UCD Medicine Graduate Entry

 Course Outline                      

UCD Medicine Graduate Entry (GEM) is a four-year degree programme designed for those who already hold an honours degree in any discipline.

UCD GEM retains a strong scientific basis for medicine while introducing you to patient-centred learning from the outset in an innovative medical school that combines the latest teaching methods such as e-learning, with a long and distinguished academic tradition. Students will learn through a range of lectures, small group sessions, practicals and enquiry-based learning, both in the classroom and at the bedside.

The recently opened UCD Health Sciences Centre is a state-of-the-art facility for medical education and research and brings the research and teaching activities of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and radiographers together under one roof.

Programme of Study

In the first semester, you will take a series of modules that introduce you to the application of medical science to the study of biological systems and disease. In addition, you will learn clinical skills designed to prepare you for the remainder of the programme. The remainder of the first two years will involve integration of knowledge across the medical science disciplines while gradually expanding your professional capabilities in a clinical environment in partnership with patients.

In the final two stages, hospital and community placements with structured clinical education will lead to you not only acquiring your degree, but also to you becoming a confident and capable doctor.

How you will be taught

Year 1 - Main themes:

• Social, Scientific and Professional Basis of Medicine
• Cardiorespiratory Health and Disease

Year 2 – Main themes:

• Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary and Endocrine Health and Disease
• Nervous System in Health and Disease
• Advanced Clinical Skills

Year 3

• Medicine and Surgery
• Forensic and Legal Medicine
• Rotations in Clinical Specialities

Year 4

• Rotations in Clinical Specialities
• Public Health Medicine
• Student Selected Clinical Elective
• Professional Completion

Methods of Assessment

Possible assessment methods include:

• Formal written examinations
• In-class written examinations
• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs )
• Extended Matching Questions (EMQs)
• Laboratory examinations
• Practical or experimental reports
• Projects
• Essays
• Problem sets
• Reflective and learning journals
• Clinical or practical competency assessments
• Participation in seminar or tutorial settings
• Module Details

Please see the following link to our website for full information on modules click here

Entry Requirements

Minimum GAMSAT Score 2009: 60*
Average Intake: 20 EU students in 2009/10

Length of Programme: 4 years

*All applicants with a score greater than this were accommodated, but it was not possible to accommodate all applicants with this score and random selection was applied.

Application Requirements

Entrance criteria :

• Honours Bachelor's degree (NFQ level 8) with a minimum grade second class honours, grade 1 (2.1). The degree can be in any discipline.
• All applicants will be required to submit a current* GAMSAT score. Places are awarded via the CAO on the basis of GAMSAT scores.  Candidates may sit the GAMSAT test at other test centres worldwide, or may submit the results of a GAMSAT test already taken.    *Note: GAMSAT scores older than two years from any of the tests are not valid and may not be used in any application.

Admission Requirements
All students entering Medicine (DN102) are required to demonstrate evidence of immunity to certain infectious diseases (Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis). You will be required to pay a Healthcare Screening Cost of €225. This charge, which becomes payable when you register, will cover pre-entry bloods, checking of MMR status, giving MMR if required, checking BCG scars and provision of HepB vaccines. For further information, please read the Information on Infectious Diseases Procedures and General Health leaflet available from the office of the UCD School of Medicine & Medical Science. Applicants to Medicine will also be required to complete Garda vetting. Details are available at www.ucd.ie/registry/admissions/garda_vetting.html 

Fees

Tuition fees for EU students for the academic year 2010/2011 have not yet been approved by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The fee is likely to reflect a normal inflationary increase on the 2009/2010 fee (€26,960) of which the HEA contributes €13,845 per annum in 2009 towards the fee leaving the student liable for the balance of €13,115 per annum.

Funding/Scholarships

Several Irish banks offer student loan products that have been specifically designed for entrants to graduate entry medicine programmes.  Typically, these packages involve personal loans to cover the cost of tuition fees and living expense with capital and variable interest repayment both deferred until the end of the four year loan period.  Most financial institutions consider applications on their individual merits so students are advised to discuss financial support arrangements directly with their preferred banking partner. 

Loans are a matter between the student and the lending institution only.  The UCD School of Medicine & Medical Science has no role in such lending agreements and does not endorse any particular product.

Contact Details

UCD Health Sciences Programme Office
Health Sciences Centre (Ground Floor)
Belfield, Dublin 4

+353 1 716 665
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.ucd.ie/myucd/med