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Training doctors on the banks of the River Corrib since 1845, at one of Ireland's leading universities and its medtech capital.
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Ireland
Country
Galway
City
Top 200 for Medicine (QS)
Ranking
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
The Quadrangle and cloisters at the University of Galway
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Recognition & Prestige
University of Galway ranks #275 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and in the top 200 medical schools worldwide, and it has been placed in Europe's top 100 universities for three years running.
#275
QS World University Rankings 2027 (University of Galway)
351–400
THE World University Rankings 2026 (University of Galway)
Top 200
medical schools worldwide (QS Rankings)
#4
in Ireland (QS 2027)
The medical degree is recognised internationally. University of Galway School of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS, ID F0001730), the MB BCh BAO is accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland (a WFME-recognised accreditor) and the National University of Ireland, and graduates are eligible to qualify for practice in India through the NMC screening/exit examination.
NMC/MCI
National Medical Commission / Medical Council of India (India)
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (ID F0001730)
WFME
Accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland, a WFME-recognised agency
EU
Within the European Higher Education Area; degree recognised EU-wide under Directive 2005/36/EC
Complete Information About University of Galway School of Medicine
Get complete information about the University of Galway School of Medicine, including tuition, living costs, admission process and recognition for Indian students.
Success stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
University of Galway offers a top-200 medical school, clinical training in English-speaking hospitals, and a safe, affordable student city on Ireland's west coast.
Read all about MBBS abroad in our free brochure
Know exactly what options exist for your MBBS-abroad success.
How to Apply
University of Galway does not accept direct applications to Medicine from non-EU students and does not use Ireland's CAO or the HPAT test for them (those are for EU school-leavers). Indian applicants apply through the university's official agency, the Irish Universities and Medical Schools Consortium (IUMC), which reviews eligibility, submits the application and arranges the required admissions interview. There is no NEET requirement for admission.
Enquiries and applications for the September 2027 intake open through the IUMC pathway for Indian students.
Indicative deadline for the Asia/IUMC route (the 2026/27 cycle closed on 15 January 2026); confirm the exact 2027 date with IUMC.
Shortlisted applicants must pass an admissions interview with the medical school, generally conducted online for overseas candidates.
Admission decisions are issued on a rolling basis after interviews.
Accept the offer and pay the deposit set in the offer letter (visa applicants are typically advised to pay €6,000 or 50% of fees first), then apply for the Irish long-stay (D) study visa with proof of at least €10,000 living funds.
The academic year begins on the Galway campus; Medicine students also complete Garda vetting and occupational-health clearance.
Indian applicants need a strong Class 12 result (CBSE or CISCE), with University of Galway placing Medicine in its highest entry band (around 85%+) and requiring Chemistry plus Biology or Physics at a high level. Class 12 results must be verified through DigiLocker. Students who do not meet the science requirements for the 5-year track may be considered for the 6-year track, which begins with a foundation year.
Subjects:
Candidates should be at least 17 years old on entry.
Selection is based on academic record and a compulsory admissions interview; there is no written entrance exam for non-EU applicants. Applications are made through the university's official agency (IUMC for India).
Interview
Shortlisted applicants must pass an admissions interview with the School of Medicine to be considered for a place; it is usually held online for overseas candidates.
English Proficiency
IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.5 (Medicine requires 6.5 in every component), or an equivalent TOEFL/PTE score. A high Class 12 English mark from CBSE/ISC may be accepted in lieu; the medical school decides.
There is no written entrance exam for non-EU applicants. Selection rests on the academic thresholds and the admissions interview, submitted through IUMC.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Academic record | High Class 12 result (top band, ≈85%+) with Chemistry and Biology/Physics at a high level; DigiLocker verification required |
| Application route | Submitted through IUMC, the university's official agency for Indian applicants (application fee €100) |
| Interview | Compulsory admissions interview with the School of Medicine, usually online for overseas candidates |
To apply, students need to submit essential academic and identification documents:
Admission Guidance & Document Checklist
Get the complete document checklist or admission guidance from our experts.
Program Structure
University of Galway teaches an integrated, systems-based curriculum built on three running strands — knowledge of health and disease, clinical skills for safe practice, and professional competencies — with early patient contact, simulation and case-based learning. It runs over five years, or six with a foundation year, entirely in English and leads to the MB BCh BAO degree.
Total Duration:
5 Years (6 with Foundation Year)
Degree:
MB BCh BAO (Bachelor of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics — equivalent to MBBS)
Years 1–2
University-taught sciences (students on the 6-year track first complete a foundation year in chemistry, physics and human biology) followed by systems-based learning blocks that integrate anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology, with early patient contact and simulation:
Year 3
The move into hospital-based clinical training, with core rotations, ambulatory medicine and the option of an Erasmus+ exchange semester or elective:
Years 4–5
Full-time clinical placements across the specialties, a full year based at a regional Medical Academy, and a final-year junior internship that prepares students for practice:
Clinical training is centred on University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital, within the Saolta University Health Care Group, and students spend a full year at one of four regional Medical Academies — Sligo, Letterkenny (Donegal), Mayo (Castlebar) or Portiuncula (Ballinasloe). An indicative pattern:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Year 3 | Core medicine, acute/emergency and surgery attachments; ambulatory medicine |
| Year 4 | Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Psychiatry and General Practice, with a full year at a regional Medical Academy |
| Year 5 | Acute Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care and the final-year junior internship |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to see detailed subjects, the course structure and everything you need to plan your studies.
Global Exchange
University of Galway runs the largest Medicine Erasmus+ programme in Ireland, sending students on exchange in the second semester of Year 3, and offers an International Clinical Elective Programme through which students arrange electives worldwide before final year.
| Country | Erasmus+ / Exchange Partner Universities |
|---|---|
| France | Université Grenoble Alpes; University of Montpellier |
| Germany | Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Ruhr University Bochum |
| Spain | University of Girona |
| Sweden | Uppsala University |
| Switzerland | University of Lausanne (non-Erasmus exchange) |
Explore Your Exchange Options
The table above highlights Erasmus+ and exchange partners available to University of Galway medical students.
Legacy
From Victorian surgical pioneers to leaders of modern medicine, Galway's medical graduates and professors have shaped the profession in Ireland and abroad.
Sir Peter Freyer graduated from Queen's College Galway in 1874 with an MD, MCh and a string of gold medals. In 1900 he pioneered the suprapubic (total) prostatectomy, going on to perform more than 1,600 of the operations and transforming the treatment of prostate disease worldwide. The University of Galway still holds the annual Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium in his honour.
Ada English was one of Ireland's first female psychiatrists and lectured in mental diseases at University College Galway from 1914 to 1943. Over four decades at Ballinasloe asylum she introduced occupational therapy and pioneering treatments, and she was also elected a member of the Second Dáil, bridging medicine and the founding of the Irish state.
Geraldine McGinty graduated in medicine from Galway in 1988 and became, in 2018, the first woman to chair the Board of Chancellors of the American College of Radiology, later serving as its President. A senior leader at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, she is one of the most influential figures in global radiology and healthcare policy.
Timothy O'Brien is Professor of Medicine at Galway and co-founder of REMEDI, the university's Regenerative Medicine Institute, where his work on gene and stem-cell therapy has helped make Galway a European centre for regenerative medicine. As Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences he led a period of major expansion of the school.
Michael Kerin is Professor of Surgery at Galway and leads the research programme of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute at the Lambe Institute for Translational Research. His work on breast-cancer biomarkers has advanced how the disease is detected and treated, and he has trained a generation of Irish surgeons.
Martin O'Donnell is Executive Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and a professor of neurovascular medicine. A leading stroke researcher, he has been a central figure in major global studies of the causes of stroke, shaping prevention strategies used around the world.
Andrew Murphy became Galway's foundation Professor of General Practice in 1995 and built the discipline into one of Ireland's strongest centres for primary-care research. His work has strengthened the evidence base for how family medicine is practised across Ireland.
The university is led by President Professor David Burn, a neurologist who took office in September 2025, with Professor Martin O'Donnell as Executive Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Professor Laurence Egan as Head of the School of Medicine. Teaching combines campus academics with the consultants of University Hospital Galway and the four regional Medical Academies, alongside research leaders in CÚRAM, REMEDI and the Lambe Institute.
Experienced physicians and surgeons
Faculty with international publications
Medical researchers and scientists
Active involvement in medical research
Regular academic interaction
Personal mentorship
Clinical supervision during rotations
Continuous development of practical skills
About University
Get all information about University of Galway in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying medicine at the University of Galway.
Role in medicine
Get all information about University of Galway in our free brochure
Read on to find out how you can fulfil your dream of studying medicine at the University of Galway.
Cost of living
Galway is one of Ireland's more affordable student cities, noticeably cheaper than Dublin. Here is the monthly breakdown.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₹41,000 – ₹88,000 |
| Food | ₹27,000 – ₹44,000 |
| Transportation | ₹0 – ₹6,600 |
| Other Expenses (Utilities, Internet, Leisure) | ₹16,000 – ₹27,000 |
Average monthly living cost
₹1,10,000 – ₹1,70,000
Housing
University of Galway offers three managed student villages on or beside campus, and its student services team supports students renting privately across a compact, walkable city.
The largest and most affordable option, with 764 beds in campus apartments a short walk from lectures. Single, twin and double rooms are available, most with shared bathrooms, with twin rooms starting from about €368 per month (around ₹40,000).
A modern residence of 429 en-suite beds beside the campus, from about €747 per month, popular with students who want a private bathroom in a self-catering apartment.
The newest residence, opened in 2023, with 674 mostly en-suite beds over eight floors, a games room and study spaces, at pricing similar to Goldcrest.
Rooms are furnished with shared kitchens and living areas. On top of rent, budget for a €250 refundable booking deposit, a rental deposit and a utility prepayment; all three villages are managed centrally through the campusaccommodation.ie portal.
First-year applications open in a fixed spring window (mid-April to early May) and rooms are allocated by computer lottery, so applying inside the window matters more than applying first. Offers are issued in May and June, with a further lottery in late August for cancellations.
Places are limited and demand is high, so a room is not guaranteed even for first-years. International students should apply as soon as the window opens and line up a private backup.
Because Galway is compact, many students live in Salthill, Newcastle, Knocknacarra or Renmore and walk or cycle in. A room in a shared house typically costs about €500–€800 per month — well below Dublin — using Daft.ie and the university's vetted StudentPad and Rent-a-Room listings.
The on-campus lottery runs in April and May, while the private market peaks from July to September, so start early, and follow the standard rule of never paying a deposit for accommodation you have not viewed in person or by verified video.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
Indian and vegetarian food is easily available in cafeterias, restaurants and grocery stores across Galway.
The campus has restaurants and cafés serving hot lunches from around €10, with vegetarian options daily, and Galway's compact centre is packed with cafés and restaurants a short walk from campus, all with vegetarian choices.
Location
University of Galway School of Medicine, Clinical Science Institute, Costello Road, Shantalla, Galway, H91 V4AY, Ireland
Nearest Airport
Shannon Airport (SNN, ~90 km) for UK/Europe/US flights; Dublin Airport (~2.5 hours by direct Citylink coach) is the practical hub for flights from India
Local Transport
Galway is compact and very walkable; city buses cost €1.90 (about €0.75 with a Student Leap Card), there is a free Park & Ride shuttle to campus, and cycling is common
Your Roadmap to Success
Graduates earn the MB BCh BAO, Ireland's primary medical qualification and the equivalent of MBBS, accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland and the National University of Ireland. The school is WDOMS-listed, keeping doors open in India, the US, the UK and across the EU.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of the exams and requirements after graduation.
Practising in India
To practise medicine in India after graduating from University of Galway, Indian students follow a clear licensing pathway set by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The programme is an English-taught degree at a WDOMS-listed school, and students should qualify NEET-UG before joining to protect their future eligibility.
Step 1
Graduates must clear the qualifying examination that licenses foreign medical graduates to practise in India. At present this is the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), which the NMC plans to replace with the National Exit Test (NExT).
Step 2
After qualifying, students complete the required internship in India. This is a paid, hospital-based internship that builds hands-on experience in Indian clinical settings. Note that in Ireland the internship happens after the degree through the national HSE scheme, so Indian students should confirm with the NMC how the Irish pathway maps to the internship requirement.
Step 3
The final step is registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the relevant State Medical Council. Once registered, the graduate holds a full licence to practise medicine in India.
Student Life Style
Galway is one of Ireland's youngest, most creative cities, and student life mixes an intensive medical course with festivals, the Atlantic coast and weekends exploring the west of Ireland.
The Cliffs of Moher on Ireland's Atlantic coast, a popular student day trip from Galway
Green coastal countryside in the west of Ireland near Galway
The Giant's Causeway on the north coast of Ireland, a popular student trip
Scholarship & Financial
Honest note first: scholarship support for non-EU medicine students at Galway is limited to modest merit awards, so families should plan as fully self-funded.
As part of the university's Global Scholarships, a small number of €3,000 merit awards are offered to first-year Medicine students, with eligible applicants invited to apply after accepting their offer. It is a helpful discount rather than a tuition-covering scholarship. Eligibility: €3,000 award · for first-year non-EU Medicine students · apply on invitation after accepting the offer.
Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience at the University of Galway.
4.7
76 reviews
Compare
Compare University of Galway School of Medicine with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
University of Galway vs CMC Vellore
| University | University of GalwayGalway, Ireland | CMC VelloreTamil Nadu, India |
|---|---|---|
| University Type | Public | Private (minority) |
| Medium | English | English |
| Course Duration | 5–6 years (MB BCh BAO) | 5.5 years (MBBS) |
| Tuition (per year) | ~₹60.5 lakh (€55,000) | ~₹3–4 lakh |
| Admission | Application via IUMC + interview | NEET-UG |
| Recognition | WDOMS / EU; NMC-eligible via screening | NMC-recognised |
| Global Ranking | QS #275 (2027); top 200 for Medicine | Not in QS top 500 |
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FAQ
Short answers to the questions students and parents ask most often about MBBS at the University of Galway.
