[R.Devaney]

Originally Posted by Agnieszka_88

Actually, R., that made me wonder: why do you want to study in Ireland? You could try the UK, you'd get loans for fees and maintenance from the student finance and the nhs grant, the application process is similar (apart from the interviews), so why here?

Good question (I'm asking myself too!). I grew up in London and have never lived in Ireland, but spent all my summers there and would like to ultimately move over. I figured studying in Ireland would give me an extra 4 years to live there but it seems to come at some expense! The only place in the UK I would be interested in studying (due to family having a house) would be the London schools but I hear they are ultra ultra competitive. I guess if you score well in the GAMSAT, GEM in Ireland is a simpler route, and slightly less competitive than in London. Whats your thoughts?

[R.Devaney]

Originally Posted by Agnieszka_88

Actually, R., that made me wonder: why do you want to study in Ireland? You could try the UK, you'd get loans for fees and maintenance from the student finance and the nhs grant, the application process is similar (apart from the interviews), so why here?

Plus my undergrad degree is unrelated to biology or organic chemistry (Geology) and I thought that would hold me back from possibly gaining a place in the UK

[Agnieszka_88]

Originally Posted by R.Devaney

Good question (I'm asking myself too!). I grew up in London and have never lived in Ireland, but spent all my summers there and would like to ultimately move over. I figured studying in Ireland would give me an extra 4 years to live there but it seems to come at some expense! The only place in the UK I would be interested in studying (due to family having a house) would be the London schools but I hear they are ultra ultra competitive. I guess if you score well in the GAMSAT, GEM in Ireland is a simpler route, and slightly less competitive than in London. Whats your thoughts?

I've been thinking about trying the UK, so I did a lot of research, and yes, GEM is more competitive than in Ireland, but also cheaper and it also has a longer history, so it's a bit better organised. 4 schools use the GAMSAT, and since the exam is seen as an equivalent of college level science education, they don't require a science undergrad degree. The 3 I've been thinking about are SGUL, Notts and Swansea, all three are great courses. SGUL is probably the most competitive, since it's in London, but it's doable. I don't remember the GAMSAT cut-off, don't have my notes here, but I can check on Monday. Anyway, if you meet their criteria and get invited for an interview, it's all up to you. The thing that I find the most difficult for the UK schools is that they all require you to have some sort of experience in health care, to talk about in the interview and to prove that you're making an informed decision. Some people go really overboard with this, quit their jobs and start working as a HCA or something, but in reality it all depends on how well you can sell your experience, what you've learned about yourself and your future job, so volunteering for a longer period of time plus maybe shadowing a doctor or two are usually enough.
If you're looking for more detailed information you can write me a private message (seriously, I have mountains of notes, I'm the queen of colour-coded file holders and yes, it does look scary) or you can check New Media Medicine. It's a forum and it's full of useful information, but it will probably take you months to comb through all that.

[R.Devaney]

Originally Posted by Agnieszka_88

I've been thinking about trying the UK, so I did a lot of research, and yes, GEM is more competitive than in Ireland, but also cheaper and it also has a longer history, so it's a bit better organised. 4 schools use the GAMSAT, and since the exam is seen as an equivalent of college level science education, they don't require a science undergrad degree. The 3 I've been thinking about are SGUL, Notts and Swansea, all three are great courses. SGUL is probably the most competitive, since it's in London, but it's doable. I don't remember the GAMSAT cut-off, don't have my notes here, but I can check on Monday. Anyway, if you meet their criteria and get invited for an interview, it's all up to you. The thing that I find the most difficult for the UK schools is that they all require you to have some sort of experience in health care, to talk about in the interview and to prove that you're making an informed decision. Some people go really overboard with this, quit their jobs and start working as a HCA or something, but in reality it all depends on how well you can sell your experience, what you've learned about yourself and your future job, so volunteering for a longer period of time plus maybe shadowing a doctor or two are usually enough.
If you're looking for more detailed information you can write me a private message (seriously, I have mountains of notes, I'm the queen of colour-coded file holders and yes, it does look scary) or you can check New Media Medicine. It's a forum and it's full of useful information, but it will probably take you months to comb through all that.

Amazing! And I'll definitely have to check out that forum. I would be really grateful if I could message you about that. I'm currently sitting some exams from this monday to next tuesday so haven't got the most free time ever until thats finished. Would it be ok to contact you after that? I'd like to hear of your plans also. Thanks Agnieszka

[Hypnos]

I would jump at a chance to do medicine in the UK. Especially in Nottingham university since they accept the gamsat right? Finances just hold me back and I'm stuck here.

[Agnieszka_88]

Originally Posted by R.Devaney

Amazing! And I'll definitely have to check out that forum. I would be really grateful if I could message you about that. I'm currently sitting some exams from this monday to next tuesday so haven't got the most free time ever until thats finished. Would it be ok to contact you after that? I'd like to hear of your plans also. Thanks Agnieszka

No problem, just write whenever!

Originally Posted by Hypnos

I would jump at a chance to do medicine in the UK. Especially in Nottingham university since they accept the gamsat right? Finances just hold me back and I'm stuck here.

Notts seems amazing, and yes they do. I'll have to move anyway (no GEM on the continent), so for me the UK is really the cheaper option, especially outside of London.

[House_QC]

The more I read the various threads on this forum, the more I realise I know very little about the Irish GEM courses and the implications of studying in Ireland. Even the CAO system is alien to me. I was obviously too busy thinking about the GAMSAT to read the small print about course preferences. I thought I could get four offers like the UCAS system in the UK and then pick whichever one I wanted once the offers came in. I put UCD as my first choice but having read the various funding threads, I wonder whether I should consider putting UCC as my first choice (assuming I don't want PBL in Limerick).

The main attraction to Ireland is that I can start a GEM in September 2013 rather than having to wait until September 2014 in the UK. Plus less hurdles to jump over after doing the GAMSAT, i.e. health care experience, personal statement, interviews, etc.

How does the Irish system work once you complete the GEM course? Is there a two year F1/F2 cycle followed by approx. 3-8 years specialisation like in the UK? If I wanted to work in the UK as an F1 junior doctor afterwards, would that be easily done or would I have to work in Ireland? I've never been motivated by financial gain but is there much difference between the salaries of junior doctors in Ireland v UK, for example? Or Australia for that matter?

My research starts now...

[nerrad01]

Originally Posted by House_QC

The more I read the various threads on this forum, the more I realise I know very little about the Irish GEM courses and the implications of studying in Ireland. Even the CAO system is alien to me. I was obviously too busy thinking about the GAMSAT to read the small print about course preferences. I thought I could get four offers like the UCAS system in the UK and then pick whichever one I wanted once the offers came in. I put UCD as my first choice but having read the various funding threads, I wonder whether I should consider putting UCC as my first choice (assuming I don't want PBL in Limerick).

The main attraction to Ireland is that I can start a GEM in September 2013 rather than having to wait until September 2014 in the UK. Plus less hurdles to jump over after doing the GAMSAT, i.e. health care experience, personal statement, interviews, etc.

How does the Irish system work once you complete the GEM course? Is there a two year F1/F2 cycle followed by approx. 3-8 years specialisation like in the UK? If I wanted to work in the UK as an F1 junior doctor afterwards, would that be easily done or would I have to work in Ireland? I've never been motivated by financial gain but is there much difference between the salaries of junior doctors in Ireland v UK, for example? Or Australia for that matter?

My research starts now...

loans wise you would be better with UL as ulster bank only offers loans to UL, whereas BOI offers loans with a guarantor to all 4 colleges so UCC has no advantage loans wise

[pc11]

Originally Posted by nerrad01

loans wise you would be better with UL as ulster bank only offers loans to UL, whereas BOI offers loans with a guarantor to all 4 colleges so UCC has no advantage loans wise

In addition, if he's not an Irish resident he will not get the BOI loans, end of story. Not sure about Ulster Bank, they are more flexible.

So, that means UL is his only possibility.