About Medicine (mb, Bch, Bao (hons)) in University College Cork

Few fields can compete with Medicine in terms of the wide variety of opportunities available to the graduate.

For most doctors, their professional lives are centred on caring for people in the community or in the hospital setting. In this context, doctors are often the centre around which the healthcare of the patient revolves, interacting with all other members of the healthcare team.

However, doctors are also leaders in biomedical research, in the development of new understanding of normal and abnormal bodily function, diagnostic methods and therapies. Doctors are also engaged in the study of patterns of disease in the community; others work in pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, health insurance companies, and in the management of health and safety in the workplace.

The Medicine curriculum in UCC is rooted in the basic Medical Sciences of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, but also places emphasis on clinical instruction. A distinctive feature is small-group, patient-centred teaching, in which students learn the skills of listening and communicating, history-taking and clinical examination.

The Medicine curriculum at UCC reflects current best practice in medical education and is under constant review and evaluation. The curriculum is further enhanced by a wide range of student-selected modules, from research projects to humanities’ workshops (e.g. Art and Medicine, Creative Writing). Research is a key element of Medicine at UCC, and all students complete a research project in their final year.

Both UCC and its School of Medicine are long-established, with a distinguished history and an excellent international reputation. Medicine at UCC offers the following: 

• Rich tradition of teaching, research and scholarship: our Medical degrees are internationally recognised and held in high regard
• Ranks in the top 2% of universities worldwide
• One of Ireland’s leading research institutes
• Integrated, dynamic, systems-based medical curriculum with a strong research focus and world-class teaching facilities
• Crucial early patient contact and clinical teaching
• Early instruction on research methodology and opportunities for research
• Dedicated and experienced teaching staff
• Small group learning
• Excellent post-graduate training opportunities in Ireland and abroad due to active alumni network
• Superb modern facilities in purpose-built Medical School
• Friendly, welcoming university
• Excellent student accommodation within walking distance of Medical School
• Excellent student welfare support system and personal mentoring
• First-rate sporting facilities, 55 sports clubs and over 84 student societies

There are a wide variety of opportunities available to medical graduates.

Doctors are leaders in biomedical research, in the development of understanding of bodily function, diagnostic methods and therapies.

Doctors are engaged in the study of patterns of disease, while others may work as medical device manufacturers, in pharmaceutical companies and in the management of health and safety in the workplace.

Skills and Careers Information

Following successful completion of the Final Medical Examination, and subsequent graduation, Medical graduates are required to complete one year of internship training in order to achieve full registration with the Irish Medical Council. While UCC School of Medicine makes every effort to support students in the search for an internship post, students apply and compete for internship posts in an open jobs market.

In Medicine, the primary degrees MB, BCh, BAO are only the start of your career, as all branches of Medicine require postgraduate training of 3-7 years after the postgraduation hospital intern year.

Many graduates choose to undertake part of their postgraduate training abroad and all Medical School academic staff are available to provide advice regarding the opportunities available.

Academic qualification equivalents

 1.    All India Senior School Certificate 

 2.    Higher Secondary Certificate / Standard 12 

 3.    Indian School Certificate (Year 12) 

Band 1 Programmes

Minimum average of 90% + in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Band 2 Programmes

Minimum average of 80-89% in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Band 3 Programmes

Minimum average of 75-79% in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Additional Requirements

Where Maths is required for a specific degree programme, a minimum score of 85% in Maths is required.

Where a Lab Science subject is required for a specific degree programme, a minimum score of 85% is required in the appropriate Lab Science subject.

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS: 6.5  Minimum individual sections 5.5
• TOEFL: TOEFL 90  Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing 17
• PTE: 63 Minimum individual sections 51

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