CAO Points for Medicine 2025
Medicine remains one of the most competitive courses in Ireland, with points consistently at the very top of the CAO scale. Even slight changes from year to year are closely watched by students, parents, and schools. The recently published 2025 entry points highlight some slight increases when compared with 2024.
The Numbers at a Glance
2025 CAO Points for Medicine (2024 points in brackets)
- Trinity College Dublin: 739 (738)
- University College Dublin (UCD): 738 (735)
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI): 733 (732)
- University College Cork (UCC): 730 (730)
- University of Galway (UG): 728 (728)
What Do These Changes Mean?
- Competition is still intense: All five undergradutate medical schools remain clustered within 11 points of each other, with the lowest entry at 728.
- Dublin dominance: Trinity and UCD continue to top the table, attracting the highest points and reflecting strong demand for studying medicine in the capital.
- Regional stability: UCC and UG holding steady shows that high-quality medicine programmes outside Dublin remain highly sought after, even if points did not climb further in 2025.
Looking Ahead
With over 200 new medicine places being added nationally from 2026, alongside reforms to the CAO scoring system for 2027, students can expect significant shifts in the coming years. For now, however, the 2025 points reaffirm that medicine remains Ireland’s most competitive degree, demanding exceptional performance in both the Leaving Certificate and the HPAT.
