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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Written Answers. - Student Transfers.

Liam Aylward

Question:

714 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will communicate with the five medical faculties here on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is a third year student in the Czech Republic and anxious to transfer to an Irish university. [11399/02]

The admission of individual students to a university is a matter for the individual university concerned. Inquiries have been made with the Higher Education Authority in relation to the transfer procedures in operation and I understand that the medical faculties generally do not accept students on transfer from other medical schools. This approach is adopted having regard to the high level of demand for places in our medical schools and the low attrition rates in medicine.

I understand from the documentation forwarded by the Deputy that the individual concerned has applied to each of the five medical schools without success. In the circumstances, the options open to the individual are to continue to apply for medicine on the basis of his leaving certificate points in the hope that the points might fall and then, if successful, apply for exemption from the first year of the course on the basis of his studies abroad. The granting of exemptions is a matter for the individual faculty. Alternatively, he could apply as a mature student and if successful, apply for any exemptions. In order to apply as a mature student a candidate must be 23 years of age on 1 January in the year of entry. As the Deputy will appreciate, I have no function in the matter of the admission of any individual student.
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