Program Overview

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Medicine (Graduate Entry)

Course Fact File

• Code: CK791
• Duration: 4 Years
• Teaching Mode: Full-time
• Qualifications: MB, BCh, BAO (Hons)
• NFQ Level: Level 8
• Fees: See Fees and Costs for full details.
• CAO Points: GAMSAT 2024: #55*
• CAO Points Range: GAMSAT 2024: #55*-74

Course Outline

Few fields can compete with Medicine in terms of the wide variety of opportunities available to the graduate.

For most doctors, their professional lives are centred on caring for people in the community or in the hospital setting. In this context, doctors are often the centre around which the healthcare of the patient revolves, interacting with all other members of the healthcare team.

However, doctors are also leaders in biomedical research, in the development of a new understanding of normal and abnormal bodily function, diagnostic methods, and therapies. Doctors are also engaged in the study of patterns of disease in the community; others work in pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, health insurance companies, and in the management of health and safety in the workplace.

The Medicine curriculum at UCC is rooted in the basic Medical Sciences of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, but also places emphasis on clinical instruction. A distinctive feature is small-group, patient-centred teaching, in which students learn the skills of listening and communicating, history-taking and clinical examination.

The Medicine curriculum at UCC reflects current best practices in medical education and is under constant review and evaluation. The curriculum is further enhanced by a wide range of student-selected modules, from research projects to humanities workshops (e.g. Art and Medicine, Creative Writing). Research is a key element of Medicine at UCC, and all students complete a research project in their final year.

This is a four-year course in which the Biomedical Sciences are compressed into Year 1 and the first semester of Year 2, after which it overlaps significantly with Medicine MB, BCh, BAO (Hons).

Year 1 (Core Modules)

• GM1001 Fundamentals of Medicine I (20 credits)
• GM1002 Fundamentals of Medicine II (20 credits)
• GM1003 Fundamentals of Medicine III (15 credits)
• GM1010 Integrated Patient-centred Clinical Science and Practice (15 credits)
• GM1020 Health and Disease in Society I (5 credits)

Year 2 (Core Modules)

• GM2001 Fundamentals of Medicine IV (10 credits)
• GM2006 Junior Clinical Elective (5 credits)
• GM2013 Professionalism and Patient-Centered Practice (15 credits)
• GM2015 Clinical Medicine I (15 credits)
• GM2020 Health, Disease and Society II (10 credits)
• GM2030 Research for Medicine and Health I (5 credits)
• GM2105 Clinical Medicine II (10 credits)

Elective Modules (5 credits each)

• AN3000 Advanced Anatomical Skills ****
• BH3006 Psychological Medicine
• EE3901 Biomedical Design
• IP3008 Palliative Care: An Interdisciplinary Approach
• IS3101 Health Information Systems and e-Health
• MX3001 Maritime Medicine
• MX3003 Medical Research Project
• MX3005 Writing Skills for Medical Students - Fiction and Fact
• MX3006 Student Selected Special Study Module in Medicine
• MX3007 Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sports Medicine
• MX3009 Business Skills in Medicine
• MX3010 Mitigating Medical Error
• MX3011 Malnutrition and Nutrition Support
• MX3012 Library Project in Medicine III
• MX3013 Introduction to Evidence-based Practice in Medicine
• MX3090 Medical Ethics, Legal Medicine and Moot Court
• PM3090 Genetic Research in Human Disease

Year 3

• HC4005 Psychiatry (10 credits)
• HC4006 Behavioural Medicine (5 credits)
• CP4003 Reproduction, Pregnancy, Child Health and Development (15 credits)
• CP4006 Fundamentals of Adult Disease (15 credits)
• CP4007 Fundamentals of Otolaryngology, Dermatology and Ophthalmology (5 credits)
• FM4005 Forensic Medicine and the Coroner's Court (5 credits)
• MX4091 Research and Professionalism in Medicine I (5 credits)

Year 4

• CP5100 Principles and Practice of Surgery (10 credits)
• CP5200 Principles and Practice of Internal Medicine and General Practice (20 credits)
• CP5300 Principles and Practice of Paediatrics and Child Health (10 credits)
• CP5400 Principles and Practices of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (10 credits)
• CP5500 Preparedness for Professional Practice (5 credits)
• MX5091 Research and Professionalism in Medicine II (5 credits)

Course Practicalities

Much of the academic teaching takes place in UCC’s Brookfield Health Sciences Complex. Facilities include an IT lab, a state-of-the-art clinical-skills laboratory (including a mock ward) and communication-skills rooms complete with audio-visual recording equipment.

From Semester 2 of Year 2, students undertake full-time clinical placements in hospital and community settings. These include placements in Cork and the wider Munster region.

Assessment

Written exams take place before Christmas and in May. Not all modules will have written examinations. Many modules use other types of assessment. See here for details on assessment for Medicine modules.

Why Choose This Course

Both UCC and its School of Medicine are long-established, with a distinguished history and an excellent international reputation. Medicine at UCC offers the following:

• A rich tradition of teaching, research, and scholarship: our Medical degrees are internationally recognised and held in high regard
• Ranks in the top 2% of universities worldwide
• One of Ireland’s leading research institutes
• Integrated, dynamic, systems-based medical curriculum with a strong research focus and world-class teaching facilities
• Crucial early patient contact and clinical teaching
• Early instruction on research methodology and opportunities for research
• Dedicated and experienced teaching staff
• Small group learning
• Excellent post-graduate training opportunities in Ireland and abroad due to an active alumni network
• Superb modern facilities in purpose-built Medical School
• Friendly, welcoming university
• Excellent student accommodation within walking distance of Medical School
• Excellent student welfare support system and personal mentoring
• First-rate sporting facilities, 55 sports clubs, and over 84 student societies

Requirements

To be considered an EU applicant, you must fulfil the criteria for determining EU fee eligibility as outlined here.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for EU applicant status, you will be deemed a Non-EU student for fees and application purposes and you should not apply through the CAO.

To be eligible for consideration for an EU GEM place, you must:

1. Hold, or expect to hold by July of the year you wish to enter Graduate Entry to Medicine, a minimum of second class honours, grade one (2H1 or equivalent) result in your first honours bachelor degree (NFQ level 8). The degree can be in any discipline.
2. Compete on the basis of your Graduate Australian Medical School Admission Test (GAMSAT) scores only. The GAMSAT-Ireland test is held in March and September each year. Please consult the GAMSAT website for further information.

Fees and Costs

• Whether you are an EU or Non-EU student will affect the course fees applicable to you. See more information on EU Fees, Non-EU Fees, or Free Fees Status.
• The State will pay the tuition fees for EU students who are eligible under the Free Fees Scheme. The annual student contribution and capitation fees are payable by the student.
• See the Fee Schedule to find out the course fee.
• Check out scholarships that may be available to you.
• Explore our Nurturing Bright Futures free online course (Module 5) to learn about managing your money as a student and budgeting for university life.

How To Apply

Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants

Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.

Mature Applicants

Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry.

QQI/FET Applicants

Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET Applicants page for information on the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Further Education and Training (FET) application process and whether there are routes available to this course.

Non-EU Applicants

If you are from outside the EU/EFTA/UK, apply online via the UCC Apply portal. See our International Office page for more information.