CAO Points for Medicine 2026
Medicine remains the most competitive course in Ireland, and this year’s CAO round shows entry points rising again at most medical schools. If you are planning to apply, here is how the 2026 points compare with last year.
The numbers at a glance
2026 CAO points for Medicine (2025 points in brackets)
| Medical school | 2026 points | 2025 points |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity College Dublin | 741 | 739 |
| University College Dublin (UCD) | 738 | 738 |
| University College Cork (UCC) | 735 | 730 |
| Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) | 734 | 733 |
| University of Limerick (UL) | 730 | Not applicable |
| University of Galway (UG) | 730 | 728 |
What do these changes mean?
- UCC saw the biggest jump. Cork rose 5 points to 735, moving ahead of RCSI and overtaking its previous position as one of the lower entry points.
- Trinity stays on top. At 741, Trinity has the highest points again, up 2 on last year.
- UCD held steady. Unchanged at 738, UCD stays in second place.
- The gap is narrow. The highest and lowest entry points are only 11 points apart (741 and 730), so no school is an “easy” option. Choosing where to apply should depend on location and course style, not points alone.
- Points rose almost everywhere. Four of the five schools with a 2025 comparison went up, and none went down.
The big change: how medicine points work from 2027
Medicine entry combines your Leaving Cert points with your HPAT score. That formula is changing.
| 2009 to 2026 | 2027 onwards | |
|---|---|---|
| HPAT scored out of | 300 | 150 |
| Leaving Cert points above 550 | Reduced by a factor of 5 | Unchanged |
| Maximum combined score | 865 | 775 |
Under the old system, Leaving Cert points above 550 were divided by five. For example, 585 became 550 + 7 = 557. From 2027, those points count in full, while the HPAT is scored out of 150 instead of 300.
What this means for you
- Points will not compare with past years. The maximum drops from 865 to 775, so next year’s cut-offs will look very different. A fall in points would not mean medicine has become easier.
- The HPAT counts for relatively less, but it still matters. It makes up about 35% of the maximum score today (300 of 865) and will make up about 19% from 2027 (150 of 775). A strong Leaving Cert becomes more important, but the HPAT is still scored on the same scale as the Leaving Cert’s top end, and it separates students who all have very high Leaving Cert results.
- The HPAT itself is not changing. The exam has no major change, only the way it is scored.
- Competition stays the same. Supply and demand for medicine will not change much. You are still competing against around 3,000 other candidates sitting the HPAT, and you need to be roughly in the top 20% with a strong Leaving Cert to be in a good position.
Looking ahead
Do not read too much into this year’s points as a target. What matters is preparing well for both parts of your application: a strong Leaving Cert and a strong HPAT. Start early, learn the question types, and practise under timed conditions.
