About the HPRA Graduate Programme

Would you like to make a real impact on public health while starting your career?

The HPRA graduate programme offers a 12-month opportunity for graduates to develop their skills, gain valuable experience, and make a meaningful contribution to public health.

Benefits of joining the HPRA graduate programme

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Protect public health

At the HPRA, you can play a role in overseeing the safety and effectiveness of medicines and medical devices – helping to protect the people who rely on them every day.

 

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Develop skills

You’ll work on projects that are both meaningful and challenging, designed to help you build technical expertise and strengthen your soft skills.

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Support system

We understand that moving from academic life to the workplace can be challenging. That’s why we’ve built a three-tier support system – managers, buddies, and fellow graduates – to guide you.

 

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Graduate Programme of the Year

The 2025 Workplace Excellence Awards recognised our commitment to supporting early-career professionals and developing future leaders in health product regulation.  

Specialised graduate streams in medicines and medical devices

The HPRA graduate programme offers two specialised streams. Each stream provides broad exposure to different departments and help develop a wide range of professional competencies.

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Stream 1: Medical devices

This 12-month stream includes two six-month rotations.

  • Assessment and surveillance
  • Regulatory and policy

In this stream you will learn how we assess, classify and monitor medical devices throughout their lifecycle. 

You will also explore how legal requirements are applied to medical devices and how regulatory systems are designed to protect public health.

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Stream 2: Medicines on our market

This 12-month stream includes three four-month rotations.

  • Vigilance
  • Health products distribution 
  • Inspections 

In this stream, you will learn into how we monitor the safety of medicines. You’ll also learn about the regulations that control how medicines and active substances are manufactured, stored, and distributed. 

How to apply

We opened applications for the Graduate Programme on 3 September 2025.

You’ll find everything you need to apply, including detailed role profiles for both streams, on our recruitment portal linked below. 

If you're unsure which stream to apply for, read both profiles to check the qualifications, criteria, and the skills and competencies required for each role.

We will close applications on 31 October 2025.

Apply now

FAQs

Find out more about the interview process and other topics relevant to the graduate programme.

Learn more