Thanks for offering. I have a couple questions.
1. What is the status of NUI? Do you guys receive NUI certification or has it been abolished?
2. Textbooks? Do we need them? I've got a couple of the books on the booklist. Should I bring them? I found some books for $10, is it worth hauling them over?
3. Favourite/Least favourite Course? What was in your opinion the hardest course?
4. Anything to pack? (something you wished you had when you were there, but didn't)?
5. Anything wish you did differently? Anything to add???
6. How was orientation week? Your experience there? (from your tone it seems like you're looking forward to coming back?)
Hey Chicka,
I would be glad to answer your questions
1. Yes, we will be receiving NUI degrees that will be recognised in Ireland. There have already been 3 cohorts of graduates all of whom have received NUI degrees, so I wouldn't worry about that. The degree title would be MB BCh BAO, LRCPI, LRCSI

I believe they have reversed the decision to abolish NUI but you will get the degree none the less.
2. With regards to textbooks, for Foundation Year you wouldn't really need them since most of the information will be included in the lectures. However for Foundation Year, they will recommend Biology books from Solomon and Chiras. I have purchased these books but I have yet to open them. Books here are expensive and if you can find them cheap where you are, books for JC1 such as Grey's Anatomy, Stanley and Monkhouse Clinical Anatomy (Master Medicine) and an Oxford Medical Dictionary would be useful. However you can find these books in the LRC (Learning Resources Centre). But make sure books don't take up too much of your luggage weight.
3. In Foundation Year, the first semester will include 6 modules and so will the the second semester. JC1/JC2 for the 5 year medical programme it's the same as well, the modules are listed here:
http://www.rcsi-mub.com/index.jsp?p=101&n=117
Personally I found Module 2 and 7 in foundation year the hardest because of the chemistry involved. However Foundation Year compared to Junior Cycle is easier but very useful none the less.
Junior Cycle which I will going into this year, consists of Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Psycology, Physiology, Pathology and Histology. This is alongside Early Patient contact which take place during the second semester. I suppose the most annoying part of the course would be Histology so I've heard.
4. Make sure you pack summer clothes because you will find that things do get pretty hot here. The worst months are during the summer; June, July and August but it will start to cool down from September onwards.
5. If I was to do anything differently,it would be to study what was in the lecture the day it was given and not to put off studying lectures to the very end since I was caught towards the end of the semster with a lot of material to cover. Exams in Foundation Year take place to the end of each semester as well as in JC1/JC2. However the difference between both years is that there is continous assesment throughout both semesters in Foundation Year compared to a single formative exam in each semester in JC1/JC2 before the final summative exam. Formatives usually start 6 weeks into each semester and would account for 5% of the total marks.
6. Orientation week is a great time to get to know as many people that will be in your year as possible. You will be assigned a Buddy who will look after you and show you the ropes, giving you a tour of the uni and answering questions you have about everything. You will also be given study skill seminars which will help you find which study style suits you best and applying those skills to taking notes during lectures. There will also be a tour of Bahrain.
I will be a Buddy during Orientation week so if you have anymore questions, I would be glad to answer them. My experience here has be great and I haven't regreted moving over here to study. I hope you`ll find it the same
