Frequently Asked Questions 

In this section, you will find information on:

Undergraduate Medical Training in Ireland

I wish to study medicine in Ireland, please send me a prospectus on your College?

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is a postgraduate training College only. For details on undergraduate medical training please contact the following medical schools directly:

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,
Admissions Office, 123, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Telephone: (01) 4022 100 Fax: (01) 4022 344
E-Mail: admissions@rcsi.ie Website: www.rcsi.ie


University College Cork - Faculty of Medicine,
Admissions Office, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
Telephone: (021) 4902 455 Fax: (021) 4270 339
E-Mail: medfac@ucc.ie Website: www.ucc.ie


University College Dublin - Faculty of Medicine,
Central Admissions Office, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Telephone: (01) 706 7440 Fax: (01) 706 7454
E-Mail: fac.med@ucd.ie Website: www.ucd.ie 


University College Galway (N.U.I.) - Faculty of Medicine,
Admissions Office, NUI, Galway.
Telephone: (091) 524 411 Fax: (091) 750 436
E-Mail: medfaculty@nuigalway.ie Website: www.nuigalway.ie 

 

University of Dublin - Faculty of Health Sciences,
Admissions Office, West Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Telephone: (01) 608 1039 or 608 1072 Fax: (01) 872 2853
E-Mail: admissions@tcd.ie Website: www.tcd.ie 

 

University of Limerick - Medical School,  
Graduate Medical School Office, E1025, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Telephone: (061) 233 740 or (061) 233 756 Fax: (061) 233 778
E-Mail: medicalschool@ul.ie Website: http://www.ul.ie/medicalschool

  

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Medical Council Registration

How do I get temporary registration with the Medical Council in Ireland?

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is a postgraduate medical college only and is not involved in the temporary registration of doctors. For detailed information on this matter please contact the Medical Council directly at:

The Medical Council,
Kingram House, Kingram Place, Dublin 2, Ireland
Telephone: +353 1 4983100 Fax: +353 14983102
E-Mail: registration@mcirl.ie Website: www.medicalcouncil.ie

 

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BST Frequently Asked Questions

Why BST?
There are many reasons a doctor may choose to embark on BST.
BST allows doctors to train in a wide range of specialties (including up to 6 months in emergency medicine), gaining experience that can later be used in a range of careers.
Following BST, the majority of doctors will wish to enter specialties within Internal Medicine or General Practice, but other specialities such as Radiology, Psychiatry, Public Health Medicine, Pathology, etc. may be the objectives for many. Please see below for a list of specialties administrated by the RCPI that require BST.
Besides the acquisition of specific clinical skills and competencies, core components of BST include personal development such as leadership and team working, communication and presentation skills, basic management and audit.
A Certificate of Completion of BST may, in certain cases, be a requirement for overseas doctors seeking full registration with the Irish Medical Council.

What can I do after BST?
Many specialties require that applicants have completed BST before being admitted to train to specialist level:
· Cardiology
· Chemical Pathology
· Clinical Microbiology
· Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
· Dermatology
· Endocrinology
· Gastroenterology
· General Paediatrics
· General Internal Medicine
· Genito-Urinary Medicine
· Geriatric Medicine
· Haematology
· Immunology
· Infectious Diseases
· Medical Oncology
· Microbiology
· Nephrology
· Neurology
· Obstetrics & Gynaecology
· Occupational Medicine
· Palliative Medicine
· Public Health Medicine
· Rehabilitation Medicine
· Respiratory Medicine
· Rheumatology

Doctors hoping to train in General Practice should note that GP training is regulated by the Irish College of General Practitioners.


I wish to get a Senior House Officer(SHO) or Registrar(REG) job in Ireland, where are these posts advertised?
SHO jobs are advertised in the following publications in Ireland:
Sunday Independent
Irish Medical Times
Irish Medical News

 

Although SHO/REG jobs may be advertised in these publications throughout the year it should be noted that the majority of posts is normally advertised during the months of January, February and March each year.  

What does "pre-registration year" on my BST registration form refer to?
The pre-registration year refers to your intern training. This section should be completed even if you obtained this training outside Ireland. 

When completing my BST registration form what should I do if I don't know which posts I will hold during my BST?
Even if you do not know in advance all the posts you intend to hold during your two years of BST you must still return your BST registration form listing posts on which you do have information. As further information comes to light you should inform the BST Section of the Medical Training Team at the RCPI. 

Where do I get the number for my BST post?
BST post numbers can be obtained from the Medical Administration/Personnel Office at each hospital. 

What if my post does not have a number? 
Iif a post does not have a number then it may not be approved for training and you should enquire further with the BST Office of the College as to the reason before taking up such a post. 

How much time can I spend in each post/hospital?

Normally each numbered medical SHO post is approved for a maximum of 6 months and each numbered medical Registrar (non-SpR) post is approved for a maximum of 12 months. If you intend to take up a post at one of the specialist hospitals listed, please seek clarification from the BST Office at the College. Hospitals are approved for 2 years, 1 year or 6 months BST. This means that if, for example, an SHO remains at Cavan General Hospital for one year, they must rotate though at least two different numbered posts (i.e. 6 months spent in each post). 

How can I get retrospective recognition of my training?
Retrospective recognition is only given for training obtained before 1st July, 2001. For accreditation of training obtained from 1st of July, 2001 it is mandatory to register with the BST Section at the College to obtain prospective recognition of your experience.

Should you have any further queries, please contact:
BST Office, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland,
Frederick House, 19 South Frederick Street, Dublin 2.
Phone: (01) 863 9700 E-Mail: bst@rcpi.ie

  

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Higher Specialist Training

I wish to complete my specialist training in Ireland; can you please forward me details?

The Irish Committee on Higher Medical Training (ICHMT) runs the Higher Specialist Training Programme in Ireland in 25 specialties; details of entry requirements can be found in the specialty curriculum.

 

When does recruitment take place for entry onto the specialty training schemes?
Applications for entry onto the training programmes generally open the first weekend each November. Applications can be downloaded here once the recruitment process has begun. 

Can you provide information on higher specialist training in Surgery?
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is the recognised training body for surgery. For details on the Surgical Training Programme you should contact the College directly:

Irish Surgical Postgraduate Training Committee
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
123, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Phone: (01) 4780 200  Fax: (01) 4022 344
E-Mail: admissions@rcsi.ie Website: www.rcsi.ie

Can you provide information on training in Anaesthetics?
The College of Anaesthetists at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is the recognised training body. For details on the Anaesthetics Training Programme you should contact the College directly:

The College of Anaesthetists
22 Merrion Square North, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Phone: (01) 6614 412 Fax: (01) 6614 374
E-Mail: anaes@rcsi.ie Website: info@coa.ie

Can you provide information on training in Radiology?
The Faculty of Radiologists at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is the recognised training body. For details on the Radiology Training Programme you should contact the Faculty directly:

The Faculty of Radiologists
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
123, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Phone: (01) 4022 139 Fax: (01) 4022 466
E-Mail: radiology@rcsi.ie Website: www.radiology.ie  

Can you provide me with information on General Practitioner Training?
The Irish College of General Practitioners is the recognized training body. For details on the GP Training Programme you need to contact the College directly:

The Irish College of General Practitioners
4/5 Lincoln Place, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel: 01 6763705 Fax: 01 6765850
E-Mail: info@icgp.ie Website: www.icgp.ie

Should you have further queries regarding Higher Medical Training, please contact:
Higher Specialist Training
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland,
Frederick House, 19 South Frederick Street, Dubiln 2
Phone: (01) 863 9700 E-Mail hst@rcpi.ie

 

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