Last Updated on December 14, 2022
Students looking to become physicians often ask a common question: is RCSI a good medical school? What makes us on the list of recommended medical schools for medical aspirants?
To anyone considering applying to RCSI (the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) as a medical student, the question that most people will ask is “Is RCSI good?” It’s undeniably one of the best medical schools in Ireland and one of the best in Europe. As such, you are going to come across a lot of opinions about whether it is any good or not but there is so much more to consider!
RCSI is a specialist health sciences university based in Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland, offering undergraduate and graduate entry degree programmes in Medicine, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy.
RCSI is ranked in the world’s Top 250 Universities by Times Higher Education (World University Rankings, 2022) and positioned as the #2 university globally in the Times Higher Impact Rankings (2021) for ‘Good Health and Wellbeing’.
Our city-centre campus is built to meet the needs of current and future students and is easily accessed via public transport. Explore the campus for yourself today through our virtual campus tours.
With more than 60 countries represented within the undergraduate student community and over 70% of undergraduate medicine places available to Non-EU students, RCSI is a truly international university. The RCSI alumni network consists of over 26,000 graduates located in 94 countries around the world.
To find out more about RCSI, check out this video and download our prospectus today.
Course Information
Duration: 5 years/6 years (inclusive of Foundation Year)
Award: MB, BCh, BAO (Hons) [equivalent to MBBS]
Intake: Annually (September)
During your early years studying Medicine at RCSI, you will obtain a solid grounding in the biomedical sciences via systems-based modules and you will learn about the body structure and functions in its normal state. You will study anatomy with expert surgeons and healthcare professionals through regional cadaveric dissection.
The intermediate years of the programme will focus on learning about abnormal bodily functions as well as a wide array of clinical skills workshops, small group tutorials and case-based teaching sessions. The final years of the programme are spent on clinical placement in a number of important clinical specialties, ranging from paediatrics and family medicine, to psychiatry and surgery and internal medicine.
Throughout your time at RCSI, you will have the opportunity to develop your clinical, communication and professional skills in a safe, simulated environment in Europe’s largest and most modern clinical simulation facility and by training in Ireland’s leading hospitals.
You will find a full programme overview here.
Entry Requirements: EU applicants apply to RCSI via www.cao.ie from 5 November each year and are required to sit the HPAT admissions exam. Non EU applicants apply directly to RCSI via www.rcsi.com/dublin (applications open on 1 November each year). Non EU applicants residing in North America apply via our educational agent partner, Atlantic Bridge.
Before starting your application, you should confirm whether you are an EU or Non EU applicant by consulting the information available here. Please note that post-Brexit, UK citizens will continue to be classed as EU applicants due to the Common Travel Area in place between Ireland and the UK.
Royal College Of Surgeons Edinburgh Ranking
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has been at the forefront of educating healthcare professionals since 1784. It began by being the home of surgical training for Ireland and now the college reflects the diversity of healthcare professions and focuses on improving healthcare training to yield improvements in patient outcomes.
Based in the heart of Dublin city center, with four overseas campuses, RCSI is dedicated to the development of healthcare leaders who make a difference worldwide. Students benefit from early contact with patients in a hospital setting and the College offers excellent support to students on their journey to becoming a healthcare professional with small class sizes, tutorials and one-to-one teaching. The college enjoys a vibrant combination of nationalities and cultures where students from around the world exchange ideas and learn from one another. More than 60 nationalities are represented on the RCSI student body and students enjoy the full ‘RCSI Experience’, which extends beyond the curriculum to a rich tapestry of student clubs and societies that equip them for a life of leadership and civic participation. RCSI graduates are part of a global healthcare network of more than 20,000 alumni, who are highly recognized and much sought after internationally.
RCSI Bahrain Acceptance Rate
Applicants will be selected for admission to the five or six-year entry point of the medicine programme on the basis of open competition using the following criteria:
- Basic eligibility, i.e. achievement of minimum academic and English language entry requirements.
- References and life experience, i.e. work / life balance, extracurricular activities, relevant work or voluntary experience, etc.
- Performance at a structured interview.
During the application process candidates will be asked to indicate if they agree to participate in an online non-academic attributes assessment. If a candidate agrees they may be invited to participate in a pilot evaluation of this assessment tool. Whether a candidate agrees to participate or not will not impact a candidates application. A candidates result in the non-academic attributes assessment will not impact their application as the assessment is not formally part of the admissions process for the medical programme this current year.
The following requirements are the minimum standards for consideration for entry into the undergraduate medicine programme for academic year 2021/2022. Please note that attainment of these grades does not guarantee acceptance to the programme and admission to any stage will be determined by the RCSI Bahrain Admissions Committee.
RCSI Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) – private nonprofit higher education institution in Bahrain. RCSI Bahrain began its work in the year 2004. The main building of the university proudly stands in Al Muharraq inside an urban campus. RCSI Medical University of Bahrain is a well known educational institution in Bahrain that firmly holds its position among the top 20 universities of the country.
Application process and the cost of tuition. The admission process has multiple requirements, the most important of which is the applicant’s previous academic performance. The majority of applicants who submitted their application to RCSI Bahrain successfully enroll, as the competition is 90 accepted students per 100 applicants. The academic year is traditionally divided into semesters. Obtaining a bachelor’s at RCSI Bahrain is anything but cheap with tuition fees of 20,000 USD per year. Doing your master’s studies at RCSI Bahrain is not cheap – a year of studies will cost you 20,000 USD. With that in mind the university provides remarkable students with scholarships and grants. For more information you can visit the official website of the university http://www.rcsi-mub.com.
The composition of the university. RCSI Medical University of Bahrain is relatively small, teaching about 2000 students on average. The university accepts both local and foreign students. The Approximate number of specialists teaching at RCSI Bahrain is 199. A variety of international student exchange programs are available at RCSI Bahrain
Rcsi Bahrain Ranking
The University’s leading position globally in this category reflects RCSI’s singular focus on improving human health, for the benefit of patients and communities across the globe.
The Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings recognise universities around the world for their social and economic impact based on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). For its contribution to the UNSDG 3, ‘Good Health and Well-being’, RCSI was ranked number one of more than 600 global universities assessed by Times Higher Education.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI Chief Executive/Registrar said: “Our singular focus at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is to improve human health worldwide, through undergraduate and postgraduate training, medical research, industry partnerships and community outreach.
“As our staff and students face the challenges of working and training in support of the health service during the COVID-19 pandemic, today’s recognition of our contribution to health and well-being is particularly meaningful for the RCSI community at this critical time for global health.
“Their contributions as expert health advisors, clinicians and volunteers on the frontline, and continued dedication to their studies in health sciences in challenging circumstances, exemplifies our commitment to health and well-being. Today more than 300 of our final year medicine students will receive their final year results enabling them to work on the frontline here in Ireland and in their 32 home countries worldwide.
“The COVID-19 crisis underscores the truly international nature of medicine, where diversity is embraced and where health care professionals cross boundaries to support our communities, all over the world.
“This ranking is a fitting recognition of the ongoing work of our staff and students to improve health and well-being in the community. Locally we achieve this through educational events and collaboration with the Irish health services. We strive to improve health in the global community through our international campuses and our unique programmes such as our partnership with COSECSA, a collaboration that trains doctors and surgeons in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Ultimately, we are proud of the efforts made by so many in our community that has a direct and immediate improvement to the health of those across the globe.”
Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer at THE, commented: “We believe that universities are our greatest hope of solving some of the world’s biggest challenges, and THE’s Impact Rankings bring this to light like never before. Unlike many traditional rankings, participation is just as important as overall position, with institutions actively demonstrating how seriously they take their role in achieving a sustainable world. The results reveal how many are putting this at the heart of their missions.”
Impact Rankings highlights
Overall, RCSI performed exceptionally well in an area which reflects our mission and primary focus – Good Health and Well-being” We submitted data for six of 17 goals with an overall rank of 101-200, out of more than 800 participating universities worldwide. Our results are a positive reflection on our health and translational research, the number of healthcare professionals graduating at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and our national and international relationships and collaborations across the health services.
Our result in UNSDG8, Decent Work and Economic Growth ranked 62nd out of 479 universities, represents our positive employment practices and commitment to student experiential learning and work placements, including clinical and research electives globally.
Rcsi University Of Medicine And Health Sciences
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is an innovative, world leading university, dedicated to education, training and research in medicine and health sciences. The home of Ireland’s largest medical school and the largest ksimulation facility in Europe.
Founded in 1784, to set and support professional standards for surgical training and practice in Ireland, our university has six schools offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and professional qualifications aligned to Ireland’s national framework of qualifications. We are home to numerous healthcare institutes as well as leading research centres, driving pioneering breakthroughs in human health. Located in the heart of Dublin, with four international campuses and a student community of over sixty nationalities, we have an international perspective on how we train tomorrow’s clinical professionals today.
RCSI is ranked #1 in the World for goal 3 “Good Health & Wellbeing” by the Times Higher Impact Ranking (2020). We continually invest and commit to ensuring our education and research responds to the needs of society and is focused on improving the lives of people and communities around the world.
A deep professional responsibility to enhance human health through endeavour, innovation and collaboration in education, research and service informs all that we do. We welcome students and researchers into programmes of academic excellence and a lifelong community of colleagues, that is clinically led, nurturing and supportive to enable them to realise their potential to serve our global patient community.
We are an independent, not-for-profit body and remain committed to institutional independence, service, academic freedom, diversity and humanitarian concern. Our independence enables us to chart our own course in service of excellence in human health. Placing the patient at the centre of all that we do, our values of Respect, Collaboration, Scholarship and Innovation continue to unite and direct our purpose.
RCSI degrees are accredited via our compliance with the national qualifications agency Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) as well as professional regulators across each discipline.
Research and innovation
RCSI is home to numerous healthcare research collaborations and centres with leading research minds driving pioneering breakthroughs in human health.
Our research is focused on improving human health through translational research: clinical, laboratory-based and health service research informed by bedside problems and societal and global health challenges. It is focused on innovative research that leads to improved diagnostics, therapeutics and devices; tackles important healthcare delivery issues; informs policy and clinical practice and enhances the quality of education of healthcare professionals.
As an exclusively health sciences-focused education and research institution with strong links to acute hospitals and other institutions that reflect the wide diversity of healthcare facilities and needs, RCSI is uniquely placed to develop and enhance research for the benefit of patients and to improve human health. Our strategic research themes include:
- Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine
- Cancer
- Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
- Population Health and Health Services
- Surgical Science & Practice
- Vascular Biology
During the period 2014 – 2018 RCSI affiliated researchers collaborated with over 2,100 international academic and industry institutions producing over 2,900 co-authored publications. As an institution, our field-weighted citation impact is twice the world average and scores in the top decile internationally in Times Higher Education World University Ranking (2020).
Students attending RCSI experience a city campus which exudes diversity and a unique intercultural atmosphere.
RCSI is a truly unique international education institution with an impact reaching far beyond the old front doors of our headquarters at 123 St. Stephens Green. Our staff, students and researchers strive to fulfil our mission ‘to educate nurture and discover for the benefit of human health’. Our RCSI Discover newsletter and blog keeps our national and international education and research partners, collaborators and peers informed and features innovative research, scientific and translational breakthroughs.
