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

Our Medical academies Clinical Facilities Tour Celebrating Our International Students Information for US/Canadian students considering studying medicine

Entry Points (2023)

#729*

Course Overview

Medicine has been taught at University of 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.

Our vision

The University of Galway Undergraduate Medical Programme is a destination medical programme for students from diverse backgrounds who will practice excellent, patient-centred medicine with knowledge, skill, compassion and resilience in equal measure, to advance human health through discovery and innovation and serve the needs of their community.

Our mission

We deliver a transformative education experience, in an inclusive environment, that enables our graduates achieve excellence in critical thinking, safe collaborative practice and communication skills, with a focus on patient- centred care that is sustainable, ethical, and equitable.

Our core values

Excellence, Respect, Inclusivity and Sustainability are embedded in our practices and processes.

Our curriculum aims

We provide a distinctive medical education programme that:

Supports our graduates critically interrogate and apply a scientific and patient-focused knowledge base in their provision of the best patient care possible.
Prepares our graduates to be excellent communicators, collaborators, leaders,
Empowers our graduates to be ready to participate effectively in hospitals and community care anywhere in the world.
Enables our graduates to lead and contribute to the development of healthcare knowledge and practice through research and innovation.
Encourages our graduates to be effective teachers and mentors for the next generation of doctors.
Fosters continuous personal and professional development of our medical students as confident, adaptable and resilient professionals.
The foundations of our curriculum are built on
Excellent faculty development support systems for our teachers, robust professional support systems and superb medical education facilities.
The core values of excellence, respect, inclusivity and sustainability

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 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.

Medical Academies - University of Galway

“University of Galway's Medical Academies. In the clinical years at University of Galway, students relocate from Galway to spend a full calendar year at one of our academies. Each academy has a purpose-built facility of the highest international standards of medical education, comprising lecture halls, tutorial rooms, clinical skills labs and student chat/social spaces. These academy buildings are located on Saolta University Hospital sites, ensuring ease of access from the hospital to teaching and learning facilities. Students gain a unique experience of service delivery in a secondary health care centre. Each academy has dedicated academic and administrative staff, under the direction of an academy Dean, with excellent student-staff ratios. Small student numbers enhance teaching and mentoring from clinical staff and facilitate patient contact."

Click here to find more detail.

We offer excellent supports to our medical students, find further details on the links below.

Student Services - University of Galway

StudentSupportMap_SOM (universityofgalway.ie)

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@universityofgalway.ie

GY501 (8 year) Physicianeer- Europe's first dual Medicine-Engineering Degree
University of Galway has launched a new degree programme that will allow students too pursue a specialised Engineering stream in their Undergraduate Medical degree programme, awarding students with both a Medical degree and a Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical) degree (MB, BCh, BAO, BE) upon completion.

Developed by University of Galway’s Professor Derek O’Keeffe and Dr Ted Vaughan, this is the first European dual Medicine - Engineering academic degree track which is currently only available in select institutions worldwide. This world class dual Medicine–Engineering programme will only be available to a stellar cohort of less than five students, who will be selected to the Physicianeer programme based on aptitude, academic merit and interview.

Students will complete three years of the Medicine degree at University of Galway before beginning the Biomedical Engineering component. Application for consideration for the University of Galway Physicianeer Programme is only open to students accepted onto the 5 year (GY501) medical degree. Students on the 6 year (GY501) medical programme are not eligible to apply. If successful, the dual track with Biomedical Engineering will be a total of 8 years.

Additional Requirements

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

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

5, 6 or 8 years

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades (2023)

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	Basics of Body Structure / Musculoskeletal System	Central Nervous System	Health and Disease 2	General Practice incorporating Otorhinolaryngology	Advanced Clinical Theory

Chemistry	Biomolecules, Metabolism and Energy	Introduction to Pharmacology	Global Health and Development		Advanced Clinical Diagnosis

Biology	Principles of Physiology	Endocrinology	Professionalism – Core Clinical Skills	Obstetrics and Gynaecology	Advanced Clinical Management

Introduction to Medicine	Cardiovascular System	Genes, Gametes and Embryos	Foundations in Clinical Theory		Junior Internship

	Gastro-intestinal System	Molecular Medicine	Foundations in Clinical Diagnosis	Advanced Clinical Skills and Professional Development

	Metabolism, Nutrition and Health	Drugs and Disease	Foundations in Clinical Management

	Renal System	Health and Disease 1		Paediatric Medicine

	Respiratory System	Multi Organ Failure		Psychiatry	Transitioning Programme

	Medical Professionalism 1	Medical Professionalism 2

‌

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:

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (MSc)

Clinical Education (Masters/PDip)

Clinical Research (MSc, full-time and part-time)

Diabetes (MSc)

Exercise Physiology and its Application in Therapy (MSc)

Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety (MSc, PDipSc)

Obesity (MSc)

Regenerative Medicine (MSc)

Surgery, Masters in (MCh)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Why Galway for Medicine:

Galway is a vibrant contemporary city. Our University has excellent facilities (Sport and Leisure Centre, Clubs and teaching and learning facilities) all within walking distance
The School of Medicine is a friendly supportive high achieving Medical School (perform extremely well Henry Hutchinson Stewart Awards)
We offer a challenging curriculum using modern learning techniques
We provide opportunities for personal development (such as volunteering locally. Internationally/ ERASMUS)
and for community engagement (volunteering/ school orchestra)
You will have opportunities for student research (structured summer research programme/ HRB/ Welcome Trust Scholarships).

Your Medicine degree from University of Galway will be internationally recognised from one of Ireland's oldest and most prestigious universities. 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. You will benefit from world-class new and purpose-built teaching facilities and the main teaching hospital is located adjacent to the main University campus. You will learn from lecturers who are at the forefront of the latest medical research.

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

Dr Shival Salgaonkar | Medicine

As an international student from Australia, moving to Galway to study Medicine was a big move, I didn’t know anyone in Ireland and I had to navigate around a new city and university. I was able to undertake core clinical electives in University Hospital Galway and Letterkenny University Hospital as well as overseas electives in Australia and India. These electives allowed me to better understand patients and broaden my knowledge about medical training throughout the world, I was grateful for these opportunities. The clinical tutors and lecturers at University of Galway provided us with the utmost support and knowledge enabling us to handle difficult situations such as the COVID 19 pandemic. I was able to interact with hundreds of patients throughout my clinical years, from seeing my first surgery to my first birth, I have gained invaluable experiences. These past 5 years have given me lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories and the foundations to grow in my medical career.

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 University of 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