Irish passport = fee free Scottish education...

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Source? Education is a devolved matter for Scotland. We choose a government who wanted to provide free education for Scots. Your country voted for the tories and with the tories you got what you have.

If in two years time YOUR country gains independence, we'll see if they can still provide free university education for YOU people.

Reply 61

Left Hand Drive

Original post by quavers

If in two years time YOUR country gains independence, we'll see if they can still provide free university education for YOU people.

So what this is in reality is your not getting it so why should the Scots?

Reply 62

quavers

Original post by Left Hand Drive

So what this is in reality is your not getting it so why should the Scots?

It's more, my taxes are going towards something that only the Scots are benefiting from. If the Scottish government wishes to provide free education to their people, they should fund it via an alternative source.

Reply 63

Left Hand Drive

Original post by quavers

So what you are saying is English taxes cover all English uni's and then Scots. Where as we Scots cant cover our own. You are stupid Im done with you.

Reply 64

quavers

Original post by Left Hand Drive

So what you are saying is English taxes cover all English uni's and then Scots. Where as we Scots cant cover our own. You are stupid Im done with you.

I'm done with YOU, YOUR people, YOUR government and YOUR country. Bring on the independence.

Reply 65

musicapplicant

What does this mean for Northern Irish students with an Irish passport who are already studying in Scotland? I've been a student in Glasgow since September, if I provide passport does my tuition fees loan get taken off?

Reply 66

Left Hand Drive

Original post by quavers

I'm done with YOU, YOUR people, YOUR government and YOUR country. Bring on the independence.

Amen

Reply 67

FinalMH

Original post by Left Hand Drive

Amen

You understand that you won't have free education once you're independence right?

Reply 68

bishbash72

Original post by Left Hand Drive

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16477990

You seem to forget one important thing:

WE ARE PART OF THE SAME ****ING COUNTRY!

While Scotland enjoys English tax revenues, it has to deal with English voters. Apparently when it comes to tax revenue its a United Kingdom but when it comes to policy it's 'Scotland and England'. You can blame the English for the Conservatives all you want, but remember that Scotland joined the UK willingly, participated enthusiastically and even now wants to remain part of the UK.

And anyway, as I mentioned earlier, the university situation is a result of both Labour and Tory governments, but primarily Labour. The fee hike to £9000 was simply the implementation of Labour policy in the Browne Review, and it was necessitated by the increase in student numbers under successive governments, but mainly under New Labour.

You seem to think that Scotland gets free fees because you were wise enough to elect benevolent socialists while those evil English people voted for evil Tories and so somehow deserve to get shafted because of it. But the issue isn't left or right, it's the fact that the Scots get things that the English don't, despite the fact that we are citizens of the same country paying the same taxes and electing the same government. The Barnett formula is what makes us angry, and it is certainly not a result of 'evil Tories', it's the result of successive governments deciding that because England is the largest nation of the UK, that its concerns are less important than those of Scotland, Wales and NI.

Reply 69

bishbash72

Original post by quavers

The irony is, the Scottish government actually has the power to raise income tax within Scotland. So they could pay for Scots-only benefits. Of course, they prefer to let everyone else pay for them.

Reply 70

tpxvs

Ahh how is this fair, why cant we all have the same rules. How come tuition is totally free for some people in the UK, ~£3500 for the Welsh (me) and up to £9000 for some people?!

Personally I'll end up in a tuition fee debt of ~£3500 x 5 = £17500 for studying medicine. Whereas the majority of my peers will end up in a debt of £9000 x 5 = £45000.

How/why is this happening?!

Reply 71

FloydRix

Gotta change my passport :tongue:

Reply 72

Snagprophet

Original post by quavers

Why don't they provide free education for all the UK (inc England and Wales) in addition to the EU, rather than picking and choosing?

Because we spend our money on other things.

Reply 73

NR09

Original post by Callum828

No, but what the Scottish government CAN do is charge equal fees for all citizens of Britain, since its funding comes from Britain, not just from those who live in Scotland.

Yes, but what I'm saying is that they are not able to charge EU students because they have to charge them what Scottish students pay, according to European law.

I'm suggesting that it is likely that the Scottish government would have chosen to charge EU students, but they are not able to. It is a case of them charging everyone they lawfully can (except Scottish students obviously)

Reply 74

Sniggey

Original post by tpxvs

How/why is this happening?!

An excellent idea called devolution that allows the individual countries of the UK to make decisions for themselves that best suit their people.

Yes, scotland does get a higher subsidy per capita than England, but the figure needs to be looked at in perspective. The higher subsidy is for the greater healthcare needs in Scotland due to higher cancer and heart disease rates, and for accessibility to emergency services and healthcare in rural areas. Not for free education, that has been a long-standing policy in scotland that wasnt a problem before - it has only been highlighted recently due to changes made to fees in England by the tories, and because the SNP have defended free tuition for Scots.

Apparently the most recent figure for revenue generated by North Sea oil(08-09) was £11 billion which entirely clears the UK deficit. All of which would come from Scottish territory if the country became independent. However this figure can fluctuate significantly, oil prices are very unstable.

The argument for independence can easily go both ways, you cant simply pick and choose certain statistics to support your own argument. This thread's gone way off track :rolleyes:

Reply 75

kred

There are also limited places paid for by the Scottish Govt. They won't just pay for everyone that's wants to go to uni. So we may find that actually there are many more paying students either RUK or international at Scottish unis and free Scottish/EU/NI students will find that there are less and less places available.

I can understand why the SNP want to provide free higher education for Scottish people - I think education has always been an important part of our culture along with the idea of not penalising people just because they are poor - but it may just mean that less Scots will end up in Scottish unis or in fact any unis.

Also we all pay taxes for things that benefit other parts of the UK and I would guess that most of it is spend in the South of England.

Reply 76

startitup

Original post by medbh4805

Can't wait to see if the unionists will all go out and get their Irish passports for free fees, or will they pay £9000 on a point of principle :colone:

I regret not applying anywhere in Scotland now :emo:

I'm a unionist but haven't applied to Scottish universities and will hopefully be studying in England next year. I would pay the fees in traditional unionist style and not apply for an Irish passport!

Reply 77

FloydRix

Original post by startitup

I don't get it. I'm also a Unionist. Just suck it up and you'll save yourself a lot of cash in the future. I don't get your logic.

Reply 78

startitup

Original post by FloydRix

I don't get it. I'm also a Unionist. Just suck it up and you'll save yourself a lot of cash in the future. I don't get your logic.

I'm not studying in Scotland next year so it doesn't even matter. It is a fee loophole that needs to be looked at and reformed in some way.

Reply 79

Snufkin

Universities Forum Helper

I'm entitled to Irish citizenship; is it worth applying for it or does this only apply to NI students? I always thought there was no point because I'd have to be a resident in Ireland for three years to qualify for free fees.

:lep: