Irish Students Facing High Points Barriers at Home Look to Poland for Medical Education
The Leaving Certificate results due on Friday 22 August will cause tears of joy... and despair. Some dreams will be shattered, some will pursue them against all odds - abroad.
Thousands of Irish students will discover whether they have secured a place in high-demand university courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine. These remain among the most competitive programmes in Ireland.
Last year, entry to undergraduate Medicine required 735–738 CAO points depending on the university, while Veterinary Medicine demanded around 589 points for just over 80 available places at UCD. Dentistry also continues to be extremely restricted, even with a new programme adding 20 additional places from 2025.
Although the Government has committed to increasing capacity over the coming years—potentially expanding to 208 extra doctors, 63 dentists, and 230 veterinary graduates annually—such measures will not affect students receiving results this year.
For those who narrowly miss out, studying abroad has become a well-established alternative. Polish universities offering Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine through English have attracted increasing numbers of Irish students for over a decade now. Graduates of these programmes are recognised across the EU, including in Ireland, and many return home to complete internships. There are universities that will still accept applications till late August.
“There are many Irish students starting in Poznań every year, and the opportunities to learn and experience a hands-on clinical environment are unparalleled,” said Eimear Bruton, currently studying at Poznań University of Medical Sciences.
“Leaving Cert students will face a lot of stress due to uncertainty in the coming days. Because of that pressure, students often overlook the option of studying abroad, where education is more accessible,” said Artur Banaszkiewicz, Founder of StudyMedicinePoland.com. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help Leaving Certificate students achieve their ambitions each year; this year, it’s still not too late to make it happen.”
StudyMedicinePoland.com will hold an online 2025 Last Places Information Webinar on Wednesday 20 August, followed by a phone and video Helpline from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th August (083 134 5788, 087 189 6580) for students seeking information, advice, and support. Further details are available at www.StudyMedicinePoland.com and http://bit.ly/45mjLd3.
