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Janice Chai Sin Peng

Stepping into a new country knowing little was intimidating but it turned out to be a journey full of wonders and excitement. Ireland is a place with diversity, full of people coming from all around the world. Being in this environment, I am able to meet like-minded people that I am able to exchange our intellectual and cultural experiences with. Encounters of people with different worldviews can be daunting but the meaningful conversations helped expand my pre-existing understanding of social and academic concepts. The relationship that I build with the people here and the memories are priceless and precious.

I choose to study in Trinity College Dublin and I will never regret this decision. I get opportunities to discuss my topics of interest with my professors and lecturers. I also have the chance to join as many activities to expand my social circle as well as learning new knowledge. I gain so much insights from my course and events outside of my course. I am also given the research opportunities to join a team full of expertise to further strengthen my understanding in my course and see new discoveries.

Having applied through IUMC has made my life a lot easier. I can apply to all four universities through one application after viewing the introductory videos and talks regarding the universities provided on the website. Besides, the application requirements are organised and well structured. When faced with questions, the IUMC team is extremely helpful and they answer all my queries with clear instructions and advice. They also group all the Malaysians together so that we are not alone during the journey as a first year. I would highly recommend students to consider Ireland to pursue their future careers.

Jonathan Loke

Hello! My name is Jonathan Loke, I am a final year currently studying in Trinity College! I first decided to study in Ireland as I knew friends who were applying to Ireland so they were quite familiar with the whole application process and I also knew seniors who were already studying Medicine in Ireland and had really good experiences studying there. In retrospect, I am truly glad that I did! I really enjoy the pace of life in Dublin, as well as the accessibility of everything. Dublin is a very vibrant city, with new cafes and restaurants popping up every other week. The people in Dublin, especially the patients in the hospitals are always friendly and willing to help or just chat. I found this especially helpful in Medicine, where communication forms such a big part in trying to take a proper medical history.

Trinity also has a well structured curriculum with early clinical experience, which I found was particularly beneficial in slowly learning to be comfortable speaking to patients and improving my soft skills. The first two years are the pre-clinical years and generally more content focused with modules such as anatomy, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology and immunology. I also found it helpful that there were sessions in the laboratory as well as the dissection theatre to supplement the content being taught in lectures. Besides school life, studying in Ireland has offered me the unique ability to travel around country and explore various nature reserves, cliffs, waterfalls and mountains. I found weekend hiking trips or cycling expeditions to different towns particularly beneficial as a form of exercise as well as stress relief. All in all, I think that studying here in Ireland is definitely a once in a lifetime experience and a one that I will greatly treasure for a long time to come.

Yen Yen Ho

I was surprised by how friendly and helpful Irish people were – this helped me settle in immediately in this place I call home for the next five years. It was easy to adapt to the Irish culture as Irish people are warm and approachable and the food is nothing short of delicious!

Studying medicine in Ireland has vastly enhanced my knowledge and the structured clinical opportunities in different hospital rotations has allowed me to gain significant clinical skills. The lecturers are very helpful and the hospital doctors are always happy to include students in the team. Overall, the learning experience has been great and I am looking forward to completing my medical journey here.

Ambrish Roshan

Dentistry at Trinity College has been an extremely enriching experience. The Dublin Dental Hospital is well  equipped with up- to-date facilities & cutting-edge technology. Highly qualified clinical supervisors and lecturers provide individual guidance and evidence-based training. Students have vast clinical exposure from 2nd year on, hence producing very clinically experienced graduates.

Personally, I enjoy being able to manage my own portfolio of patients, seeing them through to full health and managing every aspect of their oral health. The Bachelor of Dental Science degree opens a myriad of opportunities with graduates being able to practice dentistry almost anywhere in the world, testimony to the high quality of the undergraduate training programme.

Yun Liau

Placements and Hospitals

In TCD, we have three years of clinical experience which is more than some other universities in Ireland. This allows us to have more time to hone our clinical skills. 

In Year 3 and Year 5, we are assigned to medical or surgical rotations. This is mostly done in St James’ Hospital (SJH) or Tallaght University Hospital (TUH). Other sites include Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH), Naas General Hospital, Blackrock Hospital, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Hermitage Medical Clinic. 

**Pre-covid era**

In Year 3:

Each rotation was usually either 2 weeks or 4 weeks long during Covid.

Mandatory rotations:

• One medical and one surgical rotation in SJH
• One medical and one surgical rotation in TUH
• 2 weeks of Ophthalmology in RVEEH
• 2 weeks of ENT in RVEEH

There is also an option to swap one of your rotations in the early parts of the second semester to do a rotation in the Isle of Man. This is highly recommended as you are able to experience a different healthcare system, the NHS. Also, personally, I had a lot of opportunities for hands on experience. 

In Year 5: 

You choose to start at either TUH or SJH and then swap over in the second half of the year 

In Year 4, we focus solely on Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Psychiatry and General Practice with about 7 to 8 weeks of each and an examination at the end of the 8 weeks as well as a final exam in each subject at the end of the academic year. 

Paediatrics 

Rotates between three hospitals – Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, National Children’s Hospital at TUH

Obgyn

Rotate between Coombe Women’s Hospital, Gynaecology department in SJH and Gynaecology department in TUH

Psychiatry

6 weeks of general psychiatry either in St Patrick’s University Hospital, TUH or SJH
2 weeks of specialty psychiatry either in adolescent mental health, elderly mental health

General Practice

2 weeks of inner GP (in Dublin) 
2 weeks of outer GP (at rural areas)
Random allocation, can swap 

Research 

Year 2

Pharmacology

• Student selected research project, lots to choose from and varies from laboratory research to article review

Tips: 

• Take your time to check them out and shortlist them
• Process to select project is very competitive, essentially fastest fingers first
• Make sure to go to a place with good Wi-Fi 
• Think about whether you work well in groups or prefer to do projects individually as there are certain projects for one person, two people and up to five people. 

Year 3

Evidence based medicine

• Student selected research project
• Done in larger groups of about 10 

Year 4

Paediatrics 

• Will be assigned a random project during your 8 weeks rotation to be done with your group mates of about 8 students. 
• Will not contribute to any marks for your paediatrics module but it is a chance to present your research and try to publish it as the lecturers are very encouraging and helpful. 

These are the research projects that is part of the curriculum but you can always engage in other research projects. 

Medical Electives

Electives are the time in medical school to explore specialties that you have an interest in but were not exposed to during clinical rotations. You can also use this as an opportunity to explore a whole new healthcare system as you can apply to do electives anywhere in the world that accepts students, with the added bonus of being able to travel and explore a new country during your free time!

Most medical schools require a certain amount of weeks of electives to be done during your summer holidays as a clinical student. For example, in TCD, it is required that you complete 8 weeks of elective over the span of 2 years (third and fourth year), a tip would be do split it evenly or do more in third year as you’d have a longer summer holiday then compared to fourth year. 

Things to take note of 

• Many schools offer subsidies and grants for electives in partner universities, so do check out what your school has to offer
• Different countries/hospitals have different deadlines for applications, so keep yourself up to date with the various deadlines, do your research early depending on your area/country of interest. 
• Certain hospitals/departments have specific requirements e.g. fourth year students and above or final year students, but fret not, just apply when you meet the criteria. 
• Most hospitals will require payment and administrative fee, so be sure to work out a budget prior to applying. 

Clubs and Societies 

In every Irish university, there are more than 100 societies ranging from arts, culture, politics and debating to gaming, advocacy and music and 50 sports clubs in a range of disciplines, you’re sure to find something that interests you. You could always try a new sports, start a new hobby! 

For a medical student, the must join club would be the BioSoc society in TCD. It is one of the largest and oldest in Ireland, having been established in 1874. Head on over to  https://tcdbiosoc.com/ to find out more and make sure to check out their year guides for some useful tips on how to tackle each year of medical school. They also hold a yearly book sale where you can get your textbooks for dirt cheap prices, so watch out for that especially if you are a new incoming student. 

If you are from south east asia (or even if you are not), another must join is the Dublin University South East Asian Society (DUSEAS) in TCD, the Malaysian Society (MSoc) in UCD, and the South East Asian Society (SEASoc) in UCC. They organise loads of events to commemorate important events for SEAs, you’re guaranteed to be reminded of home. 

To join these clubs, look out for Freshers’ Week, which is when tents and booths will be set

up in every main campus in the first few weeks of each semester. 

Life In Ireland

Getting started

Useful apps to download: 

• Bank apps: AIB/BOI/Revolut
• School related apps:
  • Trinity Live 
• Travelling:
  • Google Maps 
  • LUAS and Dublin Bus app – for real time information of transport 
  • Leap top up: newly available on apple phones, so convenient to check the balance and top up leap card (you guys are so lucky!) 
  • Taxi APP: FreeNow 
  • Bike rental: Bleeper 
• Food delivery apps: Just Eat, Deliveroo, UberEats
  • You can use my referral link (wink) 
  • Deliveroo: https://deliveroo.ie/invite?rooit=yunh-s8jm
  • UberEats: Use my code at checkout: eats-nw6n4pyrue  
• Grocery
  • Buymie 
  • Deliveroo – delivers from ALDI
  • Tesco online 

Communication

Most networks offer unlimited internet with affordable prices. Here is a table of comparison of the more well-established networks (Three, Vodafone, Eir) and the newer networks that started in the past two years (GOMO and 48).

Note: This may have changed when you are in Ireland

Transport

With unlimited data and google maps in hand, you will never get lost! It is extremely easy to get around with public transport and you can walk or cycle as well! In Dublin you have the options of the Luas, an above ground tram, the bus and the train. As well as taxis. You can also opt to cycle or walk. With cycling you can get your own bike or there are many bike renting services available e.g. Dublin bikes, Bleeper etc 

Food

In Dublin there is a plethora of choices from Asian (Malaysian, Korean, Japanese etc) to Mexican and Mediterranean. 

My favourite restaurants are: 

• Musashi – Japanese
• Kopitiam – Malaysian 
• Jin Restaurant – Chinese  

Grocery shopping – many choices of grocery shop, can choose depending on which is near, budget and brand choices

• Lidl – less well-known brand, cheaper, and more plastic free options for fruits and vegetables 
• Tesco – more well-known brands
• Dunnes – some good discounts available for regular customers 
• Supervalu 
• ALDI 
• M&S – generally more expensive and more plastic, but they do great discount for things that are expiring the next day. Their ready-made meals are amazing and taste great. Their meals for 2 comes with an appetizer, main course, dessert and drinks definitely a bang for your buck 

Preparing for Departure 

I remember accepting my offer and the excitement and nervousness that descended upon me. What have I gotten into? Moving halfway across the world to study full time? How do I pack my life into two suitcases? 

Packing

#1: The weather in Ireland is very unpredictable, one minute the sun is shining and the next it might drizzle. 

Clothing

To help you stay warm throughout your academic year, we advise you to wear around 2-3 layers of clothing when you are outdoors. 

Tip: there is no need to bring too much clothes as Ireland is a great place to shop and online shopping is so easy with free delivery and returns available in many stores. 

• Inner wear – heat-tech or long-john
  • Put them on whenever you feel that the weather is too cold for you. Everyone has different cold tolerance, so you might want to check the weather forecast before deciding if you will need them for the day. 
  • You could get them from Malaysia at stores like UNIQLO, WinterTime and NorthFace.
  • Tip 1: If you’re using Apple Weather App, always scroll all the way down to what the temperature feels like – it is a more accurate depiction of the temperature outside as it gets so windy in Ireland. 
  • Tip 2: In my first year, I made the mistake of wearing an extra layer every time I feel a little bit cold. And by December, I’m wearing almost four layers of clothing. HAHA and it is actually only the coldest in January and February. So, I would recommend trying to acclimatise before layering up! 
  • Tip 3: On layering:
    • Start off with checking the weather app, is it cold for you? If yes, you can always put on thermals as your first layer, or else, a long sleeve shirt or a t-shirt will do as well and you can layer these on top of your thermals 
    • Next you can put on a thinner jacket/hoodie – something easy to remove so you can take them off when you get into heated buildings
    • Lastly, the outer layer, you should ideally put on a water-resistant layer and depending on the temperature, I personally rotate between a windbreaker and a fur lined jacket and a down jacket. 
• Middle wear
  • Any clothes you are currently wearing in Malaysia are all considered “middle wear”.
  • We also consider Jackets, hoodie and sweater as “middle wear”. If the
  • weather is still unbearably cold. You can put on a jacket or sweater over your t-shirt.
• Outer wear
  • Get a good water resistant jacket, you can bring one from Malaysia if you already have one but if not, you can always get them in Ireland, they have so many designs and are very reasonably priced and often go on sale 
  • You can get them in various thickness for the various temperatures e.g. a windbreaker for windier days and for hiking, one with fur lining for the colder days, one with down lining for the really cold days. 
  • Some stores you can check out for winter coats include Zara, H&M, Hollister, Penneys etc. 
• Accessories
  • Gloves
    • Tip: get ones that allows you to use your phone with
  • Scarfs
  • Beanies
  • Can always get in Ireland if lack of space. Really cheap in Penneys. 

Shoes

• Sneakers / casual walking shoes – even better if they are waterproof/water resistant
  • I still remember walking to classes in a pair of sneakers and getting caught in the rain. Attending lecture with wet socks is not fun. HAHA. 
  • Personally, I love Adidas Superstars and Stan Smiths, they always keep my feet dry and has never failed me. And they often go on sale in Ireland so you could always get them here. 
• Slippers
  • To wear indoors
  • You can bring several pairs especially if you are staying in halls: one for the bedroom and one for the shared kitchen outside 
• Formal shoes (for clinicals and OSCE exams)
  • These are your typical office shoes
  • Due to Covid, most schools are getting their clinical students to wear scrubs with sneakers now so this might not apply anymore
  • In TCD we did our final year clinical exam in scrubs and sneakers! 

Miscellaneous

• Basic necessities
  • Contact lens and contact lens solution
    • Difficult to avail of contact lens as you will need to go to the optician for an eye check-up and a prescription (need to pay) prior to purchasing contact lenses every single time you want to purchase them
    • Solution is expensive
  • Spare spectacles 
  • Other things you can bring if there is still space:
    • Toothpaste & Toothbrush
    • Shampoo
    • Dental floss
    • Shaver
• Skincare/makeup products
  • Due to the climate here in Ireland and the indoor heating, we are prone to dry skin and chapped lips.
  • Bring your favourite skincare/makeup products with you, some Asian brands are difficult to purchase in Ireland but Western brands are widely available and easy to purchase online. 
• Stationery
  • Limited choices in Ireland so bring your favourites 
• Medications 

Food

• Tip: learn to cook your favourite homemade meals/Malaysian meals prior to leaving 
• Things to bring especially if you like these as it is expensive/not available to purchase in Ireland:
  • Milo
  • Food paste e.g. curry paste, chicken rice paste, bak kut teh etc
  • Snacks
• Rice cooker
  • No matter how little luggage space you are given by your airline, please do not leave out a rice cooker. We recommend you to get a multi-functional one like the ones from ELBA or TEFAL. From our own experience, multi-functional rice cookers are more versatile and may come in handy during exams.
  • Tip: Having a good rice cooker is imperative. It is best that you get from trusted brands in Malaysia. You could also get them in Ireland, but they are more expensive and have less design variety.

Books

• If you have extra luggage space, you can purchase textbooks from Kamal bookstores as it is cheaper. However, you can always buy books off seniors or borrow it from the library. 
• Tip: Ask your seniors which textbooks are most useful
• In TCD, you can keep renewing your library book loan. 

Flights

• I would recommend getting a student ticket from the travel agent as you get extra baggage (40kg) and a flexible ticket 

Michelle Kwok

I decided to study in Trinity College Dublin as the school has a rich history and is recognised by the Singapore Medical Council. Its location in the city centre was one of the contributing factors since I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of city life. The people of Ireland are extremely welcoming and friendly, and the country has breathtaking coastal hikes. I particularly enjoyed that Trinity factored in 3 years of clinical exposure. The 4th year was especially structured covering OBGYN, Paediatrics, Psychiatry and GP. The emphasis on self-directed learning prepares us continued learning in the future as we progress as physicians. Although moving to a new country initially was difficult, IUMC allowed me to get to know other like- minded individuals in Singapore before leaving for Ireland. This made the move to Ireland a less intimidating experience.

Kai

Ireland, a country with vibrant cities and beautiful sceneries, as well as warming and welcoming people is the reason I chose to study in Ireland.

 I truly enjoyed my time here studying and living in Ireland. In Trinity College Dublin, there is a good balance of international students which makes a friendly community. Everyone is extremely friendly and welcoming and we learn about different backgrounds and cultures.

Besides, studying abroad will help you grow as a person. I learnt to become more independent by learning how to take good care of ourselves. We also learnt to adapt to new situations and become more resilient by taking on challenges and gaining life experiences from them.

The curriculum is well structured and it allows students to build knowledge gradually with a good foundation. The first two years of medical school are pre-clinical years which consists of lectures, small-group tutorials and problem-based learning. With small group learning, we not only get to know our classmates better, but we also learnt to develop better communication skills, teamwork and problem-solving skills which are key qualities to our personal development and career. In clinical years, the school ensures that students have adequate exposure to the clinical placement. This allows us to experience the healthcare system and the importance of delivering holistic care to patients.

Ireland is known for its natural beauty. From the Cliff of Moher and the Giant’s Causeway to the Ring of Kerry and the Aran Islands, there are plenty of beautiful landscapes to explore that are perfect for weekend getaways when we need a break from studying.

IUMC has always been very helpful to students, from guiding us through the application process to making sure we settle into the new country smoothly. They are very approachable and offers good support to us throughout our medical school journey.

Jin

Ireland is a beautiful country and needs no introduction for its friendly people and beautiful sceneries. The atmosphere and people in Dublin are lovely. There are many attractions nearby if you are up for a coastal walk or craving crispy fish and chips.

Trinity College Dublin is a world-class university with an excellent education and support system. The campus equipped with many facilities, and the daily necessities are within reach in the surrounding by walking distance.

The course curriculum is well structured, and the first year studying at Trinity College was the perfect transition to university. The university arranged helpful guidance such as S2S mentoring and extra classes to aid the transition process. Second-year incorporates a heavier content, but it builds an extra depth on the knowledge we gained in the first year. The preclinical years provide us with appropriate knowledge to prepare us for the clinical years in the hospital. In the third year, we spend time rotating between different specialities in hospitals under the guidance of doctors. During our clinical rotations, there is a lot of clinical teaching that is very practical and provides a deeper understanding to supplement the lectures.

IUMC has been tremendously helpful in guiding and facilitating my application process to Trinity College. Before leaving, they organised a pre-departure event with existing Trinity students to brief us on the upcoming life in Dublin. I found it helpful knowing what to expect in college and Ireland, along with their experiences and tips.

My experience studying in Ireland has been incredible, and I recommend it to everyone considering studying abroad.