New university medicine courses attract more than 500 applicants

MORE than 500 people have applied for the 60 places on medicine courses being opened up to degree holders for the first time.

The colleges which will provide the courses are expected to be announced by the Government this month but those interested in taking part had to apply before last Thursday.

The Central Applications Office (CAO), which normally handles applications for first year college places, is operating the selection system. A spokesperson said last night that it has received 520 applications.

The courses will be open to degree holders, including those finishing primary degrees this summer, with a 2:1 — or second class honours, grade one — on their final results. But they will be selected based on their performance in an aptitude test to take place later this month.

The GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admission Test) will cost students 300, recently reduced from the original fee of 363 which the Union of Students in Ireland had described as restrictive.

As some applicants may be completing undergraduate programmes this year, the selection procedure is not likely to be completed until July or early August after college results are issued.

However, candidates will be asked later this month to select the third-level institution at which they would like to study graduate medicine, in order of preference.

While just 60 places will be on offer for entry next autumn, 240 graduate places will be available annually in three years’ time.