Our International Clinical Fellowship Programme (ICFP) offers clinical training to doctors from outside Ireland who are sponsored by their government, hospital or national training body.
We offer Fellowship training in the following specialties.
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The ICFP offers a unique opportunity to develop professionally as a doctor and learn advanced skills that will be especially beneficial for the health service in your home country.
The programme is offered over two or three years of clinical training, after which you are required to return to your country of origin. In certain circumstances, the period of training may be extended to three years.
If you are interested in finding out more information on this training programme, click the below link to email the International Affairs Team directly.
Members of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (i.e. doctors who have achieved MRCPI) and docotrs with IELTS or OET will be given priority. If you are interested in taking the MRCPI in General Internal Medicine or Paediatrics please note that holders of the full Arab/Omani/Saudi Board are exempt from MRCPI Part I. Priority will also be given to candidates who hold MRCPUK.
In addition to the general entry requirements listed above, certain specialties have additional specific requirements, which are outlined in the relevant ICFP curriculum.
The ICFP is completed under the guidance of leading consultant trainers in accredited hospitals across Ireland. There is an emphasis on acquiring expertise in techniques and subspecialties for which there is limited, or no, training in your home country.
The programme has been developed in conjunction with postgraduate medical training bodies in Ireland with the support of the Health Service Executive National Doctors Training and Planning (HSE NDTP).
On completion of the ICFP, you will be awarded with a Certificate of Clinical Fellowship Training in your chosen specialty by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
"I wanted to be trained in a centre of excellence. I was impressed by RCPI’s training programme, which has a lot of hands on experience, and a good balance between supervision and independent clinical practice. The RCPI team are very cooperative and helpful. It’s an amazing experience. I would highly recommend it to others."
Dr Saleh Al Draiweesh
Clinical Fellowship Trainee in Gastroenterology
"The most important thing is that everything is very well organised beforehand and the programme is very well structured. It is also very easy to communicate with supervisors and the College. If you have any kind of issue, they sort it out as soon as possible, which is really great."
Dr Waddah Ashram
Clinical Fellowship Trainee in Cardiology
"Being a Trainee with the RCPI was a dream come true for me. One of the most important things I learned from being a Trainee in Ireland is how to improve doctor-patient communication. If you want to understand the meaning of patient-centred care, just come here. There really is person centred care and great doctor patient communication, inside and outside the hospitals."
Dr Abrar Jamal Al Waheed
Clinical Fellowship Trainee in Haematology
Doctors applying to our International Clinical Fellowship Programmes must have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall bandscore of 7.0 and a minimum score of 6.5 in each of the four domains. The IELTS test taken must be 'Academic' and must have been completed within the last two years. The OET exam is also accepted with a minimum grade of B required. Unfortunately, the Medical Council of Ireland does not accept any other certificate (i.e. TOEFL).
You will be assessed for communication skills and clinical competence at interview and must be deemed competent in these areas before you can be accepted onto the programme.
We know that moving to another country to undertake medical training involves a lot of preparation and paperwork. We are committed to making sure that each doctor coming to Ireland will enjoy as smooth a transition as possible to our training programmes.
Castel Education, an agency that specialises in supporting individuals and families coming to Ireland, is our chosen partner to provide a range of services for doctors and their families, such as
"Once accepted onto the programme, RCPI have a dedicated team to help me with the registration process step-by-step, until you’re completely settled in Ireland. They were fantastic, and were available for queries throughout the entire fellowship."
Dr Fatima Al Washahi
Clinical Fellowship Trainee in Maternal Medicine
John Magner has overall responsibility for our international medical graduate training programmes.
Taimse manages all matters relating to the International Clinical Fellowship Programme and the Joint Residency Training Programme.
Contact Danielle for information about our International Clinical Fellowship Programme. She is responsible for Recruitment, Post Interview and Site Management for Paediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. She looks after the current ICFP trainees.
Contact Dale for information about our International Clinical Fellowship Programme. She is responsible for Recruitment, Post Interview and Site Management for Medicine, Pathology, Public Health and Occupational Medicine. She looks after the current ICFP trainees.
Contact Louise for information about our International Clinical Fellowship Programme. She is responsible for Post Interview/Site Management. She looks after the current ICFP trainees.
Contact Lauren for information on the Joint Residency Training Programmes. She is responsible for Recruitment to the Joint Residency Training Programmes and Post Interview/ Site Management. She looks after the current JRTP trainees.
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