Northern Irish students could be exempt from fees

Students from Northern Ireland may be entitled to free education at Scottish universities due to dual British-Irish citizenship.

The Scottish Government has kept university tuition free for students resident in Scotland, and due to European law has had to offer the same free education to applicants from the rest of the EU.

As some residents in Northern Ireland have dual nationality and the right to opt for Irish passports this means that many applicants are considered as EU rather than UK applicants for Scottish universities.

However, it is understood that some universities in Scotland have told these applicants they will be classed as UK nationals and will have to pay fees.

Scottish Education Secretary Michael Russell has said universities would have the final word stating:
"The purpose of the regulations is to guarantee Scottish students free access. It is not to find ways around for other people. Because of European law, people coming from other jurisdictions do get the same treatment as Scottish students but those in the rest of the UK don't."

The DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said:
"Northern Ireland's citizenship issue is unique to that of the rest of the United Kingdom in that someone living in Belfast can hold both a British passport and an Irish passport. They can officially be an Irish citizen and a British citizen."

"With such a unique situation, the Scottish executive should take an equally unique approach to Northern Ireland students."

Mr Campbell went on to explain that the system shouldn't force Northern Irish students to adopt Irish citizenship and that fees for students from Northern Ireland should be scrapped by the Scottish government to avoid a situation where Mr Campbell claims that Northern Irish students who wish to retain British citizenship would be "disadvantaged to the tune of £27,000.

If such a decision was taken it would likely raise the issue of UK citizens from England and Wales being charged to attend university in Scotland.