University of Galway medicine takes non-EU applicants only through named agents (Atlantic Bridge for North America), so your agent sets the deadline and the documents; 2027 dates are not out yet. Galway asks for IELTS 6.5 with no component below 6.5, lists no admissions test for non-EU applicants and publishes no non-EU fee for 2027/28: your agent quotes it. Graduate entry medicine is planned to start in September 2027, subject to Medical Council accreditation, and its entry rules are not published yet. EU, UK and Irish fee-status applicants apply through the CAO with the HPAT.
Trusted UK and international medicine admissions specialists since 2012 · 2,700+ taught
At a glance
The University of Galway (formerly NUI Galway) has taught medicine since its foundation in 1845 and sits on a riverside campus in the west of Ireland.
Its distinctive feature for international applicants is that it does not accept direct non-EU applications: North Americans apply through Atlantic Bridge and other regions through designated agencies. Galway says about 40% of its medicine class is international. A new graduate-entry programme is planned for September 2027, subject to Medical Council accreditation.
Which route you use depends on your fee status and where you are applying from, not which school you choose:
Fee status: Irish medical schools decide your route by fee status, not passport alone. EU, UK, EEA and Swiss citizens usually need to have lived in the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland for 3 of the last 5 years to qualify for EU fees. Anyone assessed as non-EU, including UK residents on a visa, applies through a non-EU route.
For the full picture across all six schools, see our guide to studying medicine in Ireland and the Irish medical schools comparison.
What Galway asks of a non-EU applicant living outside North America for 2027 entry:
Checked 14 October 2026 against universityofgalway.ie, Galway's official admissions page.
Applying from Canada or the US? You apply through Atlantic Bridge instead: see our Atlantic Bridge Programme guide. EU, UK and Irish fee-status applicants apply through the CAO: check your points with our CAO points calculator.
Galway does not publish an interview for medicine, and CAO applicants are not interviewed.
| Non-EU | Not published: your agent quotes the fee |
|---|---|
| EU / UK / EEA | Eligible EU/EEA students under Free Fees pay the student contribution plus levy (around €2,640 a year). |
Galway publishes no non-EU medicine fee: the non-EU row of its 2027/28 fee table is blank. Non-EU applicants apply only through agents, who quote the fee, so ask your agent for the figure in writing before you accept an offer.
US federal loans: The University of Galway medicine programme does not participate in the US Federal Loan programme. Although the university is Title IV-eligible at institution level, medicine is excluded, so US students rely on private student loans. Do not assume FAFSA-based federal loans are available for medicine here.
Compare costs across all six schools in our Ireland medicine fees breakdown. Fees rise most years, so confirm the figure for your year of entry on the official course page.
A new graduate entry programme in Rural and Connected Health is planned, with a first cohort in September 2027 and 48 places at full roll-out, subject to Medical Council accreditation. Galway has not published its entry rules. Atlantic Bridge lists 5 or 6 places for North American applicants, with a GPA of 3.0 and MCAT 503 or GAMSAT 60.
See our Graduate Entry Medicine guide and GAMSAT guide.
Non-EU applicants to Irish medicine send a personal statement and references, and most are interviewed. Doctors review your statement and coach you 1-1 for interview.
Top 200 in the world for Medicine (QS); teaching medicine since 1845
The University of Galway was founded in 1845 and has taught medicine continuously ever since, graduating around 200 doctors a year. Its degrees are recognised by licensing authorities in the US, Canada and across the EU, which is why it has long been a well-trodden route for North American students, and it ranks inside the QS top 200 for Medicine.
Its biggest draw is location: a compact riverside campus in Galway, a famously friendly arts-and-festivals city on Ireland's Atlantic coast, with the main teaching hospital right beside the campus. Students get a tight-knit, scenic alternative to the larger Dublin schools.
Galway's campus sits on the banks of the River Corrib in the centre of Galway city, a small, walkable university city on the west coast known for its music, festivals and friendly student feel. It is one of the most scenic campuses in Ireland.
Where you train
An Irish medical degree from Galway is internationally recognised, but how you get home matters and is worth planning from your first year. Here is what the route back looks like:
North American applicants can read the full route home, including the USMLE, ECFMG and the residency match, in our Atlantic Bridge Programme guide.
From personal statement editing and interview coaching to GAMSAT tutoring and our all-in-one Ultimate Package, we support applicants to Galway at every stage. Tell us where you are applying from and we will recommend the right option.
A doctor mentor plans your school list across both countries, then works on your statements and interviews with you. Graduate entry applicants can add 1-1 GAMSAT tutoring.
University of Galway medicine takes non-EU applicants only through named agents (Atlantic Bridge for North America), so your agent sets the deadline and the documents; 2027 dates are not out yet. Galway asks for IELTS 6.5 with no component below 6.5, lists no admissions test for non-EU applicants and publishes no non-EU fee for 2027/28: your agent quotes it. Graduate entry medicine is planned to start in September 2027, subject to Medical Council accreditation, and its entry rules are not published yet. EU, UK and Irish fee-status applicants apply through the CAO with the HPAT.
North America (Canada and the US): apply through the Atlantic Bridge Programme.
Gulf (excluding Kuwait), wider Middle East and Africa: apply through OnCampus Ireland.
Singapore: IUMC Singapore. South East Asia and all other countries: IUMC Malaysia. Korea: PeopleLoving. Kuwait: the Kuwaiti Cultural Bureau. Galway does not take direct non-EU applications.
EU, UK, Irish and EEA fee status: apply through the CAO.
Irish medical schools decide your route by fee status, not passport alone. EU, UK, EEA and Swiss citizens usually need to have lived in the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland for 3 of the last 5 years to qualify for EU fees. Anyone assessed as non-EU, including UK residents on a visa, applies through a non-EU route.
How you apply: Only through Galway's regional agents (OnCampus Ireland for the Gulf and Africa, IUMC for Asia and other countries).
Personal statement: Set by your agent; Galway does not publish medicine rules.
CV: Set by your agent.
References: Set by your agent.
Test: No admissions test is listed for non-EU applicants. IELTS 6.5 with no component below 6.5.
Interview: Not published.
Deadline: Set by each agent; 2027 dates are not out yet.
Galway publishes no non-EU medicine fee: the non-EU row of its 2027/28 fee table is blank. Non-EU applicants apply only through agents, who quote the fee, so ask your agent for the figure in writing before you accept an offer. Eligible EU/EEA students under Free Fees pay the student contribution plus levy (around €2,640 a year).
A new graduate entry programme in Rural and Connected Health is planned, with a first cohort in September 2027 and 48 places at full roll-out, subject to Medical Council accreditation. Galway has not published its entry rules. Atlantic Bridge lists 5 or 6 places for North American applicants, with a GPA of 3.0 and MCAT 503 or GAMSAT 60.
Yes. Galway graduates sit the USMLE and gain ECFMG certification for the US match, and the school runs information sessions on arranging US clinical electives and preparing for the USMLE. Note that the medicine programme does not take part in the US Federal Loan programme, so US students fund their studies with private loans.
Canadian graduates return through CaRMS after the MCCQE and NAC examinations; the school advises students on Canadian board exams and on arranging Canadian electives, and the degree is recognised by Canadian licensing authorities.
The University of Galway was founded in 1845 and has taught medicine continuously ever since, graduating around 200 doctors a year. Its degrees are recognised by licensing authorities in the US, Canada and across the EU, which is why it has long been a well-trodden route for North American students, and it ranks inside the QS top 200 for Medicine.
Its biggest draw is location: a compact riverside campus in Galway, a famously friendly arts-and-festivals city on Ireland's Atlantic coast, with the main teaching hospital right beside the campus. Students get a tight-knit, scenic alternative to the larger Dublin schools.
Yes. The MB BCh BAO is recognised by the UK GMC for registration. Graduates can register with the GMC and enter the UK Foundation Programme.
Ultimate Package students from our 2025/26 cycle, with their UCAT scores and offers, who trained with us for the UCAT, personal statements and interviews.
“Harry got my UCAT up to 2,590, working through the sections I kept dropping marks on week by week. Gemma then ran my interview practice so the MMI stations didn't catch me out, and Dr Akash mentored me the whole way through. I'm off to King's for Medicine.”
“The interview prep was the part that actually moved the needle. Proper mock MMIs, not just lists of questions, and feedback that was honest about what I was getting wrong. I ended up with four offers and firmed UCL.”
“The Ultimate Package kept me organised from UCAT through to interviews. They knew what dental schools actually ask and tightened up my personal statement. Four offers in the end, and I'm going to Birmingham.”
“Vet applications come down to the written SAQs as much as the interview. Dr Rebecca went through my SAQs line by line, sharpened my answers and prepped me for the panels. I came away with four offers and chose the RVC.”
Book your FREE consultation today
Click to book your free consultation
