National University of Ireland, Galway

School of Medicine, NUI Galway

The School of Medicine has an enrolement of c.800 students, including many from overseas. University College Hospital, conveniently located beside the University campus, is the major teaching hospital.

School members are highly qualified and the university has an extensive and well-funded programme of medical research.

Students completing the School's primary undergraduate programme in Medicine are conferred with the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Obstetrics (M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.).

Postgraduate programmes include the Doctor of Medicine M.D., the Master of Surgery M.Ch., the Master of Obstetrics M.A.O., the Master of Medical Science, the Master of Medical Science in Medicine/Physiotherapy and the Masters of Medical Science in Sport and Exercise Medicine/Physiotherapy.

The School has recently expanded its undergraduate medical intake, implementing an exciting new curriculum.

The University is committed to providing the most up-to-date facilities and resources for the study of medicine and health sciences at the Galway campus. An energetic building programme is underway, with new buildings coming on stream to accommodate new programmes and expanding enrolments.

Entry Requirements and allocations for 5 and 6 year undergraduate medical programmes

6 Year Programme:   OD3 in one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics/Chemistry, Agricultural Science

5 Year Programme:   HC3 in Chemistry* (if student has Physics, Chemistry and Biology)

*The 5 year medical programme has a limited number of places, which are allocated in this programme on merit, based on the number, selection and minimum levels of achievement in Leaving Certificate Science subjects or higher.  The merit order set-out below is applied to subjects completed by the Irish Leaving Certificate.  Where the quota of available places requires differentiation between students within a particular category, the results achieved in Chemistry will be used in the first instance:

- Candidates presenting a HC3 in Chemistry, HC3 in Biology and HC3 in one of Physics, Physics/Chemistry or  Agricultural Science;

- Candidates presenting a HC3 in Chemistry and a HC3 in Biology;

- Candidates presenting a HC3 in Chemistry and a HC3 in Physics

Bachelor of Medicine (MB) of Surgery (BCh) and of
Obstetrics (BAO)

The medical degree programme at NUI Galway is an integrated 5 year programme (with an additional Foundation Year for students who do not present the required level of Physics, Chemistry and Biology for direct entry). There are 130-140 students in each Medical School class. Most overseas students enter the 5 year programme directly. Exemptions from some modules may be allowed if the curricular content has been covered elsewhere at third level. There is integration of clinical and basic science subjects throughout the course.

Career Opportunities

At the conclusion of the programme, the student is conferred with the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine (MB), of Surgery (BCh) and of Obstetrics (BAO). This qualification is recognised internationally. After graduation the
newly-qualified doctor works in hospitals as an intern for one year prior to obtaining full registration as a licensed medical practitioner. International graduates of the Bachelor of Medicine (MB) of Surgery (BCh) and of Obstetrics (BAO) programme typically find employment in Hospitals, Private Practice, Education and Research or Community Rehabilitation Services. Postgraduate degrees including, M.D., M.Ch., M.A.O., M.Med.Science, and Ph.D. may also be taken in the School of Medicine.

Information received from the National University of Ireland, Galway website.