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Annual Report 2025-2026

Annual Report 2025-2026/Our Work/World-Class Specialist Training/World-Class Specialist Training

World-Class Specialist Training

 

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is training physicians to meet current and future health needs. The college supports doctors to reach their full potential through its six institutes and faculties. Our training programmes are designed to equip doctors with the skills to become clinical leaders, agile in their approach to the rapidly evolving needs of society.

55.5% Increase in training applications
1,956 Doctors on BST and HST training programmes
125 Doctors on international training programmes
65 New training posts approved
Doctor and nurse reviewing files
 

Basic and Higher Specialist Training

The BST and HST Recruitment cycle saw 2,632 applications. 370 BST trainees and 247 HST trainees successfully secured places on the training programme for July 2026 commencement. There were 774 trainees on the Basic Specialist Training Programme in 2025-26, with approximately 112 completing BST in July 2026. The big focus remains on the Internal Medicine Training project, scheduled to roll out in 2027, and how this will impact BST General Internal Medicine training. There were 1,182 trainees on Higher Specialist Training in 2025-26, with 150 receiving their CSCST cert in the training year 2025/26.

Attendees at RCPI Membership conferring ceremony in 2026
 

International Training Programmes

The 2025-26 training cycle saw one doctor join the International Residency Training Programme (IRTP), with six on the scheme altogether across the General Internal Medicine and Paediatrics programmes. 40 trainees joined the International Clinical Fellowship Programme (ICFP) in 2025-26, bringing the total enrolled on the programme to 63. 47 doctors graduated from the ICFP and 4 doctors graduated from the IRTP and will return hometo enhance their healthcare systems. There were 112 trainees on our IMGTI International Scholarship programme, available to trainees from Sudan and Pakistan. 53 doctors joined the IMGTI programme this year; 31 in General Internal Medicine, 14 in Paediatrics, and 8 in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 87 doctors completed this programme and return home to continue their training.

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