It is set to become easier for students from Northern Ireland to apply for places at Irish universities, under changes announced by the Irish government.
From next year, NI students will not be required to have four A-levels to score maximum points under the Irish application system.
The changes follow a report by Universities Ireland.
Minister for Further Education Simon Harris said it was a "very good step".
"This report has recommended significant and important changes," he said.
"The biggest issue in terms of movement from north to south are the Leaving Certificate - A-Level equivalencies."
The minister said the changes - under which students could gather points from AS-levels and projects as well as A-levels - would make it easier for NI students to access third level education in the Republic of Ireland.
The changes would depend on being agreed by individual universities.
There had been criticism that the current system in the Republic was disadvantaging students from Northern Ireland.
