Becoming a doctor has long been one of the most competitive and desired ambitions for Irish students.
Every year, thousands of Leaving Certificate students and graduates apply to study medicine through the CAO and graduate entry routes, yet a limited number secure a place at one of Ireland’s medical schools.
In 2024, just under 14,000 applicants competed for roughly 1,000 available undergraduate medical places, resulting in intense competition and leaving many high-achieving students without an offer despite receiving the required points and exam results.
The bottleneck in medical education has encouraged a growing number of Irish students to look beyond studying at home.
Traditionally, countries such as the UK, Hungary, Poland, and other parts of Europe have been popular options, offering English-language medical programmes with more available seats and varied entry pathways.
This trend also highlights broader workforce issues in Ireland, relying heavily on international-trained doctors. Over 43% of doctors practising in Ireland received their primary medical qualification abroad, while many domestically trained graduates go overseas for postgraduate training or career opportunities.
Irish students most commonly study in countries where medical degrees are recognised in Ireland, taught in English, and structured similarly to Irish programmes. These include universities in the UK or mainland Europe, often with less competitive entry requirements than in Ireland.
These pathways generally require specific entry exams and ensure degrees are recognised by the Irish Medical Council.
Study in the UK
For students interested in studying in the United Kingdom, applications are made through the UCAS system (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
Most UK medical schools require applicants to sit either the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) or the BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test). The application deadline for most medical courses is 15 October for entry the following year.
The degree programmes are generally recognised by the UK’s General Medical Council and the Irish Medical Council. For more information, visit ucas.com.
Dr Ade Adetayo, director of MedConnect Europe.
Study in Europe
For a lot of students, the option to study in Europe has been popular to avoid the high points and HPAT requirements in Ireland. The requirements often focus on strong grades in relevant science subjects such as biology and chemistry, along with an entrance exam set by the university.
The programmes are usually six years long, taught entirely in English, and include clinical training and an internship year. Countries like Poland, Romania, Croatia, and Hungary are common choices, with universities offering globally recognised degrees.
Supports and advice are available for students looking at this pathway through agencies like MedConnect Europe and Medical Poland, which assist with the application process, interview preparation, and settling in, providing a strong support system for Irish students.
While medical degrees from universities within the European Economic Area (EEA) are generally automatically recognised by the Irish Medical Council, it is important to check this before accepting your place.
Foundation Year Programmes
For students who may not meet the direct entry requirements, an International Foundation Year (IFY) in health science is available if they do not wish to go abroad straight away or want longer to decide on the best pathway for them.
These intensive seven to nine-month courses are academically equivalent to A-Levels and prepare students for entry into partner medical schools in the UK and Ireland. One of the places that offers these programmes is the Dublin International Foundation College.
Graduate Entry Medicine
Graduate entry is the pathway into medicine for students who already hold an undergraduate degree in any discipline, although a science background is beneficial.
Applicants must achieve an upper second-class honour (2H1) in their first degree and present a competitive GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) score. These are typically four-year, accelerated programmes available in several Irish universities, including University College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University College Cork, Univeristy of Galway, and University of Limerick.
Supports available
MedConnect, work with over 25 universities across several countries, but the most popular ones for Irish students according to Dr Ade Adetayo, director of MedConnect Europe are Poland, Bulgaria, Germany and Georgia.
“There are several reasons why Irish students choose to study abroad; however, the two main factors are the high level of competition for medical school places in Ireland and the overall cost of education.
“Many students go through a rigorous application and interview process, only to face rejection due to the extremely high competition ratios.”
MedConnect helps facilitate the entire process by supporting students through applications, relocation, and securing employment after graduation. For more information, see medconnecteurope.ie.
With the right choice of university and a clear understanding of Irish registration requirements, students can train abroad and return home to practise medicine successfully.
Becoming a doctor has long been one of the most competitive and desired ambitions for Irish students.
Every year, thousands of Leaving Certificate students and graduates apply to study medicine through the CAO and graduate entry routes, yet a limited number secure a place at one of Ireland’s medical schools.
In 2024, just under 14,000 applicants competed for roughly 1,000 available undergraduate medical places, resulting in intense competition and leaving many high-achieving students without an offer despite receiving the required points and exam results.
The bottleneck in medical education has encouraged a growing number of Irish students to look beyond studying at home.
Traditionally, countries such as the UK, Hungary, Poland, and other parts of Europe have been popular options, offering English-language medical programmes with more available seats and varied entry pathways.
This trend also highlights broader workforce issues in Ireland, relying heavily on international-trained doctors. Over 43% of doctors practising in Ireland received their primary medical qualification abroad, while many domestically trained graduates go overseas for postgraduate training or career opportunities.
Irish students most commonly study in countries where medical degrees are recognised in Ireland, taught in English, and structured similarly to Irish programmes. These include universities in the UK or mainland Europe, often with less competitive entry requirements than in Ireland.
These pathways generally require specific entry exams and ensure degrees are recognised by the Irish Medical Council.
Study in the UK
For students interested in studying in the United Kingdom, applications are made through the UCAS system (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
Most UK medical schools require applicants to sit either the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) or the BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test). The application deadline for most medical courses is 15 October for entry the following year.
The degree programmes are generally recognised by the UK’s General Medical Council and the Irish Medical Council. For more information, visit ucas.com.
Dr Ade Adetayo, director of MedConnect Europe.
Study in Europe
For a lot of students, the option to study in Europe has been popular to avoid the high points and HPAT requirements in Ireland. The requirements often focus on strong grades in relevant science subjects such as biology and chemistry, along with an entrance exam set by the university.
The programmes are usually six years long, taught entirely in English, and include clinical training and an internship year. Countries like Poland, Romania, Croatia, and Hungary are common choices, with universities offering globally recognised degrees.
Supports and advice are available for students looking at this pathway through agencies like MedConnect Europe and Medical Poland, which assist with the application process, interview preparation, and settling in, providing a strong support system for Irish students.
While medical degrees from universities within the European Economic Area (EEA) are generally automatically recognised by the Irish Medical Council, it is important to check this before accepting your place.
Foundation Year Programmes
For students who may not meet the direct entry requirements, an International Foundation Year (IFY) in health science is available if they do not wish to go abroad straight away or want longer to decide on the best pathway for them.
These intensive seven to nine-month courses are academically equivalent to A-Levels and prepare students for entry into partner medical schools in the UK and Ireland. One of the places that offers these programmes is the Dublin International Foundation College.
Graduate Entry Medicine
Graduate entry is the pathway into medicine for students who already hold an undergraduate degree in any discipline, although a science background is beneficial.
Applicants must achieve an upper second-class honour (2H1) in their first degree and present a competitive GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) score. These are typically four-year, accelerated programmes available in several Irish universities, including University College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University College Cork, Univeristy of Galway, and University of Limerick.
Supports available
MedConnect, work with over 25 universities across several countries, but the most popular ones for Irish students according to Dr Ade Adetayo, director of MedConnect Europe are Poland, Bulgaria, Germany and Georgia.
“There are several reasons why Irish students choose to study abroad; however, the two main factors are the high level of competition for medical school places in Ireland and the overall cost of education.
“Many students go through a rigorous application and interview process, only to face rejection due to the extremely high competition ratios.”
MedConnect helps facilitate the entire process by supporting students through applications, relocation, and securing employment after graduation. For more information, see medconnecteurope.ie.
With the right choice of university and a clear understanding of Irish registration requirements, students can train abroad and return home to practise medicine successfully.
SHARING OPTIONS