For undergraduate medicine, the CAO ranks you on a combined score: your Leaving Certificate points plus your HPAT score. You need a minimum of 480 LC points in one sitting to be considered at all. In 2026, the six medical schools filled their places at combined scores between 730 and 741, and every school except UCC had to use random selection at the cut-off.
Applying for September 2027? The rules change for you. LC points above 550 are no longer moderated down (in 2026, 625 LC points became 565), and the HPAT is worth a maximum of 150 instead of 300. The 2026 cut-offs on this page are out of 865, so they will not translate directly to 2027. Your Leaving Cert now carries far more weight, but with the HPAT still deciding the margins, a strong HPAT remains essential.
All Your Options, One Table
Six Irish medical schools now take school leavers directly, with the University of Limerick joining in 2026. Ranked by 2026 Round 1 combined score.
| School / Country | Location | Duration | Entry Route & 2026 Points | vs 2025 | Tuition / yr (EU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRELAND — CAO + HPAT ENTRY (2026 ROUND 1, COMBINED SCORE OUT OF 865) | |||||
| TCD — Trinity College Dublin TR051 |
Dublin | 5 yrs | CAO + HPAT 741* combined (2026) |
+2 739 in 2025 |
€2,500 |
| UCD — University College Dublin DN400 |
Dublin | 5 or 6 yrs | CAO + HPAT 738* combined (2026) Round 2: 738 (no lottery) |
0 738 in 2025 |
€2,500 |
| UCC — University College Cork CK701 |
Cork | 5 yrs | CAO + HPAT 735 combined (2026) |
+6 729 in 2025 |
€2,500 |
| RCSI — Royal College of Surgeons RC001 |
Dublin | 5 or 6 yrs | CAO + HPAT 734* combined (2026) |
+1 733 in 2025 |
€2,500 |
| University of Galway GY501 |
Galway | 5 or 6 yrs | CAO + HPAT 730* combined (2026) |
+2 728 in 2025 |
€2,500 |
| UL — University of Limerick New 2026 LM301 |
Limerick | 6 yrs | CAO + HPAT 730* combined (2026) Round 2: 730* |
First intake Not offered in 2025 |
€2,500 |
| EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVES — ENGLISH-TAUGHT PROGRAMMES (NO HPAT) | |||||
| 🇮🇹 Italy Sapienza, Milan, Pavia, Bologna, Padua, Turin, Naples |
13 cities | 6 yrs | IMAT exam (September) | €200 – €4,000 | |
| 🇵🇱 Poland Jagiellonian (Kraków), Warsaw, Poznań, Gdańsk, Wrocław |
12+ cities | 6 yrs | University exam (Bio + Chem) | €10,000 – €16,000 | |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary Semmelweis (Budapest), Szeged, Pécs, Debrecen |
4 cities | 6 yrs | University exam + interview | €14,000 – €18,000 | |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic Charles (Prague), Masaryk (Brno), Palacký (Olomouc) |
3 cities | 6 yrs | University entrance exam | €10,000 – €15,000 | |
| 🇷🇴 Romania Cluj-Napoca, Carol Davila (Bucharest), Iași, Timișoara |
4 cities | 6 yrs | Grades-based / university exam | €5,000 – €8,000 | |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Pleven |
4 cities | 6 yrs | University exam (Bio + Chem) | €7,000 – €9,000 | |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania LUHS (Kaunas), Vilnius University |
2 cities | 6 yrs | School grades + Biology entrance | €11,000 – €13,000 | |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia Riga Stradiņš University, University of Latvia |
Riga | 6 yrs | School grades + interview | €12,000 – €15,000 | |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia Comenius (Bratislava), Šafárik (Košice) |
2 cities | 6 yrs | University entrance exam | €9,500 – €12,500 | |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia University of Zagreb, University of Split |
2 cities | 6 yrs | Entrance exam / grades-based | €9,000 – €12,000 | |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus University of Nicosia, European University Cyprus |
Nicosia | 6 yrs | Holistic / interview-based | €18,000 – €22,000 | |
* Not all applicants on this score were offered a place (random selection applied). Source: CAO Round 1 and Round 2 points lists, 2026. Irish combined score = moderated LC points + HPAT score (max 865 in 2026). Irish tuition reflects the student contribution under the Free Fees Initiative. European tuition fees are approximate and vary by institution and student nationality. All European programmes are English-taught. Living costs are additional in all cases.
Each School in Detail
Trinity College Dublin
University College Dublin
Round 2 offers went to everyone on 738 (no lottery)
University College Cork
Biggest jump of the six, and the only school with no random selection
RCSI — Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
University of Galway
Joint-lowest cut-off in 2026, tied with UL
University of Limerick New for 2026
Still 730* in Round 2 — random selection both rounds
Studying Medicine in Europe
If the Irish route doesn't work out — or if you simply want more options — over 100 medical schools across Europe offer English-taught programmes. Thanks to EU Directive 2005/36/EC, medical degrees from EU universities are automatically recognised by the Irish Medical Council, meaning you can return home to practise without additional exams.
Yes. Under EU law, medical qualifications obtained in any EU/EEA member state are automatically recognised by the Irish Medical Council. Irish citizens who graduate from an EU medical school can register with the Medical Council and practise in Ireland without sitting any additional licensing examinations. The university must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). This applies equally to programmes taught in English.
🇮🇹 Italy — Best Value in Western Europe
Italy stands out as the most affordable option in Western Europe. Thirteen public universities offer English-taught medicine programmes with income-based fees — many EU students pay under €2,000 per year. Entry is through the IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test), a single exam held annually in September covering biology, chemistry, physics, maths and logical reasoning.
Popular cities include Milan, Rome, Pavia, Bologna and Padua. Italian language is helpful for clinical placements but not required for the academic programme.
🇵🇱 Poland — Most Popular with Irish & UK Students
Poland has the highest concentration of English-taught medical programmes in Central Europe, with well-established international student communities. Entry is typically through each university's own exam in biology and chemistry, sometimes with an interview. Living costs are considerably lower than Ireland, with many students spending €500–€800 per month.
Kraków, Warsaw, Poznań and Gdańsk are the most popular choices. Jagiellonian University in Kraków is one of Europe's oldest (founded 1364) and highly ranked.
🇨🇿 Czech Republic — Prestigious & Established
Charles University in Prague has run English-taught medical programmes since the 1990s and is ranked among the world's top 250 medical schools. With three medical faculties in Prague plus programmes in Brno and Olomouc, the Czech Republic offers strong academic reputations. Entrance exams are competitive but well-structured.
Prague is a vibrant, affordable European capital. Many Irish and UK students have graduated from Charles University and returned to practise at home.
🇭🇺 Hungary — Strong International Track Record
Hungary's four medical universities all offer English-taught programmes and have decades of experience educating international students. Semmelweis University in Budapest is particularly well-regarded, consistently ranking among Europe's top medical schools. Entry involves a university-specific exam in biology, chemistry and often an interview.
Budapest offers a fantastic student lifestyle with affordable living. Hungarian degrees are fully recognised across the EU and widely accepted internationally.
🇷🇴 🇧🇬 Romania & Bulgaria — Most Affordable EU Options
Romania
With tuition from €5,000–€8,000 per year and very low living costs, Romania offers some of the most affordable medical education in the EU. Cluj-Napoca and Iași are popular student cities with growing English-taught programmes. Carol Davila University in Bucharest is the most established.
Bulgaria
Similarly affordable, Bulgaria's medical universities in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna charge €7,000–€9,000 per year with monthly living costs as low as €400–€600. Entry is via university entrance exams in biology and chemistry. Degrees are fully EU-recognised.
Before You Decide: Key Considerations
Most European programmes use their own entrance exams focused on biology and chemistry, or the IMAT for Italy. No CAO application is needed.
Under EU Directive 2005/36/EC, your degree is automatically recognised in Ireland and all EU/EEA countries. No additional licensing exam required.
The SUSI grant is available for approved courses in other EU countries, but eligibility criteria differ. Check susi.ie carefully before committing — not all programmes qualify.
While lectures are in English, you will interact with patients in the local language during clinical rotations. Most programmes include language training, but plan for extra study.
After graduating abroad, you can apply through the HSE's national intern matching process to complete your internship year in Ireland. Places are competitive but available to EU graduates.
Monthly living costs in Central/Eastern Europe typically range from €400–€800, significantly less than Dublin's €1,200+. Even Italian cities outside Milan and Rome are affordable.
Annual Tuition at a Glance (EU students)
Irish students studying medicine in Ireland through the Free Fees Initiative pay only the student contribution (€2,500/year). Living costs are additional in all cases. Bar widths represent relative tuition ranges, not total cost of attendance.
How to Choose
Location & Lifestyle
Think about whether you want to stay in Dublin or experience life in Cork, Galway, or Limerick. Accommodation costs vary significantly — Dublin is the most expensive, Limerick the most affordable. Consider how far from home you're comfortable being.
5-Year vs 6-Year Course
A 5-year course gets you qualified sooner. A 6-year course with a pre-med/foundation year (UCD, RCSI, Galway) or UL's integrated six-year programme is ideal if you didn't take many sciences for the Leaving Cert, and gives you a gentler first year to adjust to university life.
Class Size & Culture
UL's brand-new cohort and RCSI's EU intake (~54) create tight-knit groups, while Galway's (~120) is the largest. Smaller classes mean more individual attention; larger classes offer a wider social circle. RCSI's health-sciences-only focus creates a very different vibe from a traditional university.
Hospital Network
Your clinical placement hospitals will shape your daily life in senior years. Dublin schools use large tertiary hospitals; regional schools offer wider variety including rural GP placements. Consider whether you want a city-centre hospital experience or broader community exposure.
Alternative Pathways into Medicine
Didn't get the combined HPAT + points score you needed? Medicine has more entry routes than almost any other course in Ireland. Some lead directly back to an MD, others open up rewarding healthcare careers in their own right.
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) — 4-Year Fast Track
This is the primary "second chance" route into medicine. Complete any honours degree first, then sit the GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) and apply via the CAO. The GEM schools offer a 4-year accelerated programme — you'll graduate with the same MB BCh BAO qualification as the 5/6-year undergrad students. Your degree can be in any discipline — arts, science, business, engineering — it doesn't matter. Selection is based on GAMSAT score only (no HPAT, no interview for EU applicants).
The GAMSAT tests reasoning in humanities and social sciences, written communication, and reasoning in biological and physical sciences. It's held in March and September each year, and results are valid for two years. In 2026 the GAMSAT cut-offs ranged from 56 (UL) to 61 (UCD), with random selection at the cut-off in all three. RCSI did not make CAO offers on its graduate-entry course (RC101) in 2026, so check the CAO handbook before relying on it.
Repeat the LC or Resit HPAT
If you narrowly missed the combined score, repeating one or two LC subjects and/or resitting the HPAT can close the gap. The HPAT must be resat each year — scores don't carry over — but many students improve significantly on their second attempt with targeted preparation.
From 2027 entry, LC points above 550 are no longer moderated and the HPAT is capped at 150 instead of 300 (combined max 775, down from 865). If your Leaving Cert was the weak link, repeating subjects now pays off in full points. If your HPAT was the weak link, the exam still decides the margin, but a 20-point HPAT gain in the old system is worth roughly 10 in the new one.
The 2026 combined cut-offs ranged from 730 (Galway, UL) to 741 (TCD), all out of 865. There are no like-for-like numbers for 2027 yet; the first round of offers under the new formula will be issued in August 2027.
Study Medicine in Europe
As covered in the European section above, there are 100+ English-taught MD programmes across 11 countries with no HPAT required. EU Directive 2005/36/EC guarantees automatic recognition of your medical degree throughout the EU, meaning you can return to Ireland and register with the Medical Council without additional exams (subject to completing an intern year).
Popular choices include Poland (Poznań, Warsaw, Łódź), Czech Republic (Charles University), Hungary (Semmelweis), Romania, Bulgaria, and Italy. You can apply to European programmes and CAO simultaneously — there's no restriction.
Biomedical & Health Science Degrees
A science or biomedical degree is both a rewarding career path and a launchpad for GEM. Complete a 3–4 year Level 8 degree with a 2.1, then apply via GAMSAT. Many GEM students come through this route. These degrees also lead to careers in research, pharma, diagnostics, and public health.
2026 Round 1 points shown. Any discipline qualifies for GEM, but biomedical sciences give you a head start on GAMSAT Section 3 (biological and physical sciences). Total time: 3–4 year degree + 4 year GEM = 7–8 years, compared to 5–6 years direct entry.
Allied Healthcare Careers
If you're drawn to healthcare but medicine specifically isn't the only option, several high-demand careers offer excellent job security, shorter training, and strong salaries — and some also qualify you for GEM later if you change your mind.
2026 Round 1 points shown. Pharmacy, physiotherapy, and dentistry are often listed alongside medicine on the same CAO form. All Level 8 healthcare degrees qualify you for GEM entry later. UL also offers a 2-year graduate physiotherapy MSc via GAMSAT.
Mature Entry (23+)
If you're 23 or older by January 1st of the entry year and don't hold an honours degree, you may be eligible for mature entry to undergraduate medicine. You'll still need to sit the HPAT, but your Leaving Cert points are assessed differently. Each university has its own mature student quota and interview process.
If you do hold an honours degree, the GEM route (above) is your primary pathway — and it's open to applicants of any age. RCSI also offers a specific mature entry pathway to their 5-year undergraduate programme via direct application.
Access & Foundation Routes
Several universities offer access or foundation year programmes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds (HEAR scheme) or students with disabilities (DARE scheme). These can provide an entry point to medical school at reduced points. RCSI's 6-year programme (RC001 via the pre-medical year) is also an option for students who didn't take all the required science subjects.
QQI/FET Level 5 qualifications can also provide access to certain health science programmes, which in turn can lead to GEM. Check each university's access office for specific pathways and quotas available in your situation.
On your CAO form, you can list all six undergraduate medicine courses in your order of preference. In 2026 the combined cut-offs differed by just 11 points between the highest (TCD, 741) and the lowest (Galway and UL, 730), and five of the six schools ended up drawing lots at the cut-off. Listing several schools in your preferred order maximises your chances of receiving an offer. Your HPAT score applies to all of them automatically.
Points sourced from the CAO 2026 Round 1 and Round 2 Level 8 lists (published 26 August and 7 September 2026). 2025 comparison figures from CAO 2025 Round 1. Page last reviewed 20 September 2026.