Universities to halve points needed from HPAT assessment to study medicine

The HPAT was first introduced in 2009 in light of concerns that entry to medicine was being restricted to 'top' Leaving Cert performers, effectively excluding students who may have the necessary interpersonal skills and empathy making them ideal doctors. File picture: Pexels

Universities are significantly reducing the importance of the health professions admission test (HPAT) required for studying medicine, refocusing instead on Leaving Cert results. 

The changes, which halves the HPAT assessment from 300 to 150 points, will be introduced from 2027. 

Leaving Cert scores above 550 will also no longer be moderated. This means that the maximum combined points for medicine will be 775, made up of 625 Leaving Cert points, and 150 HPAT points. 

This is down from the current maximum of 865 points, made up of 565 Leaving Cert points and 300 HPAT points. 

The HPAT was first introduced in 2009 in light of concerns that entry to medicine was being restricted to 'top' Leaving Cert performers, effectively excluding students who may have the necessary interpersonal skills and empathy making them ideal doctors. 

While it was originally intended to help broaden access to the study of medicine in Ireland, in recent years, the HPAT has faced criticism. A number of private operators now offer preparation courses, which can cost as much as €675 for a 10-week course. 

However, universities now say that the Leaving Cert results have proven to be a "stronger predictor" of performance in medical degree programmes. 

They also point to the increased number of medical places, as well as Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) and Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) schemes, which they say have resulted in "broader and more diverse cohorts of medical students". 

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By 2026, more than 200 extra places will be available across all undergrad medicine programmes, including through a new programme opening at the University of Limerick. 

Universities also point to the revised Leaving Certificate grading scale and points scale introduced in 2017, which they say has resulted in significant changes in overall points profiles across the Leaving Certificate cohort.

The last data from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) indicates that a very small proportion of disadvantaged students study medicine. It found in 2020 just under 4% of graduates came from a 'disadvantaged' background, compared to 35% who come from 'affluent' backgrounds. 

The incoming changes will apply to all Irish and EU students seeking entry to undergraduate medicine programmes from 2027. Students will still be required to sit the HPAT in the same year as entry to the medicine course.