14th November 2006

Email this Page |

Members of the Students’ Union joined a recent delegation to Stormont to urge a new deal on student funding. 

The bid was launched as evidence reveals thousands of young people are being deterred from progressing to higher education due to the increasing costs. 

The Student Movement in Northern Ireland is calling on political parties to urgently support their campaign to abolish top-up fees and improve student grants. 

UCAS figures last month revealed a dramatic 16.7 percent drop in the number of applicants accepted to Northern Ireland colleges following the introduction of top-up fees this year. 

Meanwhile, the number of students coming to study in Northern Ireland from the republic of Ireland has also plummeted over the same period according to NUS-USI. 

Overall President, Aoibheann Fearon said: “This is part of our ongoing campaign to get a better deal for students.  It is important that we address these issues, not only for current students but also for future school leavers.” 

NUS-USI Convenor Colleen Dowdall said: “The introduction of top-up fees of up to £3,000 per year has heightened the problems that tuition fees ushered in. The name of our campaign, Admission: Impossible, reflects the devastating reality for thousands of young people who feel forced to choose between going to university and earning money to support themselves. 

“For students attending university, the burden of escalating fees means they are now forced to juggle studying with around 20 hours a week of paid work. This can have a detrimental effect on students’ grades and may have mental health consequences.”   

For further information, please contact:

Trina Porter
Telephone: 028 71675511
Email: Trina Porter