Medicine

To study Medicine at RCSI, you can apply to either the Direct Entry Medicine (DEM) programme or the Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programme. DEM is a five- or six-year programme, with the duration depending on your secondary school qualifications. GEM is a four-year degree.

Applicants must first determine if they are considered European Union (EU) or non-EU students for admission purposes. Your admission route and tuition fees will depend on your EU or non-EU status.

EU and non-EU status is based on nationality (passport) and domicile (where you or your parents have been living).

EU School Leaver applicants apply for Direct Entry Medicine (DEM) at RCSI through the Central Applications Office (CAO) using course code RC001*. The CAO processes applications for most full-time degree programmes in Irish universities, including RCSI.

After completing secondary or high school examinations, results (such as the Irish Leaving Certificate, A-Levels, German Abitur or Polish Matura) are converted by the CAO into an Irish Leaving Certificate points score.

EU students applying for DEM Medicine in Ireland must also sit the Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT) in the year of application. The HPAT score is added to the Leaving Certificate points to provide a final overall score. This score is used to rank all applicants for each university course. Offers to the RCSI Medicine course are assigned based on this ranking, with the highest combined score receiving the first place, the second highest the next, and so on until all places are filled.

Admission to DEM is competitive in all Irish medical schools. To secure a place through the CAO process, applicants must achieve strong academic results in their final secondary school examinations and a competitive HPAT score.

Further details are available on the entry requirements page. 

*Applicants for Mature Entry Medicine should also apply to the CAO using course code RC001.

Non-EU students who are not residing in the USA or Canada in the year of application should apply directly to RCSI via our website by following the published guidelines.

Non-EU students residing in the USA or Canada in the year of application should apply through our admissions partner, Atlantic Bridge.

The Direct Entry Medicine (DEM) programme at RCSI is either five or six years in duration. The length of the course depends on the academic qualifications presented at admission. Some schooling systems are 13 years, while others are 12 years.

Students who present qualifications such as A-Levels with strong results in Chemistry and Biology may be exempted from Foundation Year (previously called Pre-Med). Applicants from Canada with the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) complete the six-year course.

There is one DEM programme. The Admissions Committee determines whether applicants are offered a five-year or six-year place, based on the published entry requirements for each route. Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) students complete the medical course in four years.

Yes, international students can study Medicine at RCSI. The University has a diverse international student body and extensive experience in supporting students from around the world; we welcome applications from Irish, EU and non-EU candidates for our programme in Dublin.

International applicants must meet the academic entry requirements, which vary depending on prior education and qualifications, and must also satisfy English-language proficiency requirements, where applicable. Admission is competitive and based on academic performance and suitability for medical study. Non-EU students must also meet visa and immigration requirements to study in Ireland.

Yes, the RCSI Undergraduate Medicine degree is internationally recognised and highly regarded. The programme is aligned with international standards in medical education, combining rigorous academic training with intensive clinical experience. The degree is a major award positioned at Level 8 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). It is accredited in Ireland by the Irish Medical Council (IMC), the National University of Ireland (NUI) and RCSI.

Professional recognition and registration outside Ireland are determined by the regulatory authorities in each country and may involve additional requirements, such as licensing examinations. RCSI medical graduates are practising in almost 100 countries around the world, including throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and India.

Yes, RCSI Medicine graduates may apply to practise in the USA, Canada and the UK, as well as in many other countries. This is subject to meeting the professional registration and regulatory requirements of the country in which you wish to work, which may include local licensing examinations.

The Medicine programme at RCSI provides a strong clinical and scientific foundation, professionalism and a global outlook, supporting graduates who wish to pursue a career or further training internationally. RCSI graduates frequently secure residencies and achieve high match rates in North America, the UK and other countries with the support from RCSI in preparing for residency, foundation programme applications and licensing examinations.

RCSI is Ireland’s only specialist health sciences university, with a singular focus on education, research and innovation in healthcare. We are internationally recognised for our strong clinical focus, global outlook and societal impact. With roots dating back to 1784, RCSI combines a long tradition of medical excellence with modern, research-led teaching.

Our close links to clinical practice and teaching hospitals ensure that students learn in an immersive, patient-centred environment that prepares graduates to make a meaningful impact worldwide.

RCSI offers extensive, high-quality clinical training opportunities throughout our Medicine programme.

Students benefit from early and progressive clinical exposure, starting with clinical skills development and advancing to hands-on patient care. Training takes place across a wide network of teaching hospitals, primary care and community settings in Ireland, providing experience with diverse patient populations. We place strong emphasis on clinical skills, professionalism and patient-centred care, supported by state-of-the-art simulation facilities in Dublin.

This integrated approach ensures that students graduate with the clinical competence and confidence required for internship and postgraduate medical training.