Students and opposition politicians have staged a protest outside Leinster House, calling for more clarity on the rate of fees they will be paying.

The student contribution fee has been temporarily reduced for the past three years as part of cost-of-living packages accompanying the budget.

Concerns are mounting among this year’s Leaving Cert cohort, as pandemic-era grade inflation is set to fall by two per cent

Figures from the Higher Education Authority for the 2021/2022 academic year show the rate increased from 12 per cent the previous year

Queen’s University Belfast vice-chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer has called for an increase in the cap on student numbers.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland accused the Department of Higher Education of deliberately frustrating industrial relations

A doubling of programmes that create a pathway to higher education is being planned for the coming academic year. Fourteen new degree courses to be unveiled outside CAO points race

Figures from the Central Statistics Office show 60 per cent of people aged 35-44 hold a third-level qualification

The study also found almost a quarter of those were considering the move due to financial reasons.