opportunities to travel while studying medicine

shane0312

Could anyone tell me if it's on option to do a year of medicine abroad as part of your Irish course, to gain experience? I know for other degrees its possible.

DrIndy

You can do erasmus as any other student although the choice is more limited. As a part of your electives, you can choose how you wish to spend 2 or more months in different countries. You also have the option of an elective in a 3rd world country - this is organised as a charitable function by all medical schools.

shane0312

cheers DrIndy that sounds good, especially the third world aspect.

killermonkey

ive done a good bit of research into this cos it was something i reaaaaaaaaalllllllllly wanted to do. unfortunately the only med course with erasmus is in nui galway, where its possible in 4th or 5th year (?) of a 6year course. u can go to places like france germany and i think sweden for about 3 months, possible a bit longer. its def not as long as regular erasmus programmes though. its the only uni in the republic that allows it, and i was gonna do it but opted for cork in the end just cos its a 5year course and i figure med is long enough as it is. i know its also possible in queens in belfast but they usually make u do a pre-med year if u are applying with the leaving cert. kinda sh*t really, cos they only look for 2 a-level science subjects usually to get into the 5year course, so if u have phys chem and bio at leaving cert it should equate (leaving cert subject = two thirds of an a-level subject) but apparently not! very very similar for university of bristol,im sure there are others across the pond too. as for the republic, galways the only option really!

DrIndy

I can assure you that more universities offer erasmus years out. TCD allows people to go to montpelier or tours for a year in 4th year and other colleges offer similar options.

But remember though that you need to train in the Irish health service so you can work in it.

jazzbandit

Do it monkeyboy,
Get out there and see the world. Doing some training abroad is a great idea. Erasmus is potentially a fantastic opportunity. See the world, have some fun, maybe learn some medicine (but, really, that's what ur postgrad years are for).
I went to south africa for an elective, as opposed to a full year. But even 2 months there was an amazing experience.
Don't worry about spending all your time training in the irish healthcare system. In fact, working in a third world country will equip u very well for life in ur average irish hospital.
Basically, your training should, in my opinion, be a time to learn just enough medicine to get by. You'll learn a load in your first few weeks as an intern.

Lots of ppl do their full training in the UK etc and then come to work in Ireland and manage to slot in easily. Medicine is medicine is medicine.

Go and get outa here though. Catch some rays, lay on a beach, score some birds, and then come back for a career of demoralisation :P

The jazz man