6 Reasons To Study Medicine In Ireland In 2023

Considering medicine as a career option and wondering why you should study medicine in Ireland? If you want to pursue an academic opportunity that will provide you with a world-class medical education while also allowing you to immerse yourself in diverse cultures, then Ireland is the right choice for you.

Ireland is known across the world for the high quality of its medical training and education where, at the end of the programme, graduates can advance to top positions in the Irish healthcare system and worldwide. All the benefits of studying medicine in Ireland, combined with the career growth opportunities, have been drawing students from all around the world every year.

Benefits of Studying Medicine In Ireland

There are plenty of reasons to study medicine in Ireland, and all of them convey career growth opportunities in the state and worldwide. So, here are six reasons why you should consider pursuing a Medicine programme in Ireland.

1. International Student Experience

Having an international student experience is one of the main reasons for studying medicine in Ireland. Ireland is currently the only English-speaking country in the European Union and, therefore, an attractive option for international students looking to pursue their academic studies in English and advance to an international career. Due to Ireland being multicultural, universities and people are very welcoming to international students, which can be noticed from Year 1 right through to graduation.

2. Small Groups & Teaching Methods

Irish Medical Schools emphasise small-group learning, which is highly beneficial to students, who can engage in more active learning, develop their decision-making capacity, and increase knowledge retention. Other teaching methods applied, such as research and critical skills, self-assessment, problem-based learning, ethical debates, lectures and consultant clinics, and bedside and clinical tutorials, are among the main reasons to study medicine in Ireland.

3. Integrated Courses

Medical Schools in Ireland offer integrated Medicine programmes, which means that students are taught scientific knowledge alongside clinical training. The benefit of this type of programme is that you will have the opportunity to get early clinical exposure whilst still having the support structure of scientific teaching. The more students progress, the more time they spend in hospitals.

4. Research Quality

Research quality is undoubtedly a solid reason to study medicine in Ireland. The Irish culture of research and critical thinking is fostered in students from the beginning of their journey throughout the course. Every student must complete a research project, and some will be awarded undergraduate research funding. You will also have the option to take a year off to pursue an Intercalated Master’s degree in Biomedical Science and study non-medicine related electives.

5. Clinical Placements

Irish universities have formed partnerships with the country’s leading specialist hospitals, where students spend most of their last 2.5 years on rotations in Medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Surgery, and other fields. Highly experienced doctors lead the bedside teaching, for which Ireland has a worldwide reputation.

6. Summer Elective Programmes

The Summer Elective Programmes are a differentiator for students who want to study medicine in Ireland. They are extremely valuable short-term work internships that allow students to obtain experience in either research or clinical settings. Summer electives are an excellent gateway to a career since last-year students can experience a different healthcare system and work at top medical centres in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and others.

Entry Requirements to Study Medicine in Ireland

If you are looking to apply for an Irish Medical School, some entry requirements must be met to be accepted into the programme.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

• 36 points (excluding core points)
• Must include three higher-level (HL) subjects with Chemistry and at least one other HL science subject (Physics or Biology). *HL indicates at least 240 hours of study.

Students who do not meet the above requirements can take a Foundation Year course. Find out more about foundation years here.

A-Levels

Minimum entry standard: AAA (including Chemistry and at least one other science subject).

Other Qualifications

• English Language Requirements

IELTS: 6.5 (minimum individual sections 6.5)

TOEFL: 90 (minimum – Listening 23 / Reading 21 / Speaking 22 / Writing 23)

Interviews

In addition, students must also pass an admission interview.

Be Ready To Study Medicine In Ireland

The entry requirements for the Medicine programmes may be a setback for international students who are not prepared or come from a different educational background and educational system. For this reason, DIFC offers a Medicine and Dentistry Foundation Programme, an international foundation year in health science designed to help and support your progress. Check out what our students say:

“My experience in DIFC has been a really great and exciting journey. Not only are the teachers and staff friendly and helpful, but having a class of international students from all around the world was a wonderful opportunity for me to get to know different cultures and make new friends.”

Dawn Areen Kaur, Malaysia

Graduated Medicine at RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus

“When I joined DIFC, my only aim was to get into one of their Medical partner universities. However, I have done more than that. The DIFC programme has helped me improve in different critical skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving and time management skills, which are essential for successful university life.”

Babatunde Kehinde, Nigeria

Studying Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI

Are you ready to start your pathway? Contact our team and start pursuing your dream career today.