There is likely to be a 20% rise in the number of school leavers from Northern Ireland seeking a university place by the end of the decade.
That is according to new forecasts from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
It predicted Northern Ireland will have a higher rise in demand for places until 2030 than Scotland or Wales.
But the Department for the Economy (DfE), which funds higher education, may face significant budget cuts.
That could lead to reductions in the number of places available for students at Northern Ireland's universities.
The number of undergraduate students from Northern Ireland at local universities is capped and depends on the amount of funding DfE makes available.
The DfE funding is the main reason why annual tuition fees for students in Northern Ireland are, at £4,630 in 2022-23, lower than fees in England and Wales.
