Medicine (Surgery and Obstetrics)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Further Education
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Study Medicine at NUI Galway What our students say

Entry Points (2022)

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Course Overview

Medicine has been taught at NUI Galway for 175 years and we have a long tradition of clinical education. We have pioneered hospital-based and bedside teaching and our medical graduates are highly sought-after doctors, practicing medicine in healthcare facilities across the globe.

We offer both a five year and a six-year undergraduate medicine programme.

As a medicine student you will acquire a range of qualities and skills during your time in the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

You will be:

A safe practitioner
An effective communicator
A constructive collaborator
A curious learner who develops continuously both professionally and personally
A caring, patient centred physician

The professional attributes we value most highly as a medical school will equip our medical graduates with the tools required to provide excellent care to their patients in any healthcare system and to make a positive contribution to the development of medical knowledge.

As professionals, our medical graduates will always put their patients' needs and welfare first. You will apply your theoretical knowledge and practical clinical skills in a safe manner and subscribe to the time-honoured principle of primum, non nocere (first, do no harm). You will be exemplars of effective and compassionate verbal and written communication, with patients, their families and colleagues. You will work well with others in multidisciplinary healthcare teams and you will never cease to learn and you will embrace a healthy pattern of life-long learning throughout their careers. You will be generous with this knowledge and support the education of students and junior trainees.

Our undergraduate medical programme aims to foster the development of these graduate attributes by providing authentic patient contact in a safe learning environment and by encouraging civic engagement and participation in campus-based extracurricular activities which promote leadership and teamwork.

Our simulation based education activities, support you in these activities and give you exciting opportunities for clinical learning that were previously unavailable. You can now communicate with, diagnose and manage a simulated patient, perform procedures on them and work within a multidisciplinary team to manage their care, all in a safe supportive simulated clinical environment. You will receive encouragement and support from faculty and even from the simulated patient.

Our special study module programme allows students to focus on areas of particular interest to them and their career objectives and benefit from working closely with expert role models. Participation in our summer research programme will cultivate curiosity and a passion for inquiry. Our multi-ethnic student body will expose students to the benefits of learning about other cultures and will promote respect for diversity and tolerance. As a medical graduate you will exemplify the attributes valued by our university. These attributes are also closely aligned to the Medical Council Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics.

Our campus is based adjacent to the Galway University Hospital. As you gain experience you will assume greater responsibility and undertake clinical placement rotations in a network of affiliated hospitals in as part of the Saolta Hospital Group. In addition you will be involved in the delivery of primary care in a variety of community settings.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Points Requirement: 480 points from the same sitting of the Leaving Certificate Examination. Applicants must achieve both the required subjects and the points in the same sitting, CAO applicants must complete the Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT). Minimum A-Level Grades: A*A*A* (AS) or equivalent combination plus HPAT-Ireland Test results.

Leaving Certificate Entry Requirements:

GY501 Medicine (5 year): In addition to the 6-year requirements, H4 in two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics/Chemistry, Agricultural Science. For further details, refer to the website.

GY501 Medicine (6 year): Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e., Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agricultural Science), and any other subject recognised for entry purposes.

GY501 Medicine (8 year): Students entering the medical programme have the opportunity also to engage in a PhD degree through a period of dedicated research, so that after successful completion of a period that is likely to be eight years, both the medical degree and PhD are conferred. Students of the medical programme who are interested in doing a PhD will undergo a selection process at the mid-point of their medical studies.

Please contact the School of Medicine for further details on medschool@nuigalway.ie

Additional Requirements

Students must satisfy the Garda/Police vetting and Medical Clearance requirements.

Duration

5, 6 or 8 years

Next start date

September 2023

A Level Grades (2022)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

180

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY501

Course code

Course Outline

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Foundation Year

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Physics

Chemistry

Biology

Introduction to Medicine

Basics of Body Structure / Musculoskeletal System

Biomolecules, Metabolism and Energy

Principles of Physiology

Cardiovascular System

Gastro-intestinal System

Metabolism, Nutrition and Health

Renal System

Respiratory System

Medical Professionalism 1

Central Nervous System

Introduction to Pharmacology

Endocrinology

Genes, Gametes and Embryos

Molecular Medicine

Drugs and Disease

Health and Disease 1

Organ Failure

Medical Professionalism 2

Health and Disease 2

Global Health and Development

Professionalism – Core Clinical Skills

Foundations in Clinical Theory

Foundations in Clinical Diagnosis

Foundations in Clinical Management

Primary Care and Mental Health

Women’s and Children’s Health

Advanced Clinical Skills

Special Study Module

Advanced Clinical Theory

Advanced Clinical Diagnosis

Advanced Clinical Management

Junior Internship

Advanced Teaching and Learning

Transitioning Programme

Neurology Lecture Series

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Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Further Education

Honours graduates can also pursue higher degrees in a wide range of related disciplines, for example:

Doctor of Medicine, MD
Master of Surgery, MCh
PhD
Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Medical Science (Health Informatics)
Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Medical Science (Endovascular Surgery)
Postgraduate Diploma and Masters in Health Sciences (Primary Care)
Postgraduate Diploma and Masters in Health Sciences (Clinical Education)
Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate (Clinical Primary Care)
Master of Science (Regenerative Medicine)
Master of Science (Medical Physics)
Masters of Preventive Cardiology
Master of Science (Clinical Research)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this programme will find employment in:

Primary Care
Public Hospitals
Private Hospitals
Defence Forces
Education and research
Community rehabilitation services
Pharmaceutical companies
Medical device companies
Health insurance companies
Medical journals

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

In partnership with HSE, and our regional hospitals, the School of Medicine assists in an Intern Placement Scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that medical graduates receive the appropriate training and experience to become registered physicians. We work hard to ensure that as many graduates as possible obtain 12 months placement in recognised intern posts.

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€7,408 (Foundation); €9,213 (First Med) 2023/24

Fees: Tuition

€4,268 (Foundation); €6,073 (First Med) 2023/24

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Non EU

€50,135** p.a. 2023/24

NON EU Fee**

Discounts are available to students entering through recognised student recruitment agents. Current student recruitment pathways include IUMC and Atlantic Bridge.

All new entrants are required to pay a fee of €200 towards a subsidised Occupation Health Service provided to students of the College of Medicine, nursing and Health Sciences in compliance with relevant legislation and standards. The School of Medicine will provide further details to students on this matter.

Find out More

School of Medicine
Clinical Science Institute
T 353 (0)91 544 475
F 353 (0)91 494 519
E medschool@universityofgalway.ie

What Our Students Say

Lorcán Ó Maoileannaigh | Junior Doctor

Throughout my 6 years of study I had numerous opportunities to contribute to college life, both academically and secondary to my participation in many of the societies University of Galway has to offer. In NUI Galway medical students are exposed to clinical practice early in their academic career; special study modules and early patient contact facilitate the translation and application pre-clinical theory to patient care and management. This is followed by clinical years wherein students are supported and guided by fantastic medical and surgical teams who very much take you under their wing and make you feel part of the team. University of Galway has also given me opportunities through societies, sports and as President of the Students’ Union to represent the college on a national and international stage. Opportunities and memories that I now cherish were very much supported by the School of Medicine throughout my studies. Medicine at University of Galway promotes a sense of community, one that simply cannot be replicated where the importance of inter-professional learning, giving back and academic collaboration are all central.

Réiltín Ní Theimhneáin | Medicine class of 2020

Studying medicine at University of Galway is a remarkable opportunity to gain exposure in a fantastic teaching hospital and feel secure in the knowledge that there will be people to help and guide you every step of your journey. The friendships you develop along the way will stay with you throughout your career and you will have countless opportunities to be involved in your community from your foundation year to your final year. Galway is a wonderful city to live in, with most facilities within walking distance and plenty of scenic recreational areas to enjoy. I personally found that studying at University of Galway enabled me to maintain hobbies and extracurricular activities while obtaining a high standard of medical education. This ability to balance ones work scheduled was a skill that University of Galway medical faculty felt strongly about and they supported individuals who wished to uphold high standards of sport, music and other talents including art and debating