Making the decision to move to the UK to take up a third level course is a big one, which can shape the rest of your life. Before you go it is a good idea to weigh up the pros and cons involved.

UK qualifications are recognised and respected throughout the world. There are many highly prestigious universities in the UK with names such as Oxford, Cambridge, the London School of Economics, St Andrews and Queens University in Belfast. These universities are all famous and respected throughout the world. There are also another 3000 or so other educational institutions to choose from. Given its very size, the British education system offers a range of options that is difficult to surpass.

Just because there are lots of courses available in the UK, it doesn’t mean that the entrance requirements and exam results necessary are less demanding. The large number of courses is almost matched by the huge sum of students applying. So the UK is not an easy option, although it can be slightly less difficult to secure a place for some subjects. The application system has a certain flexibility that the CAO does not. For example, the UCAS form asks for a personal statement and a teacher’s reference, where students can show off their abilities and ambitions. This means that acceptance onto a course isn't totally down to the few hours you sit for a Leaving Cert subject.

The tuition fees issue is a major con for many students. “Top-up” fees are being introduced for the start of the academic year 2006/7 and they can be up to £3,000 (E4,500) a year depending on the course and institution. There is an option to pay the money up front, or to defer payment until students have started working after graduation. This obviously compares unfavourably from the student’s point of view with the Irish system, where the Irish government pays the tuition fees for all Irish students.

The cost of living in another country is also something to consider. Travel expenses, accommodation, food bills, socialising and other costs might be higher when you are away from friends and family. However, moving to the UK might not always be a disadvantage since Irish cities (and particularly Dublin) have become notoriously expensive for students. Having said that, London and other British cities aren’t all that cheap either. Students should do some research and look at ‘cost of living’ surveys from the universities that they are considering. Accommodation is guaranteed for all first-year students and this is often of a higher quality, and is less expensive, than Irish offerings. The price of flights also seems to be falling continuously. Furthermore, it is worth remembering that students who qualify for local authority maintenance grants can still claim assistance if they are studying in the UK. It is a difficult decision to make. Either way, wherever you go to college it is going to cost money.

The UK can be a cosmopolitan and exciting place to live. Millions of people with backgrounds from all around the world now live in the UK, creating a diverse and multicultural society. You would be among more than a quarter of a million international students in the UK. There are also excellent sporting, social and cultural venues, organisations and activities to take advantage of throughout the UK, many of which you might not see in Ireland.

The best advice to give students who are weighing up the pluses and minuses of moving to the UK to study is to do as much research as possible. Spend hours on the Internet, looking at the university or college you are considering, and also find out about the environment and situation of the town or city where it is located. Try and visit the campus in advance, and talk to other students who have travelled abroad to study.

Finally, the most obvious thing to consider (which some people might see as a pro and others as a con) is that the UK is a whole separate country on the other side of the Irish Sea. It will generally be harder to pop home on a regular basis if you choose a UK college or university. For confident, independent individuals who enjoy meeting new people and taking on new challenges this can be exciting. However, for many others the idea of moving to a new country while at the same time adapting to third level study is very daunting. Even the most confident and outgoing of students will normally have some problems settling down. In the end, however, most people enjoy their time at university, and whether it is in Ireland or in the UK it doesn’t make a massive difference.