One in six may get to study medicine

MORE than one-in-six schoolleavers could be eligible for medical school places under proposed reforms, according to figures released by the Central Applications Office (CAO) yesterday.

The Government is planning to open up entry to medicine courses to all those who pass a suitability test and who achieve at least 450 CAO points in the Leaving Certificate, although it is not yet clear if the changes will apply to those sitting the exam in 2008 or from later years. This could considerably ease pressure on students cramming for perfect grades to become doctors, as only around 1,000 people scored the 570 points necessary for entry to any of the courses this year.

The figures released by the CAO show 9,017 — or 17.7% of almost 51,000 students whose application is based on their Leaving Cert results — received at least 450 points.