UCD may limit places available to Irish students due to lack of funding

University College Dublin has revealed it may be forced to cut the number of places available to Irish students if it does not get more funding.

Although this will not affect intake for the 2017 academic year, UCD president, Professor Andrew Deeks, has warned that the issue could pose a threat in the future.

According to independent.ie, international students typically pay between €18,000 and €24,000 for undergraduate courses – fees which in turn subsidise the costs for Irish students.

"Unless there is movement on the funding of Irish students soon, the university will have to consider the option of reducing the number of places available to Irish students in order to preserve quality," Professor Deeks said.

The news comes after figures show that the demand for college places will rise over the next two to three years.

It's no secret that Ireland's education system is going through a financial crisis. But with rising fees and cuts to grants putting students under huge pressure, there is controversy over who must pay to fix the problem.

According to Professor Deeks, as a result of the Government's failure to properly address the issue, UCD have been forced to up their intake of international students in order to increase staff number at the college, and maintain their place in The QS World University Rankings.