loughrey1: How is the system different? As far as I'm aware all uni applications in the UK are done through UCAS....
Southern Ireland is the Republic - so isn't part of the UK and thus has it's own system, which I'm assuming isn't as high student fees? Although even Scotland has much cheaper fees and a different system than England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
I agree with Loughrey1 though, It'll be about £12-15,000 a year for 3/4 years at uni to get a degree, and then an extra £70,000 for flight training afterwards? You're left starting at Aer Lingus with about £70,000 loans to pay back, plus an extra £60,000 you've got to start paying back in uni fees!