Qualifying for EU status?

Question

Hello I'm 18 and from Australia, my dad's Irish and lived in Ireland until he was 24/25. I'm half Irish and am applying for an Irish Passport. A few questions that I have are:

1. If I hold an Irish passport does that make me a citizen?

2. Even though I've never lived in Ireland / UK or any part of Europe does the Irish passport still make me EU status?

3. Would I be recognised as an EU in countries such as England? Partlicularly in relation to higher education?

I thought that if I had an Irish passport I would automatically be recognised as an EU in England but I've heard otherwise such as that you have to be a resident for three years before you're recognised. I would like to clarify that part because I'm planning on studying in England and therefore want to know what my status would be! Thanks!

Answer 1

Your status as a citizen would depend on the passport issued, it is says you are a citizen then you are an Irish and therefore an EU citizen.

You don't have to be resident for three years to be recognised as a citizen but you do for funding of an HE course.

So a British person who goes to live in Australia at age 15 and returns to the UK to go to uni at age 18 will have to pay 'overseas' university fees.

If you want to study in the UK have a look at 'commonwealth scholarships' - these allow citizens of any commonwealth country to apply study in another commonwealth country with fees and accommodation paid for. It's competitive but the worst that can happen is they say no.

Answer 2

Sorry, but even if you hold an EU passport, you are not counted as an EU student for university purposes unless you have lived there for three years prior to your course starting. Here's the government website that tells you more about it: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAnd...

This is the address for the website for international students: www.ukcisca.org.uk

I believe you could be recognised as EU in terms of citizenship but not for higher education.

Answer 3

You are recognised as an Irish citizen but in terms of education, University etc, in order to be considered a home student or to qualify for any grants you need to fulfil a residency requirement, in the UK it's usually 3 years before the 1st day of the course.

If you wanted to come to the UK on Irish passport to live & work, it wouldn't be a problem but it's not helpful if you want to go to University at the moment.  

Edit: main purpose for what?  If you have an Irish passport, you don't need to apply for visas because of the Ireland Act 1949, Irish citizens can settle in the UK and more or less be treated as British citizens.  

You have an Irish passport, you are for all intents and purposes an Irish citizen unless you manage the impossible and p*ss off the Irish government enough for them to demand your passport back & deny you citizenship.  

RADA, Central School of Speech & Drama, etc all qualify as further education and if you had done your research you would know that there are degree, diplomas, even Masters courses on offer.

If you decided to move to Ireland or the UK tomorrow and apply for Uni, even though you have Irish citizenship, you do not qualify to be treated as a home student for one simple fact - you have not lived in either the UK or Ireland long enough to fulfil the residency requirement.

Whatever grants, scholarships are available for mainstream Unis, there are even less available for the Arts.