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.

Year 1 Modules:

Core

HC1002  Person, Culture and Society I (5 credits); 

CP1080  Clinical Science and Practice I (5 credits);

CP1090  Clinical Science and Practice I (5 credits);

FM1010  Foundations of Medicine 1 - Introductory Human Biology (15 credits);

FM1020  Foundations of Medicine 2  - Cardiovascular Biology (5 credits);

FM1030  Foundations of Medicine 3 - Respiratory Biology and Metabolism (10 credits);

FM1040  Foundations of Medicine 4 - Gastrointestinal, Nutritional and Metabolic Biology (10 credits)

Electives (5 credits each)

and one of the following 5 credit options:

EH1090  Epidemiology Elective I;

FR1106 Threshold French II; 

HS1094 Spanish Language for First Year Medical Students (Beginner Level); 

IT1171 Italian Language for Medical Students (Beginner Level);

LC0001 Medical English;

MX1001 Library Project in Medicine I;

MX1006 Student Directed Special Study Module in Medicine;

MX1007 Special Study Module: Advanced Irish Language;

MX1009 History of Medicine; 

UW0092 Science in Society for Medicine (available to MB, BCH, BAO students only)

Year 2 Modules:

Core 

HC2002 Person, Culture and Society II (10 credits);

CP2001 Clinical Science and Practice II (10 credits);

FM2003 Foundations of Medicine: Medical Pharmacology (5 credits);

FM2004 Foundations of Medicine: Mechanisms of Disease (10 credits);

FM2101 Foundations of Medicine, Neuroscience (10 credits);

FM2102 Bone Metabolism, Renal Mechanisms of Homeostasis and Associated Anatomy (10 credits)

Electives (5 credits each)

and one of the following 5 credit options not already chosen in a previous year:

AN2062 Human Embryology and Developmental Anatomy;

FR2106 Towards Vantage French II;

HS1092 Spanish Language for Medical Students (Beginner Level);

MX1004 Introducing Medical Students to Irish as a Spoken Language; 

MX2001 Introduction to Medical Nutrition;

MX2002 Library Project in Medicine II; 

MX2006 Student Directed Special Study Module in Medicine;

MX2008 Medical Research Project;

PT2101 Chemotherapy and Pharmacology of Inflammation;

ST1001 Medical Statistics

Year 3 Modules:

Core

HC3008 Epidemiology for Evidence Based Healthcare (5 credits);

CP3003 Clinical Science and Practice III (5 credits); 

CP3004 Clinical Science and Practice IV (20 credits);

CP3105 Clinical Science and Practice V (5 credits);

FM3003 Foundations of Medicine: Fundamentals of Therapy (10 credits);

FM3005 Foundations of Medicine: Manifestations of Disease (10 credits)

Electives (5 credits each) 

and one of the following 5 credit options, not already chosen in a previous year:

AN3000 Advanced Anatomical Skills;

MX3015 Psychological Medicine;

IP3008 Palliative Care: An Interdisciplinary Approach; 

IS3101 Health Information Systems and e-Health;

MX3001 Maritime Medicine;

MX3003 Medical Research Project;

MX3005 Writing Skills for Medical Students;

MX3006 Student Selected Special Study Module in Medicine;

MX3007 Physical Activity, Exercise and Sports Medicine;

MX3009 Business Skills in Medicine; 

MX3010 Mitigating Medical Error; 

MX3011 Malnutrition and Nutrition Support; 

MX3012 Library Project in Medicine III; 

MX3013 Introduction to Evidence-based Practice in Medicine;

MX3090 Medical Ethics, Legal Medicine and Moot Court; 

PM3090 Genetic Research in Human Disease

Year 4 Modules:

Core

HC4005 Psychiatry (10 credits);

HC4006 Behavioural Medicine (5 credits); 

CP4003 Reproduction, Pregnancy, Child Health and Development (15 credits);

CP4004 Fundamentals of Adult Disease (20 credits);

FM4005 Forensic Medicine and the Coroner's Court (5 credits);

MX4090 Research and Professionalism in Medicine I (5 credits)

Year 5 Modules:

Core 

CP5100 Principles and Practice of Surgery (10 credits); 

CP5200 Principles and Practice of Internal Medicine and General Practice (20 credits); 

CP5300 Principles and Practice of Paediatrics and Child Health (10 credits); 

CP5400 Principles and Practices of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (10 credits); 

MX5090 Research and Professionalism in Medicine II (10 credits)

See the College Calendar for more detailed information on the programme and the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of programme modules.

Leaving Certificate entry requirements: 

H4 in Chemistry and either Physics or Biology and O6/H7 in the Leaving Certificate from Irish, English, another language and Mathematics.  Changes to the HPAT scoring system: Scores above 550 will be rounded upwards to the nearest 5 points and moderated e.g. a score of 562 will be rounded to 565 and will result in a moderated score of 553.

Students presenting with a 2016 (or previous) Leaving Certificate must present with a HC2 in Chemistry and either Physics or Biology.

Additional requirements
Students are also required to present for the Admissions Test (HPAT-Ireland) which must be completed in the proposed year of entry to the Medicine programme (see 

Applicants who have previously been unsuccessful in any Medicine programme are deemed not to be "in good standing" and will only be considered for admission to UCC’s Medicine programmes on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should include any details of extenuating circumstances along with their application.

Students whose mother tongue is not English must provide evidence of English Language ability

Mature students: Applicants should apply directly through the CAO (www.cao.ie), include a statement of interest and may be called for interview. A H4 in Chemistry and either Physics or Biology in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent is required (A HC2 if presenting a pre-2017 Leaving Certificate), as well as the HPAT exam. Approximately four places are available on this course for mature applicants.

Fitness to Practise
Students will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise policy – full details may be found here.

Student Vetting
All students on this programme will come into contact with the public and assume positions of trust through educational and training opportunities. To ensure the protection of the public, and to justify public trust and confidence, UCC is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake this programme.

Vetting is carried out by the Admissions Office in UCC once a student has accepted their place on the programme. It involves a police check to establish whether the individual being vetted has had criminal convictions in the past or whether any criminal proceedings are pending. The Garda Siochána provide this information for students who have resided in Ireland for a period of six months or more (including permanent residence).

All students who have resided outside Ireland for a period of six months or more must furnish a Police Clearance Certificate from their country or countries of residence. This certificate should state that the student has had no convictions recorded against them while residing there.

International Students should visit the International Education website.

EU Applicants: Application to Year 1 of the degree programme is made directly through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Applicants should apply online at www.cao.ie. The normal closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of entry.  Students must also apply for the HPAT-Ireland (Health Professionals Admissions Test – Ireland) exam.

Non-EU Applicants

Mature Applicants:  Application is made through the CAO (www.cao.ie) and the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of proposed entry.

Beginning in Semester 2 of Year 3, students undertake full time clinical placements in hospital and community settings.  These include placements in Cork and the wider Munster region.

Garda Vetting and Infectious Diseases Policy

Written exams take place before Christmas and in May.  Not all modules will have formal examinations.  Many modules use other types of assessment.

See here for details on assessment for Medicine modules.