You can apply to Basic Specialist Training programmes in four specialties:
- General Internal Medicine
- General Paediatrics
- Histopathology
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
You can apply to more than one specialty, although very few candidates will apply to more than two specialties.
The first step is to complete the online application for the relevant training programme and submit the required supporting documentation.
Following the applications deadline, the verification process will commence where your eligibility and application are checked and verified. You will be informed if your application has been verified or not.
Interviews are held a few months later, generally in January or February; should you be invited to interview stage, you will be sent details in advance.
You will receive marks for your academic achievements, performance at interview, clinical acumen, general suitability for the specialty and your appraisal forms. You will be matched to your highest possible preference based on your total marks.
First round offers will be made within a couple of weeks of the interviews. There are usually three rounds of matching and offers.
You can only be matched to one preference in each specialty. You can be offered a place in more than one specialty, but you can only accept one offer.
The application form is an online form. You will need to upload the required documents to the online form. You may start your form, leave it and come back to complete it at a later stage if needed. Forms left in draft form will not be considered.
Please visit our Entry Guidance and Advice section to download useful Application Form Guidance documents for each BST course.
- Academic transcripts
- Decile/centile place
- Proof of Irish Medical Council registration / eligibility for registration
- Proof of English language competency
- Two appraisal forms. Please note, we no longer accept PDF versions of Appraisal forms and we can accept both Clinical and Non-Clinical forms.
- Passport identity page
- Stamp 4 Residency Permit (if applicable to you – other types of residency permits do not need to be submitted)
- A passport-style photo of yourself
Please visit our Entry Guidance and Advice section for further information.
There are three ways to confirm your eligibility for Irish Medical Council (IMC) registration:
- Submit your certificate of current or previous registration on one of the divisions of the IMC.
- If you are not currently and have never been registered on one of the divisions of the IMC, you may be considered automatically eligible for registration if you completed your medical degree in one of a list of EU countries. A list of eligible countries is available in our Entry Guidance and Advice section. If your country is listed, your academic transcript which you are required to submit will confirm your medical degree was completed in that country.
- If you do not fall into either category 1 or 2 above, please contact the IMC and ask them to provide a letter confirming your eligibility for registration and submit this with your application.
You may wish to support your application and gain additional marks by including evidence of some of the following:
- Professional qualifications/ education
- Audit experience
- Presentations
- Publications
- Abstract publications
Please visit our Entry Guidance and Advice section for further information.