Few fields can compete with Medicine in terms of the wide variety of opportunities available to the graduate. For most doctors, their professional lives are centred on caring for people in the community or in the hospital setting. In this context, doctors are often the centre around which the healthcare of the patient revolves, interacting with all other members of the healthcare team. However, doctors are also leaders in biomedical research, in the development of new understanding of normal and abnormal bodily function, diagnostic methods and therapies. Doctors are also engaged in the study of patterns of disease in the community; others work in pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, health insurance companies, and in the management of health and safety in the workplace.

Following successful completion of the Final Medical Examination, and subsequent graduation, Medical graduates are required to complete one year of internship training in order to achieve full registration with the Irish Medical Council. While UCC School of Medicine makes every effort to support students in the search for an internship post, students apply and compete for internship posts in an open jobs market. In Medicine, the primary degrees MB, BCh, BAO are only the start of your career, as all branches of Medicine require postgraduate training of 3-7 years after the postgraduation hospital intern year. Many graduates choose to undertake part of their postgraduate training abroad and all Medical School academic staff are available to provide advice regarding the opportunities available.