New report exposes “unsustainable” cost of Graduate Entry Medicine; warns system is pricing out future doctors

• Students taking on six-figure debt to enter medical profession, undermining workforce planning

• Loss of dedicated student loan risks reducing socio-economic diversity in medicine

• Students call for delivery on Programme for Government commitments

(Monday 23 March 2026, Dublin) – A coalition of Irish students’ unions has today launched a national report examining the financial and personal impact of studying Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) in Ireland, laying bare what students describe as an increasingly unsustainable and inequitable pathway into the medical profession.

Based on 335 responses  from GEM students across University College Dublin (UCD), University College Cork (UCC), University of Limerick (UL), and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) , the report provides the most comprehensive picture to date of the financial realities facing those pursuing medicine through this route. The findings highlight not only tuition fees of up to €18,880 per year, but also the wider financial pressures, workload demands, and uncertainty surrounding career progression in the Irish health system.

Cost: Six-Figure Debt and a System That Prices Out Talent

The findings point to a system where students are required to take on significant financial risk in order to enter a profession already facing critical staffing shortages. With annual tuition fees reaching almost €19,000 and total costs including living expenses, placement-related outlays, and course materials frequently exceeding €100,000, the financial burden is substantial.

The report also highlights the closure of the Bank of Ireland GEM loan scheme in 2022, which had previously served as the only dedicated financial support mechanism for students pursuing this pathway. Its removal has left many students with limited or no viable funding options. Among non-EU students, 49% now rely on bank loans as their primary source of funding, while Irish students are disproportionately dependent on family support, with 58% identifying parents or guardians as their main financial backer.

The data suggests that access to GEM is strongly shaped by family resources. The most common parental income bracket reported by respondents was above €150,000, significantly higher than national household income levels. Among students from the highest income bracket, approximately 90% reported that at least one parent held a third-level degree, compared with just 45% among those from households earning under €30,000.

Impact: Financial Stress, Paid Work, and a Pipeline at Risk

Students report that the financial burden of GEM is not only a personal challenge, but one that directly impacts their ability to focus on their studies and clinical training. When asked to rank their biggest sources of stress, 54.55% of students placed tuition fees and educational costs above academic workload, cost of living, and work-life balance.

Many are forced to balance part-time work alongside an intensive academic schedule. Overall, 50.34% of respondents reported working during their studies. Among Irish students, this rises to 64% . Strikingly, employment increases in later years, with 69% of third-year students and 67% of fourth-year students working, directly contradicting institutional assumptions that clinical years are too demanding for paid employment.

Open-ended responses reveal the human cost of this pressure. One student described feeling “extremely depressed under the financial burden,” while another spoke of the “guilt” of relying on family support, saying: “I am lucky and privileged to thankfully rely on my parents to fund this degree, however the guilt I feel for doing so is immense.”

More broadly, the report argues that the current structure of GEM is at odds with national workforce planning goals. At a time when the health service is experiencing persistent staffing shortages, students warn that the barriers to entry are actively discouraging potential applicants and limiting the pipeline of future doctors. Yet the data also shows that GEM represents a significant retention opportunity: over 70% of Irish respondents indicated an intention to remain in Ireland after graduation, reinforcing the role of GEM as a potential workforce pipeline for the domestic health system.

Access and Equity: A Pathway Closed to Many

The report highlights growing concerns that GEM is becoming increasingly inaccessible to those without significant financial backing. Students argue that the original intention of the programme; to widen access to medicine; is being undermined by rising costs and the absence of adequate financial supports.

The findings show that family background within the medical profession also appears to influence access. Among respondents, 17.83% reported that one parent held a medical degree, while 12.02% reported that both parents held medical degrees, suggesting that familiarity with the profession may play a role in shaping entry into the pathway.

Nearly 90% of respondents believe GEM fees are unfair, and the most strongly supported policy options include expanding eligibility for SUSI, extending the Free Fees Scheme, and establishing a centrally funded loan scheme.

Call for Reform: Delivering on Programme for Government Commitments

The report calls for the expansion of the SUSI grant scheme to include GEM students, alongside broader reforms to ensure that access to medical education is based on ability rather than financial means.

Speaking on the launch of the report, Matt Mion, UCD Students’ Union Education Officer and Chair of the GEM Student Survey Group, said:

“Graduate Entry Medicine was introduced to open doors; now it’s slamming them shut. We’re asking students to take on six figures of debt to fill critical roles in our health service. That’s not sustainable, it’s self-defeating. Our report shows that over 70% of Irish GEM students want to stay and work here—but we are pushing them away with unsustainable costs and poor conditions. If we are serious about addressing workforce shortages in healthcare, we need to ensure that the pathway into medicine is accessible, fair, and properly supported. Right now, it simply isn’t.”

Alex Angland, UCC Students’ Union President said:

“The right to study Graduate Entry Medicine should not be reserved for those whose families can afford to spend €60,000 to €100,000 in fees over a four-year degree. The SUSI Scheme must be expanded to cover Graduate Entry Medicine to create a level playing field for all. This report confirms what students have known for years: the current model reinforces inequality and restricts entry to those with significant financial means.”

Michael Roche UCDSU President said:

“This report stands as a powerful contribution to the public policy debate on GEM, dispelling the myth of the emigrating doctor and demonstrating that a one-size-fits-all policy response is simply unworkable. A number of students’ unions pulled together to provide a stark national picture; one which the Government must now come good on its promise to rectify.”

The findings are based on responses from GEM students across four universities, providing a significant insight into their lived experience.

ENDS

A full copy of the report can be accessed HERE