Q:
|
What types of students prove to be successful applicants?
|
 |
| A: |
All types. The Atlantic Bridge
Program is a cultural diversity scheme that is designed to
add well-qualified students from a mosaic of backgrounds to
our student bodies. Students of all ages, creeds, college
majors, ethnicities, financial resources, etc., are encouraged
to apply. |
| |
|
| Q:
|
Must
I be a US or Canadian citizen to apply to the Irish medical
schools through the Atlantic Bridge Program? |
| A: |
No, but you must have
received a portion of your second and/or third-level education
in the USA or Canada or at a US or Canadian school overseas. |
| |
| Q:
|
I
am a citizen of a European Union country and I hold and EU
passport. However, I do not reside in the EU. Should I apply
to the Irish medical schools through The Atlantic Bridge Program? |
| A: |
Yes. The medical schools
do not allocate places on the basis of citizenship. EU citizens
who are not legal residents of the EU are not eligible to
apply for the places reserved for EU residents. |
| |
| Q:
|
What
application documents are required? |
| A: |
Click here
for details. |
| |
| Q: |
Is
the MCAT required? |
| A: |
Applicants applying
to the four and five-year medical degree courses must have
written the MCAT in or before April of the year of proposed
entry to each of the medical schools except Trinity College
Dublin and National University of Ireland, Galway (which do
not require the MCAT). It is not required for application
to the six-year medical degree courses. |
| |
| Q:
|
Is
the medical degree awarded by Irish Medical Schools recognized
in the United States and Canada? |
| A: |
Absolutely. The medical
degrees awarded by the Irish universities are recognized by
the medical licensing authorities in the United States and
Canada. Furthermore, the Irish medical schools have thousands
of graduates who are currently practicing and/or teaching
medicine in North America. Every year our North American graduates
return to the United States and Canada to pursue residency
training. |
| |
| Q:
|
Will
I be able to practice medicine in the United States/Canada
following graduation from one of these schools? |
| A: |
Graduates are eligible
to practice in all of the European Union nations, in all British
Commonwealth nations and territories and in the United States
and Canada following successful completion of the applicable
licensing procedures. Details for the United States and Canada
are available in the residency
section on this website. |
| |
| Q:
|
How
many entering classes are there each year and when do classes
commence? |
| A: |
There is one entering
class each year. Classes commence annually in mid September/early
October. |
| |
| Q:
|
How
many North American students are accepted to the Irish medical
schools every year? |
| A: |
Up to 130 US and Canadian
students are admitted each year. Currently, there are approximately
750 North American students studying medicine in Ireland. |
| |
| Q:
|
How
long is the medical degree course in Ireland? |
| A: |
Several schools (RCSI, UCD, UCC, and University of Limerick) offer a four-year
graduate-entry program for students who have an existing undergraduate degree.
Some of of the schools also offer either a five-year or a six-year
medical degree course for students who have completed high
school but will not have earned an undergraduate degree prior
to entering medical school. |
| |
| Q:
|
Will
I receive as good a medical education at these schools as
I would in the USA/Canada? |
| A: |
Absolutely. The standard
of education in Irish Medical schools is extremely high. Their
degrees are highly regarded throughout the world. Their graduates
routinely secure some of the most prestigious residency training
positions in North America. |
| |
| Q:
|
Is
student accommodation available? |
| A: |
Yes, all the universities
have excellent, modern, housing. Housing in the private sector,
including housing for married couples, may also be located
with guidance from the college's Student Accommodation or
International Offices. |
| |
| Q:
|
How
much are tuition fees and living expenses? |
| A: |
Tuition fees for the 2007/8 academic year are 27,000 Euros at all of the schools except The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (a private school and a registered charity) at which they are 42,000 Euros for the four-year course and 40,000 Euros for the six-year course. Tuition fees are subject to annual review.
It has been our experience that, on average, students will spend approximately Euro 16,000 per year on living expenses (rent, food, supplies, travel, books etc.). Most of these expenses can be funded through student loans. |
| |
| Q:
|
I
have a European Union (EU) passport but I ordinarily reside
in North America. Do I qualify for EU tuition fees? |
| A: |
No. Holders of EU
passports who are not legal residents of the EU are subject
to overseas (i.e. non-EU) tuition fees. |
| |
| Q:
|
What
kind of financial aid is available? |
| A: |
Financial
aid in the form of US and Canadian student loans are available
to cover education expenses such as tuition fees, books and
supplies, travel, etc. Currently the schools themselves cannot
make scholarships available to international students. |
| |
| Q:
|
What
about health insurance? |
| A: |
Ireland has a public/private system of health care.
Private health insurance is advised, but is not mandatory, for all international students.
A popular choice for Ireland health insurance is VHI, though there
are several companies available. |
| |
| Q:
|
What
about libraries and computer facilities? |
| A: |
All of the schools
have libraries that are amongst the most extensive in Europe
and contain vast collections of books, periodicals and research
papers. The libraries provide a range of facilities and services
to support and complement lectures, tutorials and practical
work. Document supply services, database searching, a comprehensive
range of reference works and expert advice on how to use them
are all readily available. Extensive and modern computer facilities
(with access to the Internet) are also available to students.
|
| |
| Q:
|
May
I obtain employment while I am studying in Ireland?
|
| A: |
If you enter Ireland
in order to undertake a full-time course of study you would
be permitted to work only after obtaining a work permit from
the government. It is NOT advisable for students who are studying
medicine to work during their school sessions as the course
load is so exacting.
Spouses of students who are attending one of the medical schools
may obtain employment upon being granted a work permit. Please
contact the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa
or Washington DC for further details.
|
| |
| Q:
|
Do
I need to obtain a visa before I travel to Ireland? |
| A: |
Citizens of the USA
and Canada who hold a valid passport do NOT require a visa
to enter Ireland. Nationals of other countries should contact
an Irish Embassy before making their travel arrangements to
determine whether or not a visa is required. A list of Irish
Embassies around the world can be located through the Irish
Foreign Affairs website.
Students who have been accepted to one of the medical schools
must register with the Aliens Office within 90 days of their
arrival in Ireland. The universities' International Offices
will provide new students with instructions on how to do this
during Orientation. |
| |
| Q:
|
Are
there any special airfares available to students studying
in Ireland? |
| A: |
Yes, the Council
on International Education Exchange (CIEE) offers special
student airfares to students who are studying overseas.
CIEE has offices throughout the USA and Canada through which
travel arrangements can be made to and from Europe, North
America and the rest of the world. For details on their
office nearest you call 1-800-781-4040 or visit
www.statravel.com. |
| |
| Q:
|
Who
can my family and friends contact if they want to receive
information on travelling to Ireland to visit me? |
| A: |
The Irish Tourist
Board at 1-800-223-6470, or visit www.ireland.ie. |
| |
