Overview

Post-CSCST Fellowships are designed for doctors who need to acquire additional training or experience that was not available on their Higher Specialist Training programme, and that may be required for a consultant post (for example, stroke medicine).

In association with the HSE, RCPI has established a register of approved Post-CSCST Fellowship posts in the Irish health service. These Fellowships offer training opportunities for doctors who are within two years of completing their HST programme and obtaining a CSCST.

The additional training is designed to expose you to subspecialties and advanced clinical skills.

What is a Fellowship Post?

A Fellowship Post is a 12 month period of additional training, beyond what is available during Higher Specialist Training.

The post will offer:

• A structured educational experience designed to deliver those requirements of a particular subspecialty which are not readily available within HST
• A supervisor with authority and accountability for the Fellowship Post
• Opportunities for audit and research
• An enhanced salary

Where appropriate, the post will fulfil training body requirements and HSE employment requirements for consultant posts. All posts are recruited, evaluated and approved by the appropriate training body.

Please note, these hospital-funded posts will most likely be created by the conversion of existing SpR or non-training posts. We are unable to guarantee availability of posts on an annual basis as approval is only ever valid for 12 months. Fellowship posts will not necessarily be occupied each year.

Training bodies are supported and funded by HSE NDTP.

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Entry Requirements

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Post-CSCST Fellowship Subspecialty Areas

We are continuing to identify suitable Post-CSCST Fellowship opportunities in Ireland. We currently offer Fellowship Posts in the following subspecialty areas - please click through the headings below for details and available curricula.

How a Post-CSCST Fellowship is Approved

• Post-CSCST Fellowships can be identified by the National Specialty Director or an approved trainer in the specialty.
• Written confirmation is required from the hospital where the post is located of a guarantee of the salary for the Post-CSCST Fellowship prior to seeking approval from HSE NDTP or development of a curriculum. The Post-CSCST salaries are set at the 7th or highest point of the SpR scale.
• A clinical lead is appointed by the NSD/Specialty Training Committee.
• The lead will work with the education team in RCPI to develop an overview of the Post-CSCST Fellowship (for approval from HSE NDTP) and curriculum for the Post-CSCST Fellowship.
• The Post-CSCST Fellowship and curriculum must be agreed and approved by the Specialty Training Committee.
• When a suitable post arises (vacant SpR/Reg/Locum post), an HSE Approval Application Form and supporting documentation is completed by the appointed Clinical Lead. RCPI will then submit this to the HSE NDTP for approval.
• Once approval is confirmed from HSE NDTP, the post is advertised, and interviews are held to appoint the Fellow.
• A register of approved Post-CSCST Fellowships will be listed on the RCPI website.
• An appointed Fellow is treated the same way as a trainee on the SpR programme: they will record their training, complete an end of year evaluation and receive a certificate of completion.

Please note:

• Doctors eligible to be appointed into a Post-CSCST Fellowship must have completed their HST training through an RCPI training programme.
• Post-CSCST fellowships are ordinarily for one year; however, they can be split over two years (50% training per year) and should ordinarily start in line with the HST SpRs (July – July).
• Training is ordinarily in the one location, however, there may be an option to split training over two or three sites with prior approval from each site and the HSE NDTP.

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Aspire Post CSCST Fellowship Programme

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) has partnered with HSE NDTP to establish a number of world-class Post CSCST Fellowships in the area of Occupational Medicine, Paediatrics, Pathology, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The Aspire Fellowship is a 12-month programme for doctors in receipt of a CSCST from an Irish Postgraduate Training Body including RCPI. The programme offers exceptional individuals high-quality training and exposure to speciality training and advanced clinical skills, in addition to an SpR salary for the duration of the fellowship.

Aspire Post CSCST Fellowships offers:

• A structured educational experience
• A personal supervisor
• Opportunities for audit and research
• SpR salary for the duration of the fellowship

Applications for Aspire Fellowship Programmes for July 2025 TBC 

Faculty of Occupational Medicine

• TBC

Faculty of Paediatrics

• TBC

Faculty of Pathology

• TBC

Faculty of Public Health Medicine

• TBC

Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

• TBC

Institute of Medicine

• TBC

Find out more about the Aspire Post CSCST Fellowships.

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RCPI Healthcare Leadership Fellowship

The RCPI is delighted to announce the launch of an OCPE Fellowship Programme within the Office of the Chief Medical Officer. From July 2025 we will be in a position to support two posts for the training year 2025-2026.

The Office of the CMO are running an information webinar from 7-8pm on Tuesday the 3rd of December which can be accessed via the following link: https://rcpi-ie.zoom.us/j/94942121492?pwd=CemXsjggzVRCb4AW7aGUkixpnUbOqf.1

The aim of the programme is to provide trainees, who are intending to remain in clinical practice with an opportunity to gain valuable experience at the heart of public health policy, Government decision making and healthcare leadership. The key skills that will be built during the Fellowship include formulation of policy, project management, data analysis and modelling, financial/budget allocation and management skills, stakeholder engagement, developing people skills by working alongside team members with diverse backgrounds and a wide range of skill sets, capabilities and competencies.

A mentor will be allocated to the trainee in the CMO’s Office. The trainee will be provided with the opportunity to work across several divisions and projects over the course of their twelve months.   

Applicant Criteria:

• Be in the last two years of HST training at July 2025
• Have not previously undertaken an OCPE year
• Be in a position to take up a Fellowship place from Monday 14^th of July 2025 for one year

Application Link:

https://eu-quercus.elluciancloud.com/app/rcpi/f?p=PV_ONLINE_APP:101::::APP:APP_COURSE_INSTANCE:905609153

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