Ask the expert: should I study medicine in Ireland?

I want to study medicine and have been exploring universities in Europe. A family friend mentioned Ireland. What is your opinion?

Most Commonwealth countries recognise a medical degree obtained in Ireland and it is equivalent to a degree from the United Kingdom.

Medicine is taught at six well-established medical schools including Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

The entry requirements for medicine tend to be competitive; most schools look for a minimum of three subjects taken at A level or a higher level in the case of IB. These subjects are Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and/or Maths. The duration of the programme ranges from five to six years, depending on your grades and whether or not you choose to do an extra year of research. English proficiency is essential and the minimum requirement is an IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent).

Universities also look for students with work experience within healthcare.

Where students still want to pursue medicine but have not completed the necessary subjects or have passed an exam board unrecognised by Irish medical schools (for example, an American Diploma), they can undertake the less demanding Foundation programme offered by accredited service providers. These provide pathways to medical schools in Ireland.

A medical programme in Ireland is a combination of lectures, tutorials, problem-based learning, and student-selected modules. Upon successful graduation from the course, students are required to complete a year of mandatory training in a hospital as an intern and only after this are they free to practice as doctors and pursue areas of specialisation.

Of course, langauge may affect your choice of country to study in too, you will need to speak the local language.