Thousands of this year's crop of Leaving Cert students are expected to leave Ireland to go to college in Britain this Autumn as the prospect of fees puts them off Irish universities.
UK colleges have had a surge of applications from Ireland in recent months after clear signals that fees would be introduced here in 2010.
Up to 3,000 of this year's Leaving Cert students are expected to cross the channel or go over the border to study.
The numbers may increase further next year when third level fees are expected to be introduced here.
The strength of the euro against the pound, the low cost of living and the ease of entry to some UK courses are factors in the surge in demand for places.
According to the latest figures announced by the British centralised college applications service UCAS, there has been a 14pc increase in demand from the Republic of Ireland - up to 5,425.
The biggest rise in interest has been seen in applications to colleges in England.
English colleges account for 3,785 applications, up 13pc on last year.
Scotland is the next most popular, with an 11pc rise to 2,734 applications. The number of students applying to go to colleges in Northern Ireland has increased by 12pc to 1,674, while there as been a 6pc increase in demand for colleges in Wales to 955.
To some extent, the rise in applications reflects a general increase in applications to college and Post Leaving courses during the recession. But at 14pc, the figures for British and Northern Irish universities are dramatic.
The existence of top-up fees in England and Wales was a major deterrent to Irish students considering British university courses.
Now that fees are on the way back here, with wide speculation that they will kick in at over €5,000, British universities are again looking highly competitive.
From a financial point of view, Scottish universities may be the most attractive to Irish students, because they don't charge fees.
For 2009 entry, universities and colleges in England charge students up to €3,700 a year for their courses.
Welsh colleges charge similar fees but Irish students are entitled to a tuition fee grant of €2,200 from the Welsh Government.
Students studying at British universities can put off the payment of fees until after they have graduated.
Many British universities have been spending heavily here on promotion, and have been keen to play up the advantages of student life in the UK.
The University of Edinburgh is among the most popular destinations for students. There are believed to around 270 Irish students enrolled in the college.
"Scotland is popular among Irish students, because of our close cultural links,'' says Niall Bradley, head of UK and EU Recruitment at the university. "If you live in Donegal it is easier to get to Scotland than to Cork.
"Irish students fit in very well here and the cost of living is cheaper. When tuition fees are introduced in Ireland, the cost factor will be even more important.''
Recent figures from the Higher Education Authority show that as many as one in 10 students leaves to go to college in Britain.
Large numbers enrol in high-point and professional courses in Britain such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, journalism, architecture, civil engineering and primary teaching because they cannot get places here.
Bangor University, for example, has gone to great lengths to promote its attractions to aspiring law students.
Last year, the points requirement for a law degree at the Welsh university was 200 points lower than comparable courses in Ireland.
In a blitz of advertising last autumn, the university boasted that the city is only two hours from Dublin by ferry and that it is the fourth cheapest city in Britain.
"One of our major advantages is that we are so close to Ireland,'' says Professor Dermot Cahill, head of Bangor's Law School. The cost of living is around 30pc less than in Ireland which is also a major draw.''
It would be wrong to suggest that the British universities only attract those who cannot get into Irish universities.
College authorities here are known to be concerned that foreign universities are luring Leaving Cert students with exceptionally high points.
A significant number of Irish students travelling to the UK are post-graduate students.
There are concerns in the Irish academic community that the departure of significant numbers of top students might do serious long-term damage to both the economy and society.
