So, you’ve applied to every medical school in Ireland but there’s still a few places left on your CAO. Not sure what to fill them with? This is the post for you!
Before deciding what courses to choose, let’s have a look at alternative routes to medicine.
Alternative Routes to Medicine
Repeating the Leaving Cert & HPAT
(or just the HPAT if that’s all you need)
Note: in both of these circumstances you will need to resit the HPAT. Your HPAT points can only be used for the year in which you took the HPAT.
Postgraduate Medicine
To apply for postgraduate medicine you need to have achieved a minimum 2.1 result (upper 2nd class honours) in any bachelor’s (level 8) degree.
You will also have to sit the GAMSAT. This is an exam containing the following three sections;
- Section 1 – reasoning in humanities & social sciences
- Section 2 – written communication
- Section 3 – reasoning in biological and physical sciences
Section three of the GAMSAT is composed of 40% biology, 40% chemistry and 20% physics.
Click here for more information on the GAMSAT.
Find books on how to succeed in the GAMSAT here! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Medicine Abroad (UK & Europe)
To apply for medical school in the UK you will need to take the UCAT or BMAT depending on the medical school you are applying to. You should check with the individual medical schools for any additional entry requirements.
To apply for medical school in other European countries you will need to check the specific entry requirements for the colleges you are applying too. Often the country you are applying to will have its own entrance exams that you will have to complete.
What courses can you choose?
You can put down any course you like after medicine. It doesn’t have to be a science degree (although a science degree would make studying for the GAMSAT a lot easier, it is not a requirement).
My advice when picking courses to put down after medicine on the CAO…
- Is this a course you would enjoy?
- Do you have a genuine interest in this course (or are you just picking it because it sounds similar to medicine?)
- Would you be happy staying in this course if things don’t work out with medicine?
Courses Similar to Medicine
Here are some courses I can think of that are related to medicine. As I said before, you can choose any course you like (engineering, drama & theatre studies – you name it!) However, you may want a course that’s associated with medicine because that’s what interests you the most or because you want a course that will teach you skills that will be valuable to you when you do get into medicine.
Human Health & Disease
This course has a lot of overlap with medicine so it will give you a head start heading into medicine.
According to Trinity College Dublin, career opportunities associated with this course include employment in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and in health promotion, education and policy.
Biomedical Science
This course will give you an advantage particularly in your first few years of medicine which are more science based than clinical.
Dentistry
Dentistry is a great alternative to medicine if you have an interest in it. A career in dentistry can give you a great work life balance plus a decent income.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy’s another option that would offer a better work life balance than a career in medicine.
Furthermore, most med students find pharmacology pretty challenging so you’d be at an advantage when it comes to that important module.
Nursing
From year one nursing students are thrown into clinical placement. This is great experience for medical clinical training further down the line.
On the other hand, if you decide to become a nurse, it’s a very valuable career and another route to working with patients.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a great course whether it leads you to a career in physiotherapy or gives you a head start on anatomy and clinical skills when it comes to studying medicine.
Radiography
As a radiographer you will be able to use your technological and scientific expertise to help patients by taking medical images such as x-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs and CT scans.
There are many other courses that are connected to medicine, these are just the main ones that come to mind for me. Visit Careers Portal or Qualifax for more information on individual CAO courses.
The Bottom Line
Although certain courses may give you an advantage when starting medicine or studying for the GAMSAT, there is no course that will get you into medicine.
At the end of the day the most important thing is to choose courses that you see yourself really enjoying and that will bring you fulfilment.