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Application Guide 2024:
UCAS
Studying Medicine In Ireland: The Ultimate Guide To Applying In 2024 & The Atlantic Bridge Programme
Lottie W
Medicine Admissions Expert
Introduction
If you’re considering applying to study for a medical degree in Ireland, this guide is the best place to get started on your journey!
Here you’ll find everything you need to know about the requirements, application process and what to expect from studying medicine in Ireland.
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Embracing Irish Culture and Community - Applying To Ireland
One of the unique aspects of studying in Ireland is the opportunity to immerse oneself in Irish culture and become part of a welcoming community.
Ireland is known for its friendly and hospitable people, making it an ideal place for international students. Beyond the academic benefits, students can explore Ireland’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant cities, and stunning landscapes.
Participating in community activities and local traditions can enhance the student experience, providing a balanced lifestyle that includes both rigorous study and enriching personal growth.
Engaging with the local community also allows students to develop a deeper understanding of the social factors that influence health, an important aspect of becoming a compassionate and effective doctor.
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Why Should You Study Medicine In Ireland?
Your experience of the 5-6 years at medical school can be massively influenced by the environment that you’re studying in. Ireland offers a unique and attractive location for students to study in and also has the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
For English-speaking students wanting to study abroad, Ireland presents the perfect opportunity to study in an English-speaking country, but without losing the allure of studying in another country.
Irish medical schools are internationally recognised for their high quality of education, with a rigorous and comprehensive medical curriculum.
Graduates from Irish medical schools are some of the most prepared for life as a doctor. Universities provide teaching in the leading specialist hospitals in Ireland.
Irish universities are leaders in research, especially medical research. Irish medical students are introduced to research methods early in the course and most Irish medical schools require students to complete a research project during their medical degree.
This can be attractive for international students. Students can also seize opportunities to join ongoing medical research projects at their placements.
👉🏻 Read more about why people choose to study medicine
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Which Universities Offer Medicine In Ireland?
There are currently 6 universities in Ireland which offer a medical degree and school of medicine.
University | Location | Courses Offered | Length |
Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RSCI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences | Dublin | Undergraduate Medicine Graduate Entry Medicine | 5 or 6 years 4 years |
Trinity College Dublin | Dublin | Undergraduate Medicine | 5 years |
University College Dublin | Dublin | Undergraduate Medicine Graduate Entry Medicine | 6 years 4 years |
University College Cork | Cork | Undergraduate Medicine Graduate Entry Medicine | 5 years 4 years |
NUI Galway | Galway | Undergraduate Medicine Graduate Entry Medicine (ANNOUNCED - not yet open for applications) | 5 or 6 years 4 years |
University of Limerick | Limerick | Graduate Entry Medicine | 4 years |
👉🏻 Read more about Good Medical Practice & Being a Good Doctor
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How Long Is A Medical Degree In Ireland?
Undergraduate medicine courses vary between 5 to 6 years long.
Degrees lasting 6 years include 1 “foundation” year which covers the basic sciences required for the degree.
The next 5 years develop the basic sciences, teaching anatomy, biology, physiology, and pathology, as well as clinical skills and clinical reasoning.
These are taught through lectures, tutorials and clinical experience on placement. This can be through case-based learning, problem-based learning or in a traditional form.
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) degrees are accelerated and last 4 years.
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Can You Study Graduate Entry Medicine In Ireland?
There are 4 universities in Ireland which offer a graduate entry medicine course.
These include:
University of Limerick
University College Cork
University College Dublin
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
These offer an accelerated 4-year medical degree for students who have completed a previous degree.
These usually require you to have sat the GAMSAT medical entrance exam.
👉🏻 Read more about how much it costs to become a doctor in the UK
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What Are The Entry Requirements To Study Medicine In Ireland?
Medicine In Ireland: Undergraduate Entry Requirements
A student's academic score is calculated from your best 3 A-Level grades by the Irish Central Admissions Office (CAO).
Additional points can be added to the score in particular circumstances (detailed here), such as if you achieved a grade E or above in A-level mathematics.
Applicants are required to sit the Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT).
The HPAT is a 2.5-hour long entrance examination, formed of multiple choice questions assessing logical reasoning, problem-solving, non-verbal reasoning and understanding.
This HPAT score is combined with the CAO score to rank students.
You are not required to submit a personal statement.
Applicants from the EU/UK/EEA who have applied through CAO are not required to sit an interview. International applicants may be asked to sit for a brief interview.
Irish Medical Schools: Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Usual GEM requirements detail a degree of minimum second-class honours, grade 1 (2:1).
Students must sit the Graduate Australian Medical School Admission Test (GAMSAT) assessment.
This is run between March - September annually.
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Is There An Admissions Test Or Entrance Exam Requirement For Irish Medical School Applications?
There are 2 types of admissions tests for students applying to medical school in Ireland. You only need to sit one of them:
HPAT Exam - for undergraduate students applying through the Central Admissions Office
GAMSAT Exam - for postgraduate students
👉🏻 Read more about the GAMSAT Exam and Graduate Entry Medicine
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How Do I Apply To Irish Medical Schools?
EU/EEA/UK Students
Students from the EU, EEA or UK should apply through the Central Admissions Office. To do this, you should register through their portal to obtain a CAO number.
Like UCAS Track, the CAO portal will ask for your personal details, academic details and the course you wish to apply for.
You should then apply to sit the HPAT examination through the ACER portal.
International Students
As an international student, you should apply directly through the university you have chosen. More details regarding this can be found on the individual university websites.
International student applications are examined on a case-by-case basis, so students may be asked to sit an interview or submit further evidence.
👉🏻 Read more about studying medicine as an international student
👉🏻 UK medical school tuition fees for international students
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How Does Funding Work For Irish Med Schools?
Tuition fees in Ireland vary based on whether you are an international or UK/EU/EEA student.
Free Fees Initiative
For students who meet the criteria, the Higher Education Authority may cover the cost of students tuition fees, with the exception of a €3,000 per year contribution required of the student.
Although the UK has left the EU, the free fees initiative will continue to apply to students moving from the UK to Ireland to study medicine.
Students' eligibility is determined by the university that they have applied to.
Further details of these criteria can be found here.
EU Fees
Students who are not eligible for the Free Fees initiative but are EU students will have a tuition fee of around €6,500 per year, before the additional student contribution charge and IT fees.
This means that the yearly total fee is around €10,000.
International Fees
The fees for international students are more expensive. Typical non-EU fees are around €60,000 per year. There may be bursaries that you can apply for.
Graduate Entry
Graduate entry medicine fees tend to be higher than undergraduate medicine fees per year. This is because students applying for the GEM course are not eligible for the Fee Free initiative.
Typical fees for a year of graduate entry medicine sit at approximately €17,000 for EU/UK/EEA students. Tuition fees actually sit at around €25,000, but the Higher Education Authority provide a contribution of just over €10,000.
For non-EU students, a yearly fee of over €60,000 is expected.
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Additional Costs Of Studying Medicine In Ireland
Even under the Free Fees initiative, there are still additional costs to applying and studying at an Irish University.
All students must pay a €2000 - 3000 student contribution charge, as well as an IT fee, which often sits at around €500.
All students joining a healthcare course must pay a one-off health screening charge of €380.
Particular universities may have additional fees on top of these figures, but these can be found on each university's website.
👉🏻 Read more: Documentaries about being a doctor
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The Atlantic Bridge Programme: A Comprehensive Guide To Applying To Ireland From USA/Canada
The Atlantic Bridge Programme is a specialised application process for North American students aiming to study medicine in Ireland.
It streamlines the application process, allowing candidates to apply to multiple prestigious Irish medical schools with a single form and set of documents.
How the Atlantic Bridge Programme Works
Streamlined Application Process: The Atlantic Bridge Programme simplifies the application process by allowing students to submit one application form and one set of documents to multiple participating Irish medical schools. This reduces the hassle of applying individually to each institution.
Participating Medical Schools: The programme includes several top-tier medical schools in Ireland:
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
University College Dublin (UCD)
Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
University College Cork (UCC)
University of Limerick (UL)
University of Galway (UG)
Eligibility and Entry Requirements Of The Atlantic Bridge Programme
Undergraduate Entry:
High School Diploma with AP Exams or IB Diploma: Applicants must have taken biology, chemistry, and either physics or mathematics. Specific requirements vary by school, but AP Chemistry is universally required.
One or More Years of College/University: Applicants without a degree by August of the entry year can apply to 5-year programs if they present university-level courses in chemistry, biology, and either math or physics.
Bachelor’s Degree without MCAT/GAMSAT: Eligible for 5-year programs at certain schools if the degree is completed before September of the entry year.
Graduate Entry:
Bachelor’s Degree with MCAT/GAMSAT: Applicants with a degree and MCAT/GAMSAT scores can apply to 4-year graduate entry programs at RCSI, UCD, UL, and UCC.
How to Apply To The Atlantic Bridge Programme
Step-by-Step Application Process:
Request an Application: Visit the Atlantic Bridge Programme website and submit the Application Request Form to receive detailed information about eligibility, deadlines, and required documents.
Review the Application Packet: Once you receive the application packet, review all the details carefully to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and have all the necessary documents.
Submit the Application: Complete and submit your online application along with the required documents, including academic transcripts and letters of reference.
Admission Counsellor Contact: After submission, an admissions counsellor will contact you within 1-2 business days to guide you through the next steps.
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Is An Irish Medical Degree Recognised By The General Medical Council (GMC)?
Irish medical degrees are internationally recognised.
Medical degrees from Ireland are recognised by the GMC.
This means that Irish medical school graduates are eligible to register with the GMC, allowing them to work in the UK as doctors.
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Where Can I Work With A Medical Degree From An Irish Medical School?
Students graduating from an Irish medical school may choose to practice medicine in Ireland. To do this, you can complete an Intern year following graduation.
As a medical intern, you will be registered with the professional body of the Medical Council of Ireland. Following an internship, doctors can apply for Basic Specialist Training.
Students who wish to work in the UK can register with the General Medical Council (GMC) following an eligibility application, before applying to the UK Foundation Training Programme. The foundation programme lasts 2 years.
Given that Ireland has some of the world's top medical schools, and Ireland has a worldwide reputation for the quality of their teaching, Irish graduates can apply to work as doctors in many other countries. Some may require further licensing exams such as the USMLE.
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How Can I Get Help Applying For Medical Schools In Ireland?
If you’re struggling with your application to medical school and need a bit more help, consider speaking to one of our admissions experts, or check out our handy guides.
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More Frequently Asked Questions About Applying To Med School In Ireland
How competitive is the admission process for Irish medical schools?
Admission to Irish medical schools is highly competitive, especially for high-demand programs like medicine. Acceptance rates vary significantly between universities and specific programs (undergraduate vs. graduate entry).
Key factors that influence admission to a medical course in Ireland include academic grades, HPAT or GAMSAT scores, and for international students, potentially an interview.
What support services are available for medical students in Ireland?
Across the six Irish medical schools, there is a range of support services designed to assist students throughout their studies.
These include mental health services, such as counselling and stress management workshops, academic support including tutoring and study skills development, and career services that help with residency applications and career planning.
What is the Atlantic Bridge programme for applying to Ireland from USA /Canada?
The Atlantic Bridge Programme is for students from North America aiming to study medicine in Ireland. It streamlines applications by allowing you to apply to all participating medical schools with a single form and set of documents.
This is particularly helpful for those who may not have met the MCAT requirements in the US or Canada. The programme offers access to well-regarded medical schools with curricula similar to North American programmes but with potentially less stringent entry requirements.
Keep in mind that graduates will still be considered international for residency purposes in North America.
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