Irish medical students forced to leave Ukraine can continue studies in State – Harris

Irish medical students forced to leave universities in war-torn Ukraine will be facilitated to continue their studies in Ireland, Minister for Further Education Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris said his department was making contact with all students affected, estimated to number about 40, and that it would support them in finding places on courses within the State.

“This will involve engagement with our universities but, to be fair, they have shown incredible leadership on this and are working with the department to ensure adequate supports are put in place,” he told The Irish Times.

The students wrote to Government Ministers and TDs saying they were left in "academic limbo" by the Russian invasion that forced them to flee the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Sumy and Ternopil where many were well advanced into their studies and training.

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The Department of Further Education has been contacting the students to establish their current location, their specific areas of medical studies and the stage they were at in their studies and training to help align them with Irish teaching courses and hospital placements.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Seána Valentine, a third-year student from Co Meath who was studying in Dnipro, said the number of affected students getting in touch had been growing.

“As a group, we are heartened by the determination of Minister Harris and his team to support us in our journey to become medical practitioners in the Irish health service,” she said.

She is collecting details on all Irish students affected by the war to forward to the department.

“I am happy we are being heard,” said Christabel Aruebose, a second-year medical student from Cork who was studying in Ukraine.

“My education is so important to me and I have worked so incredibly hard.”

Ukraine was a popular location for students seeking to study medicine as tuition fees were considerably lower for applicants at graduate entry level than in Irish universities.

Galway student Éamonn O’Brien, who was studying in Kyiv, left Ukraine after the Russians started bombing the country’s capital on February 24th, the day the Russian invasion began.

He had a return flight back to Ireland booked that day but it was cancelled because the airport was bombed. To escape the attack, he travelled west by car but said he had to walk the final 50km into Poland after encountering long tailbacks of cars attempting to cross the border.

“It is horrific what is happening in Kyiv,” he said.

He has left behind clothes, books and other possessions in his apartment in the city.

“At least I am alive – I am not complaining,” he said.