Changes to affect NI students

In recent years students from NI have started to return to Trinity

Trinity College Dublin is considering changes to its admissions policy which could make it more difficult for students from Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to study there.

In recent years, students from Northern Ireland have started to return to the college in bigger numbers after a sharp drop-off because of the Troubles.

Nearly three quarters of all Northern Ireland and UK students studying in the Irish Republic go to Trinity.

The majority apply - using their A-level results - for high points courses such as medicine and law.

At the moment each A-level result is given double the points equivalent of the Irish Republic's Leaving Certificate.

But this week a UK expert group concluded that an honours Leaving Cert subject is equal to two-thirds of an A-level.

If Trinity agrees to this change then more students from the Irish Republic are likely to get places at the college because students there study more subjects than their UK counterparts.

The proposal will be considered by the university's council in the coming week and will then go to the university's board for a final decision.