Studying undergraduate medicine in Ireland at a glance
6 years ago by Tom
There are 5 universities in Ireland that offer undergraduate medical degrees:
- Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
- The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI)
- University College Dublin (UCD)
- University College Cork (UCC)
- National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG).
TCD and UCC offer a five year course, UCD offers a six year course and both NUIG and RCSI offer a 6 or 5 year course. The entry requirements for each of the courses varies slightly, but all applicants are required to sit the HPAT exam and receive a minimum of 480 points in their leaving certificate.
TCD has 121 places, UCD offers 90 places, UCC offers 88 places, RCSI offers 54 places for EU students and NUIG offers 120 places. These smaller year sizes in comparison to some other courses means that you get to know your classmates well, and it helps to create a close-knit environment.
With the exception of the 1st year of the three 6 year courses, the timetable for a medical student in Ireland is quite substantial from day one. Unfortunately you won’t be able to empathise with your friends in other courses when they complain about that one 9am start they have a week! But don’t despair, because despite the horror stories you may have heard medical students do in fact enjoy a vibrant social life. Most of the universities have a dedicated medical society that is responsible for organising nights out, annual balls, talks with guest speakers and trips abroad.
While course structure varies between the various universities you can expect to have timetables over the years that include lectures, tutorials, problem based learning, clinical placement, group projects, lab practicals, dissections, clinical skills tutorials and small group seminars. The curriculum will span from anatomy and physiology of the human body to medical ethics and behavioural science.
The two final years are much more clinically focused than the early years, which are generally more lecture theatre and small teaching room based. Theses final years are primarily based at the teaching hospitals associated with each of the universities and help prepare you for your two intern years that will follow. For a more in depth look at the curriculums associated with each of the universities please see the links below.
UCC: https://www.ucc.ie/en/medical/prosstud/dem/aboutprog/overview/
NUIG: https://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/undergraduate-courses/surgery-obstetrics.html#course_outline
TCD: https://www.tcd.ie/medicine/ug-med/curriculum/outline.php
RCSI: https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/undergraduate/medicine/course-details