Graduate Entry Programmes in Medicine - Announcement by the Minister for Education and Science
On 24th November 2006, the HEA, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, issued a request for proposals from higher education institutions in respect of the establishment of Graduate Entry programmes in Medicine, to commence in September 2007.
Institutions are required to submit proposals to the HEA by the end of January 2007. The proposals will then be assessed and it is anticipated that in March the Minister will announce the results of the competitive process and identify those institutions that have been selected to offer a Graduate Medical programme in 2007.
In order to develop an appropriate selection mechanism for these graduate programmes, the Minister established an Expert Advisory Group to make recommendations for a national approach. Following detailed discussions between the Group and the universities and RCSI, an agreed proposal has been made to and accepted by the Minister for Education and Science, the details of which are set out below.
Those persons interested in applying to a Graduate Entry Programme in Medicine for entry in September 2007 should note the following:
(a) Entry Requirements:
- Candidates must hold, or expect to hold by July 2007, a minimum II:1 (second class honours, grade one) result in their first honours bachelor degree (NFQ Level 8) awarded, or equivalent.
- For candidates who meet this requirement, the GAMSAT (Graduate Medical Schools Admissions Test - Ireland) will then be used as the sole instrument to select students for the programme.
(b) Application Process:
- Application should be made via the Central Applications Office www.cao.ie to the special Level 8 course code GM001 – Graduate Entry Medicine.
- The normal application closing date is 5:15 pm on 1st February 2007
- Those who have already applied online may use the online ‘My Application’ facility to amend their course choices online to include GM001 until January 31st.
- Applicants may also amend their course choices between February 5th and March 1st by following the procedures outlined on Page 12 of the CAO Handbook.
- For those who have not applied to CAO by 1st February, CAO will accept late applications for GM001 on a paper application form submitted to CAO no later than 5:15 pm on 1st March.
In March, once the Minister’s decision has been made as to which institution(s) will offer the Graduate Entry Programmes, applicants will be asked by the CAO to amend their course choices, removing their GM001 preference and introducing their institutional preference(s) for Graduate Medicine. No other changes to course choices will be allowed at that time.
- Application to sit the GAMSAT Test in Ireland should be made to the Australian Council for Educational Research www.gamsat-ie.org before 17:15 hours on 1st March 2007.
- The GAMSAT test will take place on 24th March 2007 at centres in Cork and Dublin.
- Candidates may sit the GAMSAT test at other test centres worldwide, or may submit the results of a GAMSAT test already taken, provided the test was not taken before 1st September 2005.
