Irish passport = fee free Scottish education...

Well, for all those who still feel aggrieved at being detached from Ireland - where they feel is their rightful heritage.

What exactly have you done that needs rewarding? Just because you identify yourself as Irish doesn't make you warrant some kind of reward. I'll bet all of you applying with your Irish passport for no fees will be as quick to declare yourself British to make use of British student loans/grants.

well, what about those of us who still feel aggrieved that even though we are detached from Ireland, most of the world is ignorant to this fact and still think we're all Irish? because of this you lot don't have to fight for your identity to be respected like us British NIers do

because of this you lot don't have to fight for your identity to be respected like us British NIers do

I am totally against this. Just abusing the privileges and changing nationality to either British or Irish depending on the benefits available for each one in certain situations.

well, what about those of us who still feel aggrieved that even though we are detached from Ireland, most of the world is ignorant to this fact and still think we're all Irish? because of this you lot don't have to fight for your identity to be respected like us British NIers do

It does seem a bit ironic that an arm of the British state is rewarding people for disassociating themselves from it

Although I suppose it's not really that ironic because the party in control of that arm also want to disassociate itself from the British state.

True point, but the area I live in IS in the UK, my currency has the Queen's head on it. Also I don't think society has integrated me into considering supporting a Northern Irish state (independent) nor it seems have Britain attempted to include NI. E.g, Great Britain Olympic team? NI is in it, but NI isn't in Great Britain?

The big problem here is the general EU ruling that all states pay equal fees. Rock and a hard place, on the one hand, face the wrath of the identity- deprived Nationalists, the wrath of Unionists or the wrath of the EU

Are you taking the piss? Are you completely oblivious to the history of Northern Ireland?

I'm angry that UK taxes go towards Scottish-only benefits. The Scottish government isn't providing free tuition. The British taxpayer is providing free tuition, but only to Scottish students.

And as for your solution of 'the rest of the UK giving its students free tuition':

1. It's unaffordable. The only reason the Scots can do so is because they are subsidised by UK taxpayers.

2. The English are unrepresented. There is no English Parliament, only Westminster. And when the tuition fee vote went through, Scottish MPs were quite happy to vote in favour, knowing that their own constituents would never have to pay.

Wait till you get to uni.
Half the people in Great Britain have no idea that Northern Ireland is even part of the UK. They have no ability to differentiate between Northern Irish and Irish, and get very disappointed when they asked you to say 33 and 1/3 and you don't say it how they were expecting.

Team GB is actually poorly named for this reason. Really it's the UK's team.



Yes I think it's a stupid rule that hasn't been thought out. As I mentioned before, I think some US states offer cheaper education to those from that state, so surely it must have seemed possible that an EU country would do a similar thing.

I think either it should be made universal, so universities must charge all EU citizens the same, regardless of whether they are from the same country or not. Or they could do it so people from other EU countries will be charged the highest price a local (to that EU member state) student could be charged. So in Scotland, they'd be charged the same as an English student.

A university should be able to charge people from it's own country less than any other country abroad. This will help promote further education in their own country.

If you're Northern Irish and have an Irish Passport you are eligible to have the standard £1820 tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government. If your university still chooses to consider you a RUK student and charge you £9000 you'll still have to pay the remainder. I think St Andrews at least will still charge RUK fees to these students.

If you're Northern Irish and have an Irish Passport you are eligible to have the standard £1820 tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government. If your university still chooses to consider you a RUK student and charge you £9000 you'll still have to pay the remainder. I think St Andrews at least will still charge RUK fees to these students.

Why anyway? If you want free fees in England then stop electing the tories!

The majority of the English electorate (nationwide, obviously I feel sorry for the English people in places like Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester and so on who did not vote for them) voted for the Conservative Party. If you feel do aggrieved by the fees situation then start voting for parties that want free fees, and stop blaming Scottish people!