School of Postgraduate Studies

Report by Professor Darran O’Connor, Head of School of Postgraduate Studies

The School of Postgraduate Studies aims to be a leading centre for postgraduate education and research in healthcare and health sciences. Our main strategic objectives are to oversee the quality of all higher degrees, provide a transformative learning experience, and grow postgraduate research scholar numbers.

The highlight of the School of Postgraduate Studies’ calendar is always the conferring ceremonies. Since 1 July 2024, we have graduated 70 scholars with higher degrees by research (50 PhD, 14 MD and six MSc). We have also registered 136 new scholars for higher degrees by research (80 PhD, 37 MD, 13 DProf, one MCh and five MSc). This represents the third year in a row where more than 100 level ten scholars were recruited, demonstrating the continued growth of the School.

Thanks to our ongoing collaborations with Soochow University, Fulbright, Qatar University and Sorbonne Université, we currently have 51 RCSI StAR PhDs registered. Alongside these, in partnership with the Beacon Hospital, Blackrock Health, Bon Secours, Mater Private Network, Highfield Healthcare, UPMC Ireland and St Vincent’s Private Hospital, we currently have 55 RCSI StAR MD scholars.

In international partnerships, a new Joint PhD Programme in Precision and Regenerative Medicine was developed in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh and approved, with the first cohort of ten scholars recruited and due to commence in September 2025. A new agreement with the University of Jordan (UoJ) was also signed in December 2024 to facilitate joint PhD training with the UoJ School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy.

A Co-tutelle agreement with Sorbonne Université in Paris was signed and the first two PhD scholars under this joint agreement were recruited and commenced their research programmes in April 2025. Finally, 19 MSc by Research scholars started a dual programme in September 2024 between RCSI and Soochow University at the new International College of Pharmaceutical Innovation in Suzhou.

We were again delighted to support our secondment award winners in undertaking their placements. Scholars will travel to Harvard University/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Mayo Clinic, Boston College, King’s College London, University of Melbourne, among others.

Finally, the School funded one StEP project this year focused on establishing a pilot ‘buddy system’ for incoming research scholars.