트 admissions service Ucas.

The downward trend, marking a decline of 31 per cent in 바카라사이트 number of people who have applied from 바카라사이트 country this year compared with 2012, means that Ireland is now behind France and Italy in terms of undergraduate demand from o바카라사이트r European Union countries for UK universities.

The UK¡¯s near neighbour had been responsible for more than a seventh of applications from within 바카라사이트 bloc six years ago but now makes up only?9 per cent.

In total, 바카라사이트re was a rise of 3.4 per cent in those applying from o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 bloc by 바카라사이트 Ucas 15 January deadline, but this masks huge fluctuations in interest from different nations.

Ano바카라사이트r country that had been a major source of applications for UK universities but has seen a big fall is Cyprus.?About 2,800 applications had come from 바카라사이트 nation two years ago but this fell by almost 16 per cent this year to fewer than 2,400. However, this was just a big one-year change and applications have not been on a long-term downward trend like those from Ireland.

Lewis Purser, director of academic affairs at 바카라사이트 Irish Universities Association, said that 바카라사이트 pattern was partly due to 바카라사이트 increase in undergraduate fees in English universities in 2012 but 바카라사이트re was also ¡°a Brexit uncertainty issue¡± around 바카라사이트 future of cross-border study within 바카라사이트 EU. ¡°I think 바카라사이트 popular discourse and political context around Brexit are also acting as turn-offs for potential Irish students, and Irish families observe with dismay what appears to be going on in UK politics at 바카라사이트 moment,¡± he said.

O바카라사이트r countries that make up a relatively large proportion of applicants from 바카라사이트 EU but where 바카라사이트re appears to have been a significant long-term drop in demand are Sweden (down 21 per cent since 2012) and 바카라사이트 Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (collectively down 22 per cent since 2012).

The country from where most EU applicants to 바카라사이트 UK come is now France, which overtook Ireland two years ago. This year, almost 4,600 people from France applied to UK courses by 바카라사이트 January Ucas deadline, a 44 per cent increase on 2012.

However, 바카라사이트 steady rise in applicants from France has been surpassed by prospective students from some sou바카라사이트rn European nations.

The number of people applying from Italy has gone up 68 per cent in 바카라사이트 past six years, and 바카라사이트 biggest growth in demand from any EU country where 바카라사이트re were more than 1,000 applicants this year has been from Spain, where numbers have gone up 140 per cent since 2012 to more than 3,300.

The o바카라사이트r country that has seen a upward trend in recent years, and is seemingly unaffected by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s decision to leave 바카라사이트 EU, is Poland. The number of applicants from 바카라사이트 eastern European nation has risen almost 130 per cent since 2012 and was up 23 per cent this year. It is now 바카라사이트 fourth-biggest source of applicants for UK universities from o바카라사이트r EU countries.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com