TCD or UoM for Medicine?

I dont know the answer to your question sorry. Does it make a difference where you want to work in later life ? Like if you wanted to work in the UK study in Manchester and if you want to work in Ireland then go for Dublin. Or is that too simple a question

Congrats on both offers though - well done.

Hiya, thanks for the reply!

Overall, I would end up coming back to the NHS for specialty training, but as I understand it, it's not too difficult to swap between Ireland and the UK after graduating since both recognise each other's qualifications.

I'm mainly wanting to look at it from a course perspective or possibly even 'reputation', as little as it matters. Ranking wise UoM comes much higher than TCD but TCD is hailed as the "Oxbridge of Ireland". The reason I would consider the rankings here is because of TCD dropping out of the top 50 where it was almost a decade ago to even out of the top 100 for a while due to a lack of funding to Irish Universities (when compared to the UK), and I would wonder whether this lack of funding may impact teaching and facilities.

Reputation means nothing in medicine. Medical recruitment in the NHS specifically blinds the recruiters from your medical school to ensure that it cannot bias the recruitment process.

If you plan to work in the NHS, the experience you gain in the NHS through placements on the course in Manchester will probably be more useful in general. Also you need to be absolutely certain whether TCD would be recognised in the UK without you having to do any additional exams (PLAB?), interim years, etc.

The other thing to consider is funding - will you get funding for the full course in Ireland? Does this include "maintenance" costs? Assuming you are a UK national you will get that at Manchester when applying through SFE.

I would strongly advise you to just take the Manchester offer. I can't really see any compelling reason to take the TCD offer unless you wanted to practice medicine in Ireland, which you don't. Medicine is, to a point, jurisdictional - you should study where you intend to work.

Thanks for the reply!

I understand recruiters are blinded from your medical school; however, they are not blinded from your achievements and opportunities – many of which are influenced by your medical school and its reputation. Would TCD be limiting over UoM in this regard?

Likewise, I am absolutely certain that TCD will be recognised in the UK without doing any extra exams (except the UKMLA which will be introduced for everyone). If I choose to go there, I would do 5 years of medicine before completing an intern year and gaining Irish Medical Council registration (equivalent to GMC), therefore needing to do a standalone F2 year before continuing on with specialty training in the NHS. This is a well regarded route for TCD graduates. In this area, my concern may be the rate of success of obtaining an F2 year, are any statistics available anywhere?

Overall, funding is not a great issue as prices end up being similar for both universities (I'm an Irish national as well).

I would really just be looking for people who may have experience with both universities and know whether the standard of education is better at one or the other, as that is my primary concern.

Thanks for the reply!

I understand recruiters are blinded from your medical school; however, they are not blinded from your achievements and opportunities – many of which are influenced by your medical school and its reputation. Would TCD be limiting over UoM in this regard?

Likewise, I am absolutely certain that TCD will be recognised in the UK without doing any extra exams (except the UKMLA which will be introduced for everyone). If I choose to go there, I would do 5 years of medicine before completing an intern year and gaining Irish Medical Council registration (equivalent to GMC), therefore needing to do a standalone F2 year before continuing on with specialty training in the NHS. This is a well regarded route for TCD graduates. In this area, my concern may be the rate of success of obtaining an F2 year, are any statistics available anywhere?

Overall, funding is not a great issue as prices end up being similar for both universities (I'm an Irish national as well).

I would really just be looking for people who may have experience with both universities and know whether the standard of education is better at one or the other, as that is my primary concern.

Your "opportunities" would be the same at any medical school. You'd have the same chances to join and take on leadership roles in societies there, same chances to enter essay competitions, poster presentations, chances at research etc.

No idea about the F2 placement - I think it's often recommended that IMGs do a preliminary year in the UK anyway so they can become used to the various systems in the NHS before formally becoming an F2, but I'm not 100% certain how it works.

I really still don't see any compelling reason to go to TCD over Manchester unless you aim to practice medicine in Ireland.

I am not sure you are going to find someone who has done medicine at both Manchester and TCD? And if you did, I am not sure they would want/be swayed by the same things you are?

Reputation means nothing in medicine. Medical recruitment in the NHS specifically blinds the recruiters from your medical school to ensure that it cannot bias the recruitment process.

If you plan to work in the NHS, the experience you gain in the NHS through placements on the course in Manchester will probably be more useful in general. Also you need to be absolutely certain whether TCD would be recognised in the UK without you having to do any additional exams (PLAB?), interim years, etc.

The other thing to consider is funding - will you get funding for the full course in Ireland? Does this include "maintenance" costs? Assuming you are a UK national you will get that at Manchester when applying through SFE.

I would strongly advise you to just take the Manchester offer. I can't really see any compelling reason to take the TCD offer unless you wanted to practice medicine in Ireland, which you don't. Medicine is, to a point, jurisdictional - you should study where you intend to work.

Went to medical school in Rep of Ireland and currently completing the foundation programme, I can confirm that there is no extra barrier or hoops to jump through on terms of starting FY1 in UK.

Hey, glad that you replied.

I see that you've gone to medical school in Ireland. I just wanted to ask some questions, if you don't mind.

What were your thoughts on TCD as a university for medicine – have you ever interacted with their graduates? Do you find Irish medics good/bad/equal to the students you've met on the foundation programme in the UK?

I didn't go to TCD. The colleges/exams regulating postgraduate specialty training and progression are the same for example MRCP, FRCP, RCPI, MRCS, FRCS, RCSI, MRCOG, RCOG, FRCEM, RCEM. So at a postgraduate level there is literally no difference, and I don't think its useful to try and pick out which country is "better".

Do you feel that Ireland prepares you well for the foundation programme, when compared to UK grads? Is there any disadvantage?

No, but if I wanted to prepare adequately for the foundation programme I would go and work as an office secretary for 4 years. I've not noticed any difference.

Likewise this is one thing I've brought up before, did you find that your colleagues in the UK had greater opportunities to carry out things like research, quality improvement projects and practice clinical skills (and reflection skills) before entering foundation programme?

Pre-clinical years I had almost zero opportunity (but also didn't attempt to seek anything out) I've nothing to compare it to and it probably also varies between med schools. For clinical years I had lots of opportunites but be wary of spreading yourself too thinly as things get busy in clinical years. I would also note that there will be research/audit opportunities at every hospital as its in everyones interests to do these projects.

I'm aware I haven't answered everything there

Went to medical school in Rep of Ireland and currently completing the foundation programme, I can confirm that there is no extra barrier or hoops to jump through on terms of starting FY1 in UK.