Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2017
356. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the five lowest in numerical order leaving certificate points and associated health profession admission test, HPAT scores of the persons accepted to study undergraduate medicine via mature student entry for each of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46229/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra357. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applicants for mature student entry to UCD medicine for each of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46232/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra358. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which an application for entry to a course (details supplied) on mature grounds is assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46233/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 356 to 358 inclusive together. The third level institutions are autonomous bodies and my Department does not have a role in relation to their admissions policies.
Mature Entry into the undergraduate Medicine course specified, is primarily targeted at applicants who do not hold a Level 8 Honours undergraduate degree (or equivalent). Eligible applicants are ranked on the basis of their performance in the HPAT Ireland assessment. The top performing applicants are then assessed on the basis of the written application and further shortlisted for interview. Successful applicants are then selected on the basis of their performance at the interview. If a persons HPAT is adequate, their written application will then be assessed under the following headings - Academic Ability (evidence of academic ability as displayed by final school leaving examinations and/or other assessed courses or examinations undertaken may also be taken into account); Work Experience, Personal and Professional Development; Motivation and Interest; other information which is relevant to the application (Personal Statement template to assist with this) and References (application must be supported by at least two letters of recommendation). Further details are available on the institutional website.
The number of EU mature applicants for entry to the UCD undergraduate Medicine course in 2015 was 164, in 2016 it was 163, and in 2017 was 169.
I am arranging for further information on mature applicants to undergraduate medicine programmes to be collected for the Deputy.
