Radical changes in the entry system for medical courses - and possibly for a range of other "high points" courses like veterinary science and pharmacy - are being examined by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
The HEA is understood to be looking at a number of options for medical education which it will outline shortly to the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey.
The options include allowing all graduates who want to pursue a career in medicine to apply for places on postgraduate courses.
They also include the introduction of a life sciences course for all undergraduates, which would be completed before they gained entry to medical school.
The HEA believes the changes would help relieve the current intense competition for places among Leaving Cert students. And it would allow students greater time to consider career options.
The proposal for a change in the route to a medical degree was first mooted by the Points Commission in its landmark report on the points system over three years ago.
In recent weeks, senior university figures have been briefed by the HEA on its plans.
The HEA, which is reviewing aspects of the points system at the request of Mr Dempsey, is likely to suggest that these options might also be considered for other healthcare areas such as dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, physiotherapy and pharmacy. It hopes that the new system could be in place by August 2004.
Critically, it is thought that the Minister supports a radical overhaul of the points system. The Government is also committed to some reform. Last year the Programme for Government said the Coalition would seek to address "the distortion of the points system".
Only a small proportion of those who wish to study medicine receive a first-round offer from the Central Applications Office. Most of the five colleges offering medical degrees set their points at between 545 and 570. In practice, students need to score a high number of As in the Leaving Cert before applying.
This year the number seeking to do medicine has also increased significantly, by 17 per cent. Many students also opt to repeat the Leaving Cert to help secure a place.
The Government, in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority, capped the number of medical places in the 1980s, and these levels essentially remain in place. Consequently, the points drop by small amounts only each year, if at all, and this year is unlikely to be different.
Any move to expand the number of places for medicine at third level could also help to alleviate the staff crisis in the health sector.