What are the entry requirements for medicine?

If you’re aspiring to study medicine in Ireland, it’s essential to understand the academic requirements and scores needed. In order to be eligible to compete for entry into undergraduate medicine you  need to meet the minimum subject entry requirements. You must achieve the 480 points criterion in the same sitting of the Leaving Certificate exam.

Allocation of places for Medicine are determined based on a combination of that Leaving Certificate Examination (LCE) score and the HPAT-Ireland score. This is to strike an appropriate balance between the perceived pressures on students to achieve maximum grades in the Leaving Certificate Examination while at the same time recognising excellence when it has been achieved.

Important Update – HPAT & Medicine Entry from 2027

From 2027 onwards, the HPAT will be scored out of 150 (previously 300), and the maximum combined score for medicine entry will be 775 (625 from the Leaving Certificate and 150 from HPAT).

The adjustment previously applied to Leaving Certificate scores above 550 will be removed, meaning full Leaving Certificate points up to 625 will now count.

See here for more information 

Students applying in 2025 or 2026 will continue under the current system where the combined maximum is 865 points.

Before the scores are combined, Leaving Certificate Examination scores above 550 points will be adjusted to a maximum score of 565 points (see table below)

Adjusted Leaving Certificate Points from 550 Onwards

Normal L.C.E. Points	Adjusted L.C.E. Points for Medicine
550	550
551-555	551
556-560	552
561-565	553
566-570	554
571-575	555
576-580	556
581-585	557
586-590	558
591-595	559
596-600	560
601-605	561
606-610	562
611-615	563
616-620	564
621-625	565

Summary

Maximum points available for entry into Medicine is

565    +   300     =    865

(LCE)  +   (HPAT)

 

Which universities require a HPAT – Ireland score to apply?

You will need a HPAT – Ireland score to apply for admission to any of the following courses:

• National University of Ireland Galway
– Undergraduate Medicine

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
– Undergraduate Medicine

• Trinity College Dublin
– Undergraduate Medicine

• University College Cork
– Undergraduate Medicine

• University College Dublin
– Undergraduate Medicine

• University of Limerick (New course for 2026 entry)
– Undergraduate Medicine
– MSc Occupational Therapy (Professional Qualification)
– MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Professional Qualification)

 

Minimum entry points

Points for Medicine 2020–2025:

University	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
University of Galway	728	737	736	729	728	728
Royal College of Surgeons	733	741	738	734	732	733
Trinity College Dublin	735	743	745	741	738	739
University College Cork	731	738	738	732	730	730
University College Dublin	737	743	743	736	735	738

 

University

University	Entry points (2025)
NUI Galway	728
Royal College of Surgeons	733
Trinity College Dublin	739
University College Cork	730
University College Dublin	738

 

Realistic Entry Goals and HPAT Target

Whilst 480 is the minimum entry criterion outlined, you will realistically need to achieve much higher in your Leaving Cert to have a chance at securing a medicine course offer. And this is why:

If you were to achieve a Leaving Certificate score of 480 + 25 Maths bonus points, it would give you a total of 505 points for your Leaving Certificate.  This would mean having to score 223 (729 minus 505) in the HPAT-Ireland to gain entry in to medicine in NUIG (lowest entry points) in 2024. While a HPAT-Ireland score of 223 is possible, it is unlikely.

The HPAT is a very low scoring exam, where a score of 170+ would be regarded as a very strong HPAT-Ireland result. Just 20% of students that sit the HPAT-Ireland score 170 or higher. So, your aim should be to get into this top 20%.

The HPAT exam is crucial to securing your place in medicine. Find out more about the HPAT exam and how you can succeed in the HPAT here: