How to Apply to Study Medicine in Ireland

There are five medical schools in Ireland where you can apply for undergraduate entry:

The longer courses include a pre-med year, which is designed for students who need a foundation in basic sciences before studying medicine.

Graduate entry medicine is also offered in Ireland at the above universities, as well as the University of Limerick.

Irish medical degrees are recognised and accepted in all EU countries, plus many other regions around the world.

What are the requirements for entry into medicine in Ireland?

For undergraduate entry into medicine in Ireland, students will need to sit the HPAT (Health Professions Admission Test). The HPAT is a 2 ½ hour multiple choice test. There are three sections:

• Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving: questions assess your ability to comprehend, draw logical conclusions, reach solutions by identifying relevant facts, evaluate information, pinpoint additional or missing information, and generate and test plausible hypotheses.

• Interpersonal Understanding: questions assess your ability to identify, understand, and, where necessary, infer the thoughts, feelings, behaviour and/or intentions of the people represented in the situations.

• Non-Verbal Reasoning: questions assess your ability to reason in the abstract and solve problems in non-verbal contexts.

Your HPAT score will be combined with your secondary school academic score. This combined score is then used to rank applicants.

To calculate your secondary school academic score, see the Central Admissions Office (CAO) site: https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=scoring&s=gce

Unlike the UK system, undergraduate applicants from the UK and EU are generally not required to undergo a medical interview. Irish universities do not require a personal statement. 

How do I apply to study medicine in Ireland?

CAO

You will first need to register with the CAO (www.cao.ie) to obtain your CAO number. You will need to provide your personal details, school details and exams that you will take and then select the course that you are applying for. You need to apply via the CAO to apply to universities.

HPAT

Once you have your CAO number you will need to create an ACER account. Students must apply online to ACER to complete the HPAT-Ireland test at https://hpat-ireland.acer.org. After registering via ACER, you can book your test session with ProctorU.

What will sitting HPAT be like?

Unlike the UCAT, which takes place in supervised testing centres, the HPAT test is delivered online by remote proctoring. This involves sitting the test under live supervision using your own computer, in a suitable location, with internet connectivity. There are a small number of days reserved for rescheduling if you experience technical difficulties.

HPAT takes place in late February each year, usually over 4-5 days. To sit HPAT you will need a desktop or laptop computer with a webcam and microphone. You may also have an A4 sized whiteboard and erasable pen or 2 pieces of A4 paper and pen/pencil/eraser for note taking. You will need a private, enclosed space to sit the test.

HPAT is an extremely time pressured and challenging test, and the vast majority of students run out of time to complete the test. Therefore, quality preparation is essential. You can get a taste for HPAT by trying out MedEntry’s free diagnostic exam.

What are the fees to apply to study medicine in Ireland?

1. CAO fee

The online application fee for the CAO is €45. If you apply before 20^th January the online application fee is discounted to €30.

2. The HPAT-Ireland test

The standard registration fee to sit HPAT is €160.80. This fee covers registration for the test, a HPAT practice exam, the provision of test results to candidates and transfer of results to the CAO.

3. University fees

UK undergraduate students who qualify for the Free Fees Initiative do not have to pay tuition fees, only a registration fee. In the Free Fees Initiative, Ireland’s Higher Education Authority pays tuition fees for students. This initiative applies to those who attend publicly funded courses or those who have official refugee status. Although the UK is no longer part of the EU, there is still an agreement between the UK and Ireland so that existing arrangements for the Free Fees Initiative will continue.

The Free Fees Initiative does not cover the student contribution fee. The cost of this fee varies from one university to another but is capped at €3000. This fee covers the provision of services such as libraries and IT services.

Note: Graduate Entry is not covered by the Free Fees Initiative.

What are the important dates for entry into medicine in Ireland?

The important deadlines for entry into medicine in Ireland are the CAO application closing date (usually 1 February each year) and the HPAT registration date (in mid-January each year). HPAT takes place in late February and results are released in late June. Offers begin to be released in August each year. Our blog provides a full timeline.

So, if you’re thinking about applying for medicine in Ireland, start your HPAT prep!

START YOUR HPAT PREP