Admission Requirements for public universities
Application opens 5 November until 1 February each year. Must also apply directly to ACER to complete the HPAT-Ireland test.
Required to satisfy the Garda Vetting, Medical Clearance and Fitness to Practise requirements.
The local high school examinations that you complete will be used to assess competitiveness for admission. European examinations will be converted into the equivalent Irish Leaving Certificate (ILC) points. These points will then be added to your HPAT score (which is required for all EU School Leaver applicants) to provide an overall points score. Minimum Points Requirement: 480 points of the Leaving Certificate Examination. Applicants must complete the Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT). The maximum score a candidate can achieve in HPAT is 300. The weighting of the three sections will be Section 1 (40%); Section 2 (40%); Section 3 (20%).
The cost of applying to the HPAT-Ireland test is €164 for 2026.
Test will be delivered by online proctoring. Online proctoring involves sitting the test under live supervision using your own computer in a suitable location i.e. at home with internet connectivity.
HPAT includes
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ADMISSION TEST
Logical reasoning and problem-solving skills, non-verbal reasoning and the ability to understand the thoughts, behaviour and intentions of others.
2.5-hour online multiple-choice assessment. 114 multiple choice questions consisting of:
Section 1 - Questions focused on Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving. These HPAT questions include questions with Graphs & Charts, Science Experiments etc.
Section 2 - Questions are related to interpersonal understanding. These questions have a focus on working with and understanding people and consist of scenarios, narratives and dialogues with questions designed to assess the understanding of people; their motivations, behaviours and responses.
Section 3 - Questions include Non-Verbal reasoning questions like Next in Series, Missing Segments and Middle of Sequences.
Application procedures for medicine in Irish universities through Metavasi Career Guidance & Counseling Services with a discount of 25%, from 800 Euro to 600 Euro.
Our Services
At Next Step Online Academy we offer a comprehensive and interactive HPAT preparation learning experience for all our students.
Our classes are conducted on the Microsoft Teams platform, providing a convenient and efficient learning environment for everyone.
During the two hour class we focus on working through theory and exercises as a group, identifying challenges, techniques and opportunities to score well.
Enrollement in HPAT1 or HPAT2 offer more than just interactive classes. It also provides you with many resources to enhance your learning experience.
Classes start on 15th of January 2026 and are timed to conclude just before the HPAT exam takes place in February 2026.
Deadline to register for HPAT exams is 26 of January 2026
What is included in HPAT1
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5 live classes
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5 sample question sets
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1 mock exam
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E-book with more material to work on your own private time for more chances to succeed.
What is included in HPAT2
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10 live classes
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10 weekly tests
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2 mock exams
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2 e-books with more material to work on your own private time for more chances to succeed.
Our services include:
· A summary list of all universities with the most important infomation (rankings, tuition fees, specific details) to choose from
· As many meetings as required for guidance and support
· Payment of CAO application fee
· Payment of HPAT exam fee €164 for 2026 for normal application. Late registration incurring additional fees of €75 (standard late) or €110 (exceptional late), which is NOT included in the offer.
· Completion and dispatch of application
· Official translations of all needed documents
· Follow up communication with university admissions officers
· Booking of university accommodation, if there is any, or guidance for self-accommodation