Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT): Format, Dates, and Registration Process for Medical Students in Ireland

Do you want to study medicine in Ireland? Then, you need to clear the Health Professions Admissions Test (HPAT). The HPAT is held for undergraduate students who want to enrol in a medicine program in Ireland. The examination would test your logical reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, problem-solving skills, and the ability to understand the behaviour, thoughts and intentions of others. Clearing this paper would give you entry into top medical universities such as the University of Galway. To learn more about the exam, including its format, registration process, cost, and universities that accept test scores, read this blog.

Eligibility Criteria for the Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT) in Ireland

The Health Professions Admissions Test is an undergraduate university admission test. This test is conducted for entry into medicine courses in Ireland. This is a 2.5-hour online MCQ test that is designed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). To take this test, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. You must be enrolled in the final year of school. Otherwise, you must have completed your education and obtained a school learning certificate in 2026.
2. You meet the eligibility criteria for admission into universities in Ireland 
3. Moreover, you are applying for a course for which clearing the HPAT test is required.

Universities and Courses Requiring HPAT-Ireland

Most of the top-notch medical schools in Ireland require you to clear the HPAT. These universities are listed below. The course (s) that require you to clear this exam are also provided for your reference: 

S.No	University	Course (s) Requiring HPAT-Ireland
1	University of Galway	Undergraduate Medicine
2	Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)	Undergraduate Medicine
3	Trinity College Dublin	Undergraduate Medicine
4	University College Cork	Undergraduate Medicine
5	University College Dublin	Undergraduate Medicine
6	University of Limerick	MSc Occupational Therapy (Professional Qualification)
7	University of Limerick	MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Professional Qualification)

Format of the HPAT

The HPAT Ireland is a remote proctored exam. You can take this test from anywhere in the world. This computer-based test is conducted through ProctorU. The exam is held for 2.5 hours. You will receive about 117 questions in total from the following sections.

S/N	Section	Number of Questions Asked	Description	Duration
1	Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving	42	Tests the ability to comprehend, analyse, and solve problems based on provided information.	60
2	Interpersonal Understanding	42	Assesses capacity to identify, understand, and interpret others’ thoughts, emotions, and intentions.	50
3	Non-Verbal Reasoning	30	Measures abstract reasoning and problem-solving using visual and spatial patterns.	40
4	Written English (optional)	2 tasks	Evaluates the ability to produce a clear, organised, and creative written response to a given prompt.	1 hour

The written English test is only for students wanting to enrol in the University of Limerick.

Also Read: TMUA Exam Explained: Format, Universities Accepting, Fees, and Key Details

HPAT Ireland Dates: 2026

The registrations for the undergraduate medical entrance test in Ireland are set to open in November 2025. The examination will be held next year. The key exam dates are provided below:

S.No	Event	Key Dates
1	Registration Opens	November 2025 (includes deferrals, refunds, and registration updates)
2	Registration Closes	To Be Confirmed (TBC) 2026
3	Late Registration Period	TBC 2026 (subject to a late fee)
4	Test Session Booking	Book through ProctorU
5	Test Window	TBC 2026
6	Results Release – UL & Mature Applicants	Late April 2026
7	Results Release – Other Applicants	Late June 2026

What is a Good score in HPAT?

The HPAT-Ireland would calculate the questions you have answered correctly and then place them on a measurement scale. These transformed scores are also known as scaled scores. The total score a student can get in this paper is 300 (on a scale of 0-100). A score is provided for each section. Moreover, an overall percentile ranking will give you an idea of your score in comparison to other candidates. The overall score you obtain is the total score you have secured in the 3 sections.

S.No	Score	Interpretation
1	200+	Excellent
2	170–199	Competitive / Very Good
3	150–169	Average to Good
4	Below 150	Below Average

As per the table above, a score of 170 or more is considered competitive. An excellent score is a score above 200. However, most students score between 150 and 169.

How Much Does the HPAT Cost?

The HPAT cost is estimated to be around EUR 160.80. The exact registration fee for 2026 has not yet been declared. The written English fees are only applicable to UL, meaning the University of Limerick applicants. Late registration fees are applicable.

S.No	Fee Type	Amount (EUR)
1	Standard Registration Fee	To Be Confirmed (TBC)
2	Written English (UL applicants only)	EUR 20
3	Late Fee	EUR 75
4	Exceptional Late Fee	EUR 110
5	Refund Administration Fee	EUR 55
6	No Show Fee	EUR 90
7	HPAT Late Test Centre Request	EUR 85
8	Late Reasonable Adjustment Application Fee	EUR 50

How to Register for HPAT-Ireland?

The ACER HPAT Ireland conducts the test. Therefore, registration is done by visiting their portal. To register for the test, visit the official website. The examination is conducted in the month of February each year via remote proctoring. The  steps for registration are as follows:

1. Get a CAO number:  To get a CAO number, you can visit the official website of the same (www.cao.ie). Ensure that you are applying online.
2. Create an ACER account- You can visit the ACER  HPAT test and register as a new applicant.
3. Book the test– Log in to your account, enter details such as the course you want to enrol in. Thereafter, choose the test centre and book your test.
4. Pay fees: At this stage, you are required to pay the test centre fee. 
5. Confirm booking: After booking your ProctorU test session, you will receive a confirmation email of the same. You will also receive a payment confirmation.

Those with disabilities or any other health concerns that can interfere with their ability can apply for reasonable adjustments. You must do it right after registering for the test. Submit an application for the same before the registration closing deadline.

HPAT Ireland Results 2026

When the results are ready, you will receive an email notification. You will have to log in to your account to access your results. The HPAT-Ireland Office typically releases the results in mid to late April for mature (those above 23 years of age) and UL students.  All other applicants will receive their results in late June 2026.

S.No	Applicant Type	Results Release Timeline
1	Mature Applicants (23+ years)	Mid to Late April 2026
2	University of Limerick Applicants	Mid to Late April 2026
3	All Other Applicants	Late June 2026

Also Read: What is the Mathematics Admissions Test for Oxford?

Where Do You Take the HPAT?

There is no exam centre for the HPAT Ireland test. This is a remote computer-based test held through ProctorU. ProctorU is one of the best global providers of testing and assessment services. This means you can take the test from anywhere in the world as long as you meet the technical requirements. Some of these requirements are:

1. You must have a laptop/desktop computer
2. Must have a stable internet connection
3. Your computer must have a webcam
4. The microphone must be built-in, or you must purchase it separately 
5. Download the Guardian browser
6. You must be alone while taking the test, and must be in a quiet room.

How Hard is the HPAT?

HPAT is considered one of the most challenging exams in Ireland. Even the practising doctors and current medical students consider this one of the most difficult examinations they have ever taken. The exam is considered difficult mainly due to the following reasons.

1. Time pressure- Most of the students who sit for the exam are unable to complete the test within the given time frame.
2. Focus on skills: This exam focuses on your skills like problem-solving, critical thinking and logical reasoning. Thus, it is different from other university exams.
3. Stressful: There is high pressure related to clearing this exam. Therefore, students can find the exam stressful. Only by clearing this exam can you get into medicine.

However, through proper preparation and focused practice, you can clear this paper.

Also Read: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT): Format, Registration Dates, Scores, Test Centres, and Universities Accepting Results 

3+ Tips to Prepare for the HPAT in Ireland

To prepare for the HPAT, you must understand the exam format thoroughly. However, this is not the only requirement. To score well, you need to keep certain other things in mind. For example, 

1. Ensure that you start your preparation months ahead of the exam date. Set SMART (specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time‑bound) goals to measure your progress.
2. Practise the exam section by section. Thereafter, take full mock tests under timed conditions.
3. Section 1  requires emphasis on logic, data interpretation, and logic puzzles. To prepare for section 2, practise tone reading and learn character inference from dialogue. For section 3, learn the mapping and pattern‑rule technique, like next‑in‑sequence (NiS)
4. Learn how to manage time and prepare mentally and practically for the test day. Make technical checks for the test in advance.’

To learn tips for clearing the HPAT from medical students, watch this video:

FAQs

Related Articles:

What is the Physics Aptitude Test for Oxford?	UCAT Registration 2025-26: Dates, Steps to Register, Cost, Rescheduling, and Tips
UCAT Scores: Minimum, Average, and Highest Scores Needed for Medicine	Top 5 UCAT Preparation Courses for 2025: Which One Is Right for You?
UCAT Dates: Important Deadlines For UK University Applicants	MAT Exam Registration 2025: An Oxford Application Guide

Want to know more about the study abroad entrance exams? Connect with the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu. You can also call us at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session. We can help you with everything from choosing the perfect university to guiding you through the application process.