Should I take my driving test and do a Masters here in the UK or is it a mistake with Brexit?

[MotoringCautiouslyOnward]

I am from Ireland, but the UK has been my home for many years now. I'd like to get my driving license as it would be useful for various reasons.

Will a UK driving license be valid in other countries if Brexit goes ahead? It isn't looking certain that Irish citizens will be able to stay anymore. In that case I'll have to move home and would need to exchange for an Irish license once there.

As I have no address in Ireland and don't live there, I can't take my test there. I'm 99% certain you need to meet a residency requirement to be eligible to take an Irish driving test, even if I could use a friend's address. That's leaving out that obviously I can't practise on the route there, while taking lessons in the UK.

I am also considering a Masters degree starting this Autumn and wondering if that is a mistake. I am assuming that a good postgraduate degree, a taught degree, from a UK university will still be worth something, even if avenues for research funding fade away.

However if Brexit does crash out, and there is major disruption, will universities be forced to shut? I can't see why they would need to close bar major civil unrest which I'm hopeful won't happen - but is there something I'm not thinking of that could throw a spanner in the works, meaning I wouldn't be able to actually complete the degree?

I assume even if all Irish people lose automatic rights to settled status, we will have a few months to get out? Ie it won't be overnight?

Any advice?

Troll hunting is not allowed on Mumsnet. Nor are personal attacks, I believe, such as calling me a "fucking troll"?

I'm not bothered by such impotent insults, but just a friendly reminder that you're not posting in accordance with what Mumsnet deem acceptable.

Thank you, yes I will be booking a test! Bloody hell! Maybe I was hoping you all would tell me I should just wait and see, and so get a free pass to relax and put it off another while

Anyone who says they know what will happen after brexit is a liar - that’s the reality, even the government don’t have the slightest clue at this point.

I would continue to progress assuming it won’t be an issue, and then deal with things as they come up, but I don’t blame you at all for having concerns. It’s very easy for English people to scoff when they know there’s no chance they’ll be turfed out of their homes (but hey, we may all be severely malnourished and unmedicated for a while, so doubt we’ll get off easy either!)

Your UK licence would only be valid while you're resident in the UK
As soon as you change country, you'd need to exchange it. It's mad but true, you can't renew a UK licence or give a foreign address to DVLA.
This will therefore depend on what that country offers for a UK licence post brexit
This is country dependent and currently an unknown factor
Some EU countries will exchange EU and Swiss licences, everyone else has to retake a test
It remains to be seen whether they'll offer the same deal to the UK as the current rules rules

Some EU countries will exchange EU and Swiss licences, everyone else has to retake a test

I think we can rest assured that U.K. and RoI driving licences will be interchangeable as now. GFA remember.

TammySwansonTwo

No you are degrees will not becaome void after brexit
And driving will be like this you can exchange your U.K. one for a Irish one and she can drive In NI other wise people would have to drive then get the bus down the road because some people live in the north but work in the south

Stop peddling your brexit lies and clearly clueless knowdlge about Ireland

I think you be alright !

news.sky.com/story/law-keeping-uk-in-eu-will-continue-to-apply-after-brexit-11447180

news.sky.com/story/law-keeping-uk-in-eu-will-continue-to-apply-after-brexit-11447180

I think your best bet is to move to France

I support people's rights to post what they like but this reads like a typical Russian bot but the Irish equivalent.

Some people in the Uk cannor afford to drive or run a car or go abroad so whether someone so rich they can even consider those things is not going to get that much sympathy. How many of us actually drive abroad anyway? How many of us study outside our home country either? Not that many.

Xenia, it's awfully sweet of you to reply so earnestly even if you are attempting to scold me - but you're misguided as I certainly am not looking for sympathy.

I asked a couple questions relating to my situation as an Irish citizen living in the UK. Calm down, I'm not a bot

I'm not "rich" asking will I be able to drive on my jolly hols abroad my question was IF after Brexit I get asked to leave the UK, will my UK license be ok to swap for an Irish one back in Ireland.

Interesting that you've latched onto the money angle though. You seem to be implying that I'm super privileged to be considering postgrad studies.

Are you not the same Xenia who posts prolifically about footing the bill for your twins at uni, complete with generous monthly allowance?

Hmm. Odd to adopt a preaching tone to me about my privilege when you clearly are no stranger to it yourself.

The thing is that you learn so much more about driving after you pass your test. Even in the very worst case scenario that you left the UK and had to sit another test, you would be a much more confident driver.

In terms of the Masters, academics move abroad all the time for different roles so that wouldn't be a problem. International students prop up the UK University sector so you would get a student visa to finish the degree. Remember that this is the very worst case scenario.

Absolutely, yes. I now think it's fine to just press on with my plans. It doesn't feel like there's a big risk that I'll be wasting money, time or effort.

MotoringCautiouslyOnward

Absolutely, yes. I now think it's fine to just press on with my plans. It doesn't feel like there's a big risk that I'll be wasting money, time or effort.

Ahh well, problem solved, thread over now, no need for you to continue it

Do your Masters now. You will be ok fees wise for the next year or two, though we don’t know what will happen after that. Worst case scenario is that you would be charged full international fees (usually about double home fees). Do your driving test now too. Universities are experiencing a significant drop in applications from EU students this year. We’re expecting the sector to contract by about 10% over the next few years and most universities have been planning for it by introducing voluntary redundancy schemes and many are expanding their degree apprenticeships programme. We’re expecting to move to compulsory redundancies next year and lose some of the less popular courses.

MissionItsPossible, this might amaze you, but I don't need your approval to post. I am allowed to have a flurry of concern, as an Irish person in the UK, as frankly nobody knows what is going to happen. We don't live in a fascist regime and I am allowed to express my thoughts and seek reassurance that things will probably be alright, in terms of the specific question I was asking. To reiterate, I don't need your permission to do this. Astonishing, I know.

And no, I don't think the "problem is solved" in terms of Brexit in the general sense, not by a long chalk. Who knows what will unfold? But in regards to the questions I asked about driving test and university, then yeah I think I should crack on. As a previous post mentions, I could even get a student visa if push came to shove.

LellyMcKelly thank you, I was wondering if application numbers were at all affected this year.

No UK or Irish nationals will be required to apply for settled status to protect their entitlements in Ireland and the UK respectively. The rights to work, study, access social security and public services will be preserved on a reciprocal basis for UK and Irish nationals.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/citizens-rights-uk-and-irish-nationals-in-the-common-travel-area

Sahknowme, I'd hazard a guess you're too dim to even realise how offensive your post is with your talk of forced labour, sending boats and degrading the Irish people. Sympathies to your family.