Changes in Becoming a Doctor in Ireland: Focus on

Everybody involved knows that the only people who get to study medicine in Ireland are those who do phenomenally well in their Leaving Certificate. In 2005 candidates needed at least 570 points to be accepted, and for some colleges they needed 590, or 5 A1s and one A2. This puts intense pressure on students, and means that places on medicine and other super-high points courses such as dentistry and veterinary go increasingly to students who have repeated their Leaving Certificate or to those who have invested in one-to-one grinds in order to gain the results required. There are some who question whether this is the best and fairest way for the system to work.

In 2004, a committee chaired by Prof Pat Fottrell of NUI Galway recommended an overhaul of medical education at third level in Ireland. The Fottrell report called for a major increase in the number of places offered. More controversially, it also suggested a multi-streamed entry model with students being accepted into medical education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The report also recommended that students applying at both levels sit an aptitude test.

The report suggested that all graduates of honours Bachelor degree programmes should be eligible to apply for entry to medical education. A science or related background would not be necessary and graduates of any course could apply. It is envisaged that approximately half of all medical students would enter the system at postgraduate stage.

The Irish government, and Minister for Education Mary Hanafin, accept that the system needs reform. Issues regarding government funding, and numbers of international students on medical courses complicate the situation but, over the next few years it seems that postgraduate admission across the Health and Medical sector is set for a shake-up.

In October 2005, UCD announced plans for a four-year postgraduate programme in medicine, beginning in 2006, and other universities are expected to follow suit. Anybody with an undergraduate degree in any subject will be able to sit an aptitude test and apply for entry on the course. It is envisioned that the postgraduate programme will take four years to complete. As the course is at postgraduate level, fees will to be applicable. These may be around the €15,000 mark.

Over the next few years, a number of other health-related professions, including dentistry and physiotherapy, may be removed from the points system and admissions may be dealt with on a postgraduate basis only. This means that those wishing to study in this area will first complete a primary degree in another field [related or not], before specialising at postgraduate level. Other courses such as pharmacy, radiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and veterinary medicine will also be affected by this overhaul.

The changes due within the system look set to offer an increasing amount of people the chance to make a career in the Health & Medical sector. Those who decide on a postgraduate course in medicine after they have finished their primary degree will, however, need a way to funding their studies.

As these changes look set to be introduced over the next few years, students hoping to enrol in a postgraduate course should contact the admissions department of the individual educational institutions to ascertain how these developments will affect them.