Thinking of doing medicine at NUI Galway, in Ireland? Want to know more than the brochures tell you?

  • What is the medical course really like?
  • Will I fit in?
  • What kind of social life do students of different cultures have at NUI Galway?
  • What sort of support can I expect?
  • What are the essential facts that I need to know about Ireland and Galway before I come?
  • What should I bring with me? Etc. etc.
    This is the guide for you. It is an honest account of the medical course and life in Galway. It is:

A guide for students……….. written by students.

Welcome to Galway

Welcome to the National University of Ireland, Galway School of Medicine. Over the next six years you will learn more than you ever thought possible about Medicine, about Life, and about yourself. After six years here, your accent may even change!

This Guide is not intended to tell you everything you will need to know about Ireland and the medical system here, but we’ve tried to include things that will make the transition to Irish life and culture easier.

The first section includes logistical information and some important addresses and phone numbers to help you get set up. The remainder focuses on the course material for each year, including some information on electives etc.

Disclaimer: The information included reflects the opinions of the students who contributed and does not necessarily (and probably doesn’t) reflect the views of the Medical School. If you find any factual errors, omissions, or just plain bad advice, please offer your suggestions so we can improve next year’s edition.

Finally we would like to acknowledge the help that we received in preparing this guide from Trinity College Dublin. We have based this guide on a similar publication for North American students written by students at Trinity. We have adapted the Trinity students’ format and content to the Galway context, and have designed a guide for prospective students of all backgrounds and nationality

We look forward to meeting you when you arrive in Galway.

Co-Authors:

Student 1Mohammed Khanji

Student 2Hend Abdul-Jauwad
Student 3Ponatshego Gaolebele
Student 4Darwina Bolkim

Debbie Monroe: Co-ordinator

Peter Cantillon:Teaching staff representative

Table of Contents

Chapter 1:Introduction to NUI,Galway
About Galway5

Getting to Galway5
Climate!!!6

Things to bring with you8
Immigration & Registering at the Immigration Office8 Tolerance for Overseas People 9

Payment of Fees9
Faculty of Medicine & Health Science NUI,Galway10
Chapter 2:College Life

Recreation and Sport11

Student Support Services 11

Religious Provision11

Cultural Differences12

Social Life13

Daily living stuff

Searching for Accommodation14

Groceries and Household Items16
Communications18
Transportation19
Travel Agents20 Banking and Post-offices 20
Bookstores21
Health Insurance21

Chapter 3: A Guide to your Undergraduate Years 1 to 6
(including the 2 in 1 Supplement)23
& The Intern Year32

Chapter 4:Useful Addresses & Websites33
Map of Galway35
Map of NUI,Galway36

Chapter 1: A Bit About Galway

Galway, with a population of almost 62,000, is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland and one of Europe's fastest growing urban centres. Over fifteen per cent of Galway's population are third level students. The resulting interdependence of town and University has helped to build a compact, thriving city that caters to youth like few other places can.

Regarded as the cultural capital of Ireland, Galway is located on the Western seaboard and is close to areas of outstanding natural beauty such as Connemara and the West coast of Clare. It is an energetic, cosmopolitan city, with a thriving cultural and commercial community.

The University was founded in 1845 as Queen's College Galway. In recent times under the Universities Act, 1997 University College Galway was reconstituted as a University and became a constituent university of the National University of Ireland.

The campus itself is situated on the banks of the River Corrib, and is one of the most attractive University sites in Europe.

The Medical Faculty was one of the original faculties of the University and the first medical students were admitted in 1849. The Faculty has a long and illustrious history of medical training. The school is well known for the excellence of its clinical training and for the contribution that its many graduates have made to the world of medicine.

Getting to Galway.

Ireland is served by a network of major international airlines. Connections to the major international hub at Heathrow, London are frequent and regular. The major airports for international visitors to Galway are Dublin airport (on the East coast) and Shannon airport (approximately 55 miles from Galway). Galway also had a smaller airport with flights to and from Dublin, which connect with international flights. Galway airport is approximately 5 miles from the city. A taxi service is available from the airport.

Dublin airport is on the outskirts of the capital. Buses leave Dublin Airport approximately every 20 minutes for the central Bus Station (Bus Arus) in Dublin city centre. Many of these buses continue to Heuston Railway station from which trains for Galway depart. You can also get a taxi from the airport to the centre of the city but the bus is much cheaper and just as fast.

From Dublin to Galway - by Train

There is a frequent train service from Dublin to Galway daily. The journey takes approximately three hours. Timetables can be viewed via the Internet at

From Dublin to Galway - by Bus

There is a regular bus service from Dublin central bus station (Busarus) to Galway. The journey will take about four hours. Some private bus operators also run scheduled buses from Dublin airport to Galway.

Timetables can be accessed via the Internet at .

Getting from Shannon Airport to Galway

There is a regular bus service between Shannon Airport and Galway. If you fly directly to Shannon airport you will be able to get a bus from the airport to Galway. The journey takes approximately one and a half hours.

Arrival in Galway

Upon your arrival in Galway Bus and Rail Station you should hire a taxi to take you to your final destination. You should try to arrive in Galway on a weekday and preferably not too late at night especially if you still have to arrange accommodation. If long-term accommodation has not already been secured before your arrival it is advisable to pre-book temporary accommodation. See the accommodation section for further details.

Climate:

There’s no easy way to put it, but the weather in Galway from September to February is often rainy, windy, cloudy, gloomy and overcast! It sounds bad, but the good (or bad?) thing is that it hardly ever snows in winter and it doesn’t get ‘arctic’ cold.

Make sure you carry and umbrella with you at all times. It can start raining at any moment. Don’t buy one of those cheap, flimsy umbrellas because it won’t last long in the windy weather. If you don’t have an umbrella at least make sure you have a hood or a hat with you at all times.

There is some sunny, warm-ish weather from April to September. The best weather always seems to coincide with the summer exams in May and June! You might also miss some of the best weather if you are you’re away during July and August.
Some tips on how to KEEP WARM AND DRY

(Shops mentioned are all in Galway)

  1. Buy woollen sweaters, not acrylic.
  2. Long-sleeved vests and long-johns i.e. thermal underwear made of fine wool – keeps in the heat and can be purchased in Ryans of Shop Street, Galway. Try also the Army and Navy Stores, Shop Street, Galway.
  3. Get a hat, gloves and scarf!
  4. Wear warm (flannelette) pyjamas or nightdress in bed. These are good value in Penney’s and Dunnes Stores.
  5. Buy a good set of waterproof clothing i.e. over trousers and jacket with hood – Army and Navy Stores and Lifestyle – Penney’s
  6. Buy an umbrella! – Dunnes and Penney’s.
  7. Electric blankets are a great comfort! A single-bed size costs approximately 25.00 Euro in Roches Stores. Read instructions carefully.
  8. A hot-water bottle can be surprisingly useful. They cost 6.00 Euro each approximately in Dunnes.
  9. When choosing accommodation, check about the heating system. Is it oil-fired or solid fuel? How long is it on for? Is it included in the cost of accommodation or otherwise?

Things to bring over with you

There are many things that you will wish you had when you arrive. We couldn’t possibly list everything you’ll need, but here are some essentials.

  1. A book you should get before you come over is a medical dictionary, such as Taber’s or Stedman’s. Medicine is a completely new language, full of beautiful words like “autochthonous” and “internuclear ophthalmoplegia.” Medical students must learn more new words than the average student majoring in a foreign language. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have a dictionary next to you no matter what you are studying. Open it every time you come across a new word. You’ll be amazed sometimes at words you think you understand until you look them up. Also, you sound much more intelligent if you actually know how to pronounce those fancy medical words you’ve been reading at night.
  2. A waterproof jacket and boots are a key buy. It rains a lot on the West Coast. It’s not usually a downpour, but you’ll still get wet! Anything made of Gore-Tex is especially nice when you’re riding your bicycle to and from the hospital.
  3. Your passport, driver’s license for backup identification, loan forms, your medical school acceptance letter, and any receipts of fees paid.
  4. Don’t bother bringing notebooks or paper unless you plan to refill on every trip. The paper size is different over here, so it’s easier to buy your supplies here.

Immigration

Students from non-EU countries doneed visas to enter Ireland. Immigration in Dublin is pretty lenient. All you need to do to pass successfully through is the following:

  1. Show your passport and visa.
  2. You may be asked to show your medical school acceptance letter, and/or a receipt saying that you have paid your deposit for your tuition fees.
  3. Smile encouragingly!!

The immigration officer will stamp a date in your passport, usually for 1 month from your date of arrival. You have permission to reside in Ireland until that date. Within this period you must go to the Immigration Office (formerly known ominously as the “Aliens Office”) and get officially registered to be able to stay for one year. More on this process is included later in this chapter.

Immigration officials may ask you how you plan to support yourself. If you have a bank statement with your balance on it from home, it's useful to show it to them. If you haven't paid your tuition in full yet, tell the official that you will pay it when you begin school. Usually there is no hassle and you will just walk through. On subsequent visits, make sure your Immigration Office 'Green Book' is up to date or the immigration officers may refuse you entry back into Ireland.

Registering at the Immigration Office

This process can drive you crazy if you are unlucky enough not to know what documents are required beforehand. After you have settled in and know your way around, head down to Mill Street Garda (“police”) Headquarters in Galway, where the Immigration Officer can be found. You will need to produce the following documents (have them all in hand or it will be a wasted trip):

  1. A bank statement from an Irish bank stating that you have at least 127 Euro per week for your intended stay (i.e., about 2540 Euro). If you have less than this, you may run into some difficulties getting your passport validated for the year.
  2. Your passport with the date stamped by airport customs.
  3. Three passport size photographs, which can be obtained at most chemists.
  4. An acceptance letter from the medical school or a letter from the office saying that you are registered for the upcoming year.
  5. A statement from the NUI,Galway saying that all your fees have been paid.
  6. You will need to repeat this routine each year, but with slightly less red tape.

Embassies

It’s probably a good idea to register, though some students have been here 5 years without doing so. There are various functions throughout the year, including celebrations etc. If you so wish, you may even be able to celebrate holidays with your fellow expatriates. A list of embassies can be viewed at

Tolerance for Overseas People

The first thing that may strike you is that it’s not very culturally diverse in Galway compared to where you may have come from. Overseas students are treated well. Irish people are very friendly and are genuinely interested in where you come from.

Galway people mind their own business and are polite. However, just like anywhere else there are exceptions. You may get stared at or treated differently if you are obviously ‘not Irish’. Despite the friendliness foreign people are still considered by some Irish people as ‘outsiders’ especially with the recent influx of asylum seekers into Ireland.

Payment of Fees

The Fees Office, is located in the Quadrangle. You should go and check to make sure that everything is paid before registration day because the college may issue you with a bill for late fees if your loans aren’t in. If for some reason your loans aren’t going to come through by registration day, talk to Colette Gill in the Fees Office and explain your situation. She’s very accommodating as long as you ask her nicely. Make sure you get a receipt for full payment for the academic year.

Hours of service: M-F 9.15am - 1pm, 2:15pm - 5.15pm

Phone: 524411 Ext. 2386.

NUI,Galway Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences (Dean's Office)

The Health Sciences Office is the place where all inquiries about medical curriculum are handled for all the health science professions at Galway, including medicine. The Office is located in the Clinical Science Institute on Costello Road. Rosaleen Carroll, Therese Dixon and Maire Joyce are the administrators if you have any problems or questions.

Therese is there specifically to help International Students and is very helpful.

Office Hours: M-F 9.15 am-1pm and 2.15 pm-5.15pm

PhoneDirect Line 524268 or 524222 Ext. 4475

Fax750519

E-mail

Chapter 2: College Life

Recreation and Sport

Sporting activities help students to relax and keep fit, and also provide the opportunity to make new friends. The College Sports Centre is located in the Student Centre. Ms. Kathy Hynes (Manager) is the person to contact there for information regarding opening times, etc. The number of the Centre is (091) 750383, or College extensions 3482/3475.
There’s an International Students Society and a Muslim Youth Society.

There’s an open day for clubs and societies in the beginning of the year and you’ll be able to join any that you want.

To become a member of a Club/Society, a student can register on the respective open days for Clubs/Societies which are held each year in early October. The Medical Society is a faculty based student society which organises social, sporting, academic extracurricular activities. The class representative system should be able to help you out with any queries regarding your course.
or

The International Students Society provides a forum where Irish and overseas students can meet and take part in social and cultural events together. Contact Ann Monahan, Overseas Student Officer for further information. . Ext. 3581.

Information System – the S.D.S. Website

Student Support Services within NUI, Galway hosts a comprehensive website covering all aspects of Counselling, Health, Chaplaincy, Sport & Recreation, Overseas Students, the Student Centre and more. You can keep up-do-date with what is happening in regards to University Skills Programmes, Health Education Programmes, the Student Centre’s exercise and fitness programme, and find lots of other useful information besides. The internet website address that will start you off is:

Religion Provision

For Muslim students there is a mosque where Friday prayers are held. The main campus also has a small prayer room for students. There is a code on the door, so you’ll have to ask your Muslim Youth Society representative what it is. The Clinical Science Institute also has a small prayer room.

There are many churches of different denominations all over Galway (eg, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, etc.). There is also a chapel on campus and one in the hospital.