Our mission is to improve patient health by developing competent, caring doctors who are life-long learners, driven by scientific enquiry and the desire to serve our society’s evolving healthcare needs. We aim to develop in our medical students an in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of health and disease and an understanding of modern medicine including its applications and limitations. We teach our students to be self-directed learners and as graduates to be life-long participants in education and research. Our objective is to build strong professional, inter-personal and decision-making skills that are key to success in their careers. We develop in our students an innate sense of responsibility, commitment to social and cultural diversity, equity and ethical standards. We strive for a supportive, dynamic learning environment where each student in the Medicine Programme will have been supported in reaching their individual potential.

We use innovative and creative evidence based educational approaches to develop in our students a repertoire of analytical, cognitive and examination skills and teach them key procedural techniques which become essential to their work as doctors.  A patient centred reflective approach is key to all our teaching methods. Our assessment strategy is driven by the necessity to translate knowledge, skills and attitudes to face- to- face patient care.

• Be able to maintain and enhance professional activities through lifelong learning.
• Be committed to physician health and wellbeing including self.
• Be committed to the professional ethical and legal codes of practice.
• Contribute to the creation, dissemination, application, and translation of new medical knowledge and practices through research and audit.
• Critically evaluate information and its sources and apply this appropriately in their decision making.
• Develop and maintain communication skills to support all roles.
• Establish and maintain the clinical skills to perform a complete and appropriate patient centred assessment of a patient and to use therapeutic interventions effectively.
• Facilitate the learning of patients, families, junior colleagues, other health professionals, the public, and others, as appropriate.
• Have acquired proficient practical skills for diagnostic and therapeutic use as required of an intern in practice.
• Possess and apply in-depth knowledge of the core biomedical and clinical sciences that underpin the practice of medicine.
• Possess health advocacy skills to promote health of individuals and communities.
• Possess team working skills to promote and maintain the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary team in healthcare provision.
• Possess the capacity to develop management and leadership skills over time in the knowledge of the principles of the Irish healthcare system, the fundamentals of management science and personal professional development.
• Recognise personal and professional limits of knowledge and competence and consult appropriately.
• Understand and accept the roles and responsibilities of the doctor as defined by the Medical Council or other professional regulatory body.

The medical degree programme is an exciting pathway to becoming a doctor.

One of the strengths of the undergraduate medical degree programme is patient-based teaching in small groups where our students learn the necessary skills under the tuition of highly qualified clinical tutors. We aim to enhance your experience by attention to student welfare and by adopting innovative teaching strategies and assessment methods.

The UCD teaching hospitals are leading, modern national medical centres that deliver the highest quality in patient care. The major general teaching hospitals are the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and St Vincent's University Hospital, based in Dublin.

UCD's Health Sciences centre, opened in September 2005, is a state-of-the-art facility for medical education and research and brings the research and teaching activities of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and radiographers together under one roof.

STAGE 1
In Stage 1, you will take modules in the basic sciences including Physics, Chemistry, Cell Biology and Genetics. Modules in Healthcare Informatics will equip you with the appropriate information technology.

STAGE 2
Stage 2 modules examine the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of healthy cells, tissues and organ systems. Both semesters contain clinical modules that introduce students to patient care in community and hospital settings.

STAGES 3 & 4
Stage 3 modules begin to review the pathology, microbiology and pharmacology of organ systems in a clinically integrated approach. Modules in Stage 4 complete the study of the diseased organ systems with continued clinical integration.

STAGES 5 & 6
In the final two stages, modular programmes in Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Psychiatry are studied. This involves periods of clinical attachments in the general and specialist hospitals, attachment to a general practice and systematic instruction in the various medical specialties. Clinical tuition is patient-based and is largely carried out through small group sessions at the bedside.

Extensive international links offer you a variety of opportunities to widen your experience. Scholarships awarded on the basis of an essay competition are available to support elective periods in centres of clinical and research excellence in the USA, Europe and Malaysia.

The UCD School of Medicine & Medical Science has links with several USA medical schools (e.g. University of Pennsylvania, University of Kansas, University of California, San Diego, Emory University and Washington University, St Louis) and Penang Medical College in Malaysia where you may take elective programmes and gain valuable experience overseas.

Upon graduation, you must complete one year as an intern or Pre-Registration House Officer to gain full registration with the Irish Medical Council.

You may then pursue training towards a career in a wide variety of specialities in a diversity of settings, including hospitals, primary care facilities or laboratory-based diagnosis and research.

Candidates must agree to undergo testing to assess levels of immunity to certain infectious diseases (Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis). The results of such tests are not used to determine entry to the course but are used to provide the student with a suitable immunisation programme schedule. For further information, please read Information on Infectious Diseases Procedures and General Health available from the Medical School Office.

UCD Health Sciences Programme Office,
Health Sciences Centre (Ground Floor)
Belfield,
Dublin 4
+353 1 716 6656
Email: healthscience@ucd.ie
Web:www.ucd.ie/healthsciences

DN006 Physiotherapy
DN008 Science
DN037 Biomedical, Health & Life Sciences