Leaving Certificate points for medical courses set at 480

PROSPECTIVE medical students will gain entry to university on a minimum of 480 points and completion of an admissions test under reforms announced yesterday.

The new admissions test combined with Leaving Certificate results will come into effect from 2009 and result in more doctors entering the health system, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said.

The changes, which were last week signed off with the state’s principle universities and the Royal College of Surgeons, means students will no longer have to strive for maximum points.