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View Latest * About Us * Who We Are * Funding * Code of Principles * FAQ * Feedback and Corrections * Independence * Policies * Data Protection Policy * Privacy Policy * Code of Conduct * Process * Researchers * Toolkit * Training * Contact * Request a Fact Check Search Submit a Topic Lights off Lights on Home / **Do 38% of students have to leave Northern Ireland?** > **Do 38% of students have to leave Northern Ireland?** # Do 38% of students have to leave Northern Ireland? 21 June 2016 3 minute read ###### Subject CLAIM: 38% of students have to leave Northern Ireland at age 18 for higher education. ###### Rating INACCURATE Most recent data show a third (33.5%) of school leavers continue studies outside Northern Ireland. While public investment policy in further education is a significant factor, others must be considered, such as the desire and ability to take up opportunities elsewhere. Thus it is misleading to say that 38% have to leave; some leave because they wish to. ![\\"\\"](\\" return-1024x538.png\\") In an article published by the Belfast Telegraph on 30th May 2016, Vice- Chancellor Patrick Johnston stated: “Some 38% of students have to leave Northern Ireland at the age of 18; that’s a really serious situation for any society because in particular your most talented people are leaving.” Queen’s University Belfast replied that they obtained the figure of 38% from a Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) End of Cycle Report 2015(Northern Ireland (NI) students to Great Britain (GB)) and the Higher Education Authority (Northern Ireland students to Ireland). Using these two sources, for 2014-15, we calculated a figure of Northern Ireland student acceptances to Great Britain and Ireland at 39.6%. UCAS provide data from 2006-2015, which shows a pattern of student acceptances to Great Britain higher education institutions running between 31-38% per year:![\\"\\"](\\" students-accepted-study-gb-1.jpg\\") Year| Leaving %| Acceptance (to GB)| Leaving (to GB) ---|---|---|--- 2006| 35.00%| 12,385| 4,335 2007| 33.99%| 13,005| 4,420 2008| 32.91%| 13,430| 4,420 2009| 31.63%| 13,595| 4,300 2010| 34.62%| 13,505| 4,675 2011| 37.35%| 13,790| 5,150 2012| 32.08%| 13,280| 4,260 2013| 31.23%| 14,555| 4,545 2014| 31.82%| 14,455| 4,600 2015| 36.51%| 14,050| 5,130 Source: Acceptances are different than enrolment. Figures from NISRA published in May 2016 indicate that of the total 9,459 school leavers in Northern Ireland in the 2014-2015 period pursuing further education, 6,289 (66.5%) continued their studies at a Northern Ireland institution, whereas 2,866 (30.3%) students made the move to an institution in Great Britain, and the remaining 304 (3.2%) moved outside of the United Kingdom (UK) for higher education (i.e. 33.5% leave Northern Ireland). In the Belfast Telegraph article, Mr Johnston blamed declining government investment in higher education, describing the reduction in its subsidy from the Northern Ireland Executive between 2010-2014 as a 24% cut in real terms. Similarly, cuts to the education budget (£89 million in the 2010/11 academic year to £70.7 million for this year) have also led to Ulster University’s plans to cut student numbers by 1,200 and staff by 210. Consequently, there have also been plans to discontinue over 50 undergraduate degree courses through Ulster University’s four campuses. Education budget cuts are being experienced also in Scotland, while in Wales, £31 million of planned cuts were reversed by its finance minister. Overall in the UK, public spending in education has proportionately increased for primary and secondary schools, and decreased for higher education. It is important to look at other factors influencing the emigration of students. In 2008, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland commissioned a review on key patterns and drivers of education migration in Northern Ireland. The review found that about 30% were regularly leaving Northern Ireland annually (for example see p. 26 and p. 28). The review also highlighted a finding by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that middle-class families have been better able to take advantage of increasing educational opportunities; and that working-class children and families’ decision making is affected by a range of factors such as risk aversion, which make them more conservative in the choices that they make. And the changes in student financing will affect migration behaviour. Mr Johnston’s quoted figure of 38% is within the recent range of Northern Ireland students being accepted/enrolling in higher education institutions in Great Britain and Ireland. However, it is misleading to say that 38% of students have to leave Northern Ireland for further education. Government policy will directly impact some students, but other factors influence this decision, including one’s socio- economic status and own volition to seek opportunities elsewhere. Image: “Student Studying” by UBC Learning Commons licensed by CC BY 2.0 FactCheckNI is Northern Ireland’s first and only dedicated independent fact- checking service and a verified signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network’s Code of Principles. You can learn more about about FactCheckNI, our personnel, what our article verdicts mean, and how to submit a claim. Back to top Share Tags * immigration * university ## Read next ![\\"\\"](\\" WEBSITE-1-1-1-260x160.png\\") Articles | Education ##### Are 73% of childcare providers in Northern Ireland set to have increased fees before summer holidays this year? 31 May 2024 CLAIM: 73% of childcare settings in Northern Ireland have either increased fees in 2024, or plan to do so before the end of June. ###### Rating ACCURATE On 9 April in a statement about childcare costs delivered to the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl said: “73% of providers have either ### Newsletter sign up Keep up with the latest from FactCheckNI with our email newsletter. We’ll only send you the good stuff. We’ll never spam you. We’ll never share you email address. 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38 of students have to leave Northern Ireland at age 18 for higher education