The number of students from Northern Ireland opting to study at universities in Scotland has fallen by almost 10%, according to new statistics.

The latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show a sharp increase in the number of students going on to higher education courses in the province.

Fewer are going across the water, apparently as a result of the higher cost of studying in Scotland.

Pattern changing

Figures show that more than 10,000 young people from Northern Ireland started university courses last October, but the traditional pattern of where they are choosing to study has changed.

Some 1,500 went to Scottish institutions - a drop of almost 10% on the previous year's figures.

There is speculation that longer courses in Scotland, combined with the cost of both tuition and living expenses, has put people off the idea of studying away from home.

The number of students from Northern Ireland who choose to undertake higher education has risen only slightly, with many more of them winning university places at home.

Eager to study

However, the figures show that students from other parts of the UK appear more eager to come to Northern Ireland to study.

That is possibly as a result of the changing political climate in the province.

The number of first year students from England more than doubled in 1999.

Statistics also show that the most popular degrees are now those with a practical application.

Top of the class is business management, followed by computer science, with law falling into third place in the league.