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 will be 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.
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)
| Normal L.C.E. Points | Adjusted L.C.E. Points for Medicine |
|---|---|
| 550 | 550 |
| 551-555 | 552 |
| 556-560 | 553 |
| 561-565 | 554 |
| 566-570 | 556 |
| 571-575 | 557 |
| 576-580 | 558 |
| 581-585 | 559 |
| 586-590 | 560 |
| 591-595 | 562 |
| 596-600 | 563 |
| 601-605 | 564 |
| 606-610 | 565 |
| 611-615 | 566 |
| 616-620 | 567 |
| 621-625 | 568 |
Summary
Maximum points available for entry into Medicine is
565 + 300 = 865
(LCE) + (HPAT)
Minimum entry points
Points for Medicine 2019-2024:
| University | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| NUI Galway | 726 | 728 | 737 | 736 | 729 | 728 |
| Royal College of Surgeons | 729 | 733 | 741 | 738 | 734 | 732 |
| Trinity College Dublin | 730 | 735 | 743 | 745 | 741 | 738 |
| University College Cork | 729 | 731 | 738 | 738 | 732 | 730 |
| University College Dublin | 736 | 737 | 743 | 743 | 736 | 735 |
The above table outlines the CAO points requirements for medicine courses in Ireland over the number of years.
Let us take a look at the CAO points that were required to gain entry into Medicine in 2023.
University
| University | Entry points (2024) |
| NUI Galway | 728 |
| Royal College of Surgeons | 732 |
| Trinity College Dublin | 738 |
| University College Cork | 730 |
| University College Dublin | 735 |
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 sat the HPAT-Ireland in 2024 scored 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:
