I was wondering about how you would compare the workload in Irish schools to that of US and Canada.
I've heard that TCD's workload is significantly heavier than other schools like UCD, is that true?
IMO, its really hard to compare workload. Medicine is a memorization game so interpersonal variation is probably going to have a greater impact on hours worked than the actual amount required by the college.
In terms of class time, I only have exposure to RCSI so I'll mention that and hopefully others will post their experiences for comparison.
In the GEP program the first two years were lectures Monday to Friday avg 9-4 with one or two afternoons off a week, as well as three month long clinical attachements and at least one afternoon/week in hospital.
In the five year program you cover the same material as the first two years of GEP program but spaced out over 3 years (with some extra student selected components-mostly research). This program is probably more like your typical undergraduate with 3-4 hours of class per day.
The final two years are 9-5 clinical attachments with some weeks dedicated to lectures that may be a bit lighter. Clinical attachments are really variable in terms of hours on the ground, some will want you there 8-6 plus staying for overnight call and will never take their eyes off of you, others may only want you to show up for rounds every morning, and some will give you days off. You really just play it by ear and always have some study materials on you.
Written work outside of class (other than independant study) is minimal, maybe 10-20 hours a term.
