Latest news with #HPAT
The Journal
a day ago
- Health
- The Journal
Irish universities to change entry to medicine courses to ‘refocus on Leaving Cert achievement'
IRISH UNIVERSITIES WITH Medical Schools are to change entry requirements for undergraduate medicine programmes from 2027 in a bid to 'refocus on Leaving Certificate achievement'. The Irish Universities Association (IUA) said Leaving Cert performance has 'proven to be a stronger predictor of student completion than HPAT'. Applicants to study medicine are currently required to sit the HPAT, in addition to the Leaving Cert. The HPAT is intended to assess 'logical reasoning and problem solving, interpersonal understanding and non-verbal reasoning'. The IUA said that such multi-test assessment for admission to medicine programmes is 'commonplace internationally'. The HPAT was introduced in 2009 to follow international good practice and remove the then-exclusive reliance on the Leaving Cert to enter medicine. The IUA said most countries in Europe, as well as Australia, Canada and New Zealand among others, use an exam like the HPAT for admission to study medicine. Under the current system, Leaving Certificate scores above 550 points are 'moderated' – meaning they are adjusted to a maximum score of 565 points. The HPAT is also weighted to a maximum of 300 points. It means the current maximum total is 865 points (565 from Leaving Cert + 300 from HPAT). However, this is set to change for students seeking admission to undergraduate medicine degree programmes from September 2027. Points scored in the HPAT assessment will be weighted to a maximum of 150, down from 300 currently. Advertisement Meanwhile, Leaving Certificate scores above 550 points will no longer be moderated and full points scored by candidates will be applied in the calculation. So from September 2027, the maximum combined Leaving Certificate and HPAT points for Medicine will be 775 (LC 625 + HPAT 150), rather than the current maximum of 865 points (LC 565 + HPAT 300). Why the change? The IUA said the changes are the result of the 'significant ongoing increase in the number of medical places for CAO applicants since 2022'. 'By 2026, over 200 extra places will have become available across all undergraduate medicine programmes, including through a new programme in the University of Limerick opening in 2026,' said the IUA. It also pointed to an expansion of places in all the existing Graduate Entry Medicine programmes, with a new programme expected to commence in 2027 in the University of Galway. It added that the removal of points moderation brings the Irish medical schools in line with international practice for admission to medicine. 'Moderation of points scored from school leaving examinations is not a commonly applied approach either for other health professional programmes or other academic programmes more generally nationally,' said the IUA. 'Neither does this happen widely on an international level,' it added. The IUA further explained that the changes to the current weighting of points achievable from HPAT will align more closely with points achievable in individual Leaving Certificate subjects. It added that the Leaving Cert has 'proven to be a stronger predictor of performance in Medicine degree programmes'. However, it noted that 'relying solely' on Leaving Certificate results for entry to medicine would move away from international norms. The IUA added that the changes 'will refocus on Leaving Certificate achievement, which has proven to be a stronger predictor of student completion than HPAT'. 'The ongoing expansion in the number of medical places available, the changes to the Leaving Certificate grading scales and points system in 2017, and the planned unwinding of the Covid-era post-marking adjustment of Leaving Certificate grades from 2025 all point to the opportunity to introduce these changes for future selections to medicine from 2027,' said the IUA. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Changes announced for prospective medicine students
Changes have been announced to the requirements for students hoping to study medicine. From 2027, less weight will be given to the HPAT, the special exam that prospective medical students must sit in addition to the leaving cert.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Major CAO alert for Leaving Cert students as Irish universities to modify points calculation for key courses
CHANGES to the entry requirements for studying medicine at Irish universities will see Leaving Cert results carry more weight. The Irish Universities Association (IUA) announced that Irish universities with medical schools are modifying the calculations of points for Applicants to study medicine are currently required to sit the Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT) in addition to the And the points achieved in the exams are combined with the HPAT score to give an overall total, which is used to determine if they have reached enough points for certain medicine programs in Under the current system, the HPAT is marked out of 300, and Leaving Cert points of 550 and above are moderated, meaning they are adjusted up to a maximum of 565 points, and the maximum possible score is 865. However, when the new system with the changes comes into effect, Leaving Cert points will no longer be moderated and the HPAT will be marked out of 150 instead of 300. READ MORE ON LEAVING CERT Therefore, the new maximum score will be 775, with 150 points from the HPAT and 625 points from the Leaving Cert. The changes are being introduced as a result of the significant ongoing increase in the number of By next year, over 200 extra places will have become available across all undergraduate medicine programmes, including through a new programme at the They said: "In addition, following the revised Leaving Certificate grading scale and points scale in 2017, significant changes have taken place in overall points profiles across the Leaving Certificate cohort. Most read in Irish News "In addition, the Leaving Certificate has proven to be a stronger predictor of performance in Medicine degree programmes. "The universities now have well established supplementary admissions pathways such as DARE, HEAR and mature entry routes to support access to medical education by more diverse student profiles, as well as through the Graduate Entry to Medicine routes." Ireland's oldest Leaving Cert student awaits results as grandson to sit exams next year The new changes will not be applied until 2027 to facilitate secondary school The IUA said: " The existing scheme for calculating points (Leaving Cert plus HPAT) will not change until 2027. " Applicants are reminded to make sure they are aware of any school-specific eligibility requirements for medicine programmes. " CHANGES APPLY TO SIX UNIVERSITIES This means that students applying to study medicine through the portal from 2027 onwards will still be required to present Leaving Cert and HPAT results. The minimum requirement of 480 points achieved in the same sitting of the Leaving Cert will also remain. It will apply to all Irish, Irish Universities Association confirmed that the changes will apply to the University of Galway, the University of Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, the University College Cork, the Further HPAT and CAO application details will be available in the normal timeline. 1 The changes for the entry to the medicine programmes are coming into effect in 2027 Credit: Getty Images - Getty
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Universities make changes to CAO entry to undergraduate medicine programmes in 2027
Irish Universities with Medical Schools are modifying the calculation of points applied for admission through the Central Applications office (CAO) to all Undergraduate Medicine programmes in Ireland. This change will come into effect for students seeking admission to undergraduate medicine degree programmes from August / September 2027. Advertisement Leaving Certificate scores above 550 points will no longer be moderated – full points scored by candidates will be applied in the calculation. Points scored in the HPAT assessment will be weighted to 150 maximum (down from 300 currently). HPAT results from a sitting in the year of admission to a medicine programme will continue to be a requirement. The changes will not be applied until 2027, in order to facilitate secondary school student decision making at the commencement of their senior cycle school programmes in autumn 2025. Further details regarding HPAT and CAO application details will be available in the normal timelines.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Universities to halve points needed from HPAT assessment to study medicine
Universities are significantly reducing the importance of the health professions admission test (HPAT) required for studying medicine, refocusing instead on Leaving Cert results. The changes, which halves the HPAT assessment from 300 to 150 points, will be introduced from 2027. Leaving Cert scores above 550 will also no longer be moderated. This means that the maximum combined points for medicine will be 775, made up of 625 Leaving Cert points, and 150 HPAT points. This is down from the current maximum of 865 points, made up of 565 Leaving Cert points and 300 HPAT points. The HPAT was first introduced in 2009 in light of concerns that entry to medicine was being restricted to 'top' Leaving Cert performers, effectively excluding students who may have the necessary interpersonal skills and empathy making them ideal doctors. While it was originally intended to help broaden access to the study of medicine in Ireland, in recent years, the HPAT has faced criticism. A number of private operators now offer preparation courses, which can cost as much as €675 for a 10-week course. However, universities now say that the Leaving Cert results have proven to be a "stronger predictor" of performance in medical degree programmes. They also point to the increased number of medical places, as well as Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) and Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) schemes, which they say have resulted in "broader and more diverse cohorts of medical students". By 2026, more than 200 extra places will be available across all undergrad medicine programmes, including through a new programme opening at the University of Limerick. Universities also point to the revised Leaving Certificate grading scale and points scale introduced in 2017, which they say has resulted in significant changes in overall points profiles across the Leaving Certificate cohort. The last data from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) indicates that a very small proportion of disadvantaged students study medicine. It found in 2020 just under 4% of graduates came from a 'disadvantaged' background, compared to 35% who come from 'affluent' backgrounds. The incoming changes will apply to all Irish and EU students seeking entry to undergraduate medicine programmes from 2027. Students will still be required to sit the HPAT in the same year as entry to the medicine course. Read More Beyond the exam hall: Reclaiming the purpose of Irish education
