There are three levels of education: primary, secondary and university, all of which are free (apart from a student services fee at university to cover examinations costs). A unified Primary School Curriculum is taught everywhere, although religious education is determined by the Catholic church. Around 10% of pupils attend Irish language schools. There are also independent, fee paying schools at primary and secondary level.
90% of secondary school pupils take the leaving certificate at either vocational or standard secondary schools.
There are 38 universities in Ireland, some of which offer open degrees where students can decide their specialism after their first year. The percentage of the population educated to higher (university undergraduate) level is second only to Cyprus in the EU.
