Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 December 2020
258. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 483 of 8 December 2020, the way in which participation of students from low socio-economic backgrounds is facilitated for graduate medical programmes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44073/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes. HEI are autonomous bodies and admissions to graduate medical programmes courses a matter for the institutions concerned.
Although students are liable to pay a tuition fee for a place on graduate entry medicine programmes, the State via the HEA provides a grant per student to HEIs (€11,200 in the 2019/20 academic year) towards the cost of the graduate entry medicine programme.
HEIs may also offer financial support for students on such courses e.g. an Atlantic Philanthropies-funded scholarship in UL for students who entered their undergraduate degree through an access route but this, along with overall admissions processes, is a matter for each HEI.
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding.
