Background to the Research

• This report examines the statistical data available from the CAO in the ROI and the UCAS in the UK in relation to applications and acceptances to higher education in and between both jurisdictions for the 1997b academic year. This report is the first in a series, future report will cover data for 1998/99 and 1999/2000.
  

Research Approach

• Secondary data analysis of CAO and UCAS.
  

Main Findings

• In 1997 there were 1,915 applications from the UK to the ROI, 593 of these were from GB and the majority were for degree level study.
• 6014 applications were made from the ROI to institutions in GB, 1804 were made to institutions in Northern Ireland.
• Applications and acceptances to higher education are largely aged 21 and under. Overall there are few gender differences.
• In 1997, there were 246 acceptances form Northern Ireland to institutions in the ROI, and 108 form GB.
• There were 3,171 acceptances from the ROI to institutions in GB, 707 were for institutions in Northern Ireland.
• 601 (17%) acceptances from the ROI into the UK were for Medicine/Dentistry and Subjects allied to medicine accepted. A further 395 (11%) were for Engineering/technology.
• Northern Ireland degree level acceptances into ROI institutions were concentrated in Arts/Social Science (35.7%), Admin/Business (16.8%) and Law (15.5%).
• GB acceptances into ROI institutions were concentrated in Arts/Social Science (67%) and Human Medicine (11.3%).
• At Diploma/Certificate level, Northern Ireland acceptances into the ROI institutions fall into four areas: Education (37.5%), Admin/Business and Architecture (25% each) and; Science/Applied Science (12.5%).
• GB acceptances at Diploma/Certificate level fall into four areas; Education (54.5%), Admin/Business (27.3%), Applied Science/Science and Art/Design (9.1% each).
• The majority of applications to higher education in each jurisdiction were from the Social Classes II and IIIM.
• UCAS Application success rates were best for GB at an average 75%, and ROI success rates were the lowest with an average success rate of 33%.
• Application success rates were best for the social class I and least successful for social class V, however, lower social classes in GB appear to have fared better than those from both parts of Ireland.
• Future analysis will measure any impact in the flows of students in light of changing policies on tuition fees and student maintenance in the various jurisdictions.