President of the Medical Council congratulates students who received CAO offers to study Medicine

• Dr Suzanne Crowe emphasises the importance of looking out for your fellow students while in college
• The Medical Council also highlights options available to those interested in studying medicine, who have not yet received an offer

Wednesday, 28th August 2024: President of the Medical Council, Dr Suzanne Crowe, has commended students who have today received CAO offers to study medicine.

Dr Crowe and Denise Carroll, Head of Professional Development at the Medical Council also highlighted other options to students who were unsuccessful in receiving offers, such as Graduate Entry Medicine. This option allows students with a degree in another discipline the opportunity to study medicine at an accelerated rate of a four-year programme instead of the more traditional five- or six-year programme. It is an excellent alternative for those who have been unsuccessful during CAO offers, or those who decide to study medicine later in life.

“The high standard of medical education provided by Irish universities is internationally recognised. Those who received offers to study medicine today, and who will enter our medical schools in the coming weeks, will greatly benefit from this recognition,” Dr Crowe said.

“I’d like to acknowledge all the hard work that students have done to get to this chosen career path. As you begin your studies, start as the type of doctor you want to be – caring, compassionate, and supportive to your fellow colleagues, and to yourself. Be sure to seek help if you need it and take care of yourself.”

Dr Crowe concluded, “To those starting medical school for the first time in the coming weeks, congratulations, and I look forward to calling you a colleague in the future.”

Denise Carroll, Head of Professional Development at the Medical Council added, “The Medical Council’s regulatory role spans the entire lifecycle of a doctor’s career. From the time a student decides to apply to medical school, the Medical Council is present in its role quality assuring and accrediting undergraduate medical education. We continue to quality assure medical education and training from internship to the specialist stages of a doctor’s career and professional development.

"Although today marks a new beginning for so many young people, it is just one new chapter in your life. I’d also remind potential medical students that the CAO is only one pathway to study medicine and other options are available to gain entry to medical school, such as the Graduate Entry Medicine programmes run by many of the universities, which allows for a student with a degree to apply to study medicine.”

Every medical degree programme delivered in Ireland is required to meet Medical Council standards, which are based upon the World Federation for Medical Education’s Global Standards for Quality Improvement in Medical Education. These standards set requirements for programmes, and for the medical schools delivering the programmes. The Medical Council is also a World Federation for Medical Education’s recognised Accrediting Agency.