Well I think the internship year technically starts after teh 6th yr. However, they do let you do 11 weeks of clinical rotations outside the country (starting from the 5th yr. itself). We have quite a few irish students here in the First Fac. this year doing medicine and dentistiry so I assume it should be easier to get back to Ireland (as it's recognized by the Irish and the British councils)......about the loans I have no idea (i'll try and find out)...