Student life

Student life at RCSI continues to thrive, with a vibrant and diverse community engaging in academic, cultural and extracurricular activities. From orientation through to graduation, the Student Services Office plays a central role in supporting and enriching the student experience.

This year, we welcomed 688 new Undergraduate students through our engaging orientation programme, providing a holistic introduction to life at RCSI.

Societies

RCSI has more than 50 societies which are at the heart of student life, offering opportunities to explore new interests, develop existing skills and connect with like-minded peers.

Highlights from the year include the 11th Presidential Inauguration of the Surgical Society, with Professor Jarlath Bolger welcomed as President. RCSI students also achieved success in the Intercollegiate Surgical Skills and Case Competitions.

The Biological Society hosted its 92nd Annual Inaugural Address on ‘Caring Through the Ages’ featuring talks on fetal medicine, child mental health and stroke care.

The Drama Society staged a November performance of Arcadia followed by a two-night run of Grease in March, raising funds for Floating Doctors and entertaining more than 500 attendees. The Choral Society won first place in the Choir’s Choice Open category at the All-Ireland Choral Intervarsities. Dance Soc’s 53-member team also won big at the Annual Dance Intervarsities, taking home awards for Best Choreography and Best Individual Performance.

A dancer, dressed in red trousers and a white top jumps in the air.

Major society-organised events such as the Chocolate Ball, Arabian Nights and Pharmacy Ball continued to be standout occasions. The Caribbean and African Society’s Chocolate Ball, wowed with fashion, food and performance, the Middle Eastern Student Association’s Arabian Nights joyously celebrated Middle Eastern culture and Pharmacy Ball was an underwater-themed spectacle for over 300 attendees.

The Gourmet Society’s Food Night, where students showcased and shared home-cooked meals as part of a lavish food bazaar, was among the highlights of Cultural Diversity Month in March.

Volunteering remained central to student life through initiatives including fundraisers and outreach programmes. The 11th annual Teddy Bear Hospital welcomed 600 children and raised more than €5,000 for Make-A-Wish Ireland, engaging 300 student volunteers across 15 interactive learning stations.

At the national Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) Awards, RCSI societies were recognised with Best New Society (ATT) and Best Departmental Society (Paediatric Society) in the Small College category.

An RCSI Medicine student sits with a young boy and his teddy bears on a stairs

Sports

With 36 clubs, physical activity and team spirit are integral to student life at RCSI. The year opened with a busy clubs and societies sign-up day, showcasing the breadth of opportunities on offer.

There were many sports highlights this year. The Squash Team won the Intervarsities A Division and the Swim Team reached ten finals at Intervarsities. The Polo Team competed in the SUPA Winter Nationals, while the Hurling Team made it to the All-Ireland semi-final, a milestone in their development.

The Rugby Club continued its long-standing exchange with the Sorbonne, hosting the French Ladies Team for the first time and delivering exciting matchups across men’s, women’s and alumni teams. The weekend included the presentation of the Professor Alan Johnson Trophy. The Men’s Rugby Team also won the Metro League final at Energia Park this year.

Three members of the RCSI Women’s Basketball team jump for a ball

Other highlights included Archery securing the barebow female national title, the Men’s Soccer Team reaching the Duggan Cup final, the Golf Club’s tour of Scotland and the annual Surf Club trip to Bundoran bringing together beginners and seasoned surfers.

Nine RCSI students completed the Boston Marathon, continuing a 26-year tradition. Calum Fenton was awarded the John V Coyle Perpetual Trophy as RCSI’s fastest runner.

The Moira O’Brien Sports Scholarships and Sports Bursaries were awarded to students in Taekwondo, Handball, GAA and Rowing.

RCSI Gym

The RCSI Gym saw over 62,000 visits in the academic year. The Gym Team introduced a number of new initiatives, services and group fitness classes to facilitate increased social connection and engagement.

Student leadership and community

The Undergraduate Students’ Union, under the leadership of Avinash Nazareth, hosted a wide range of activities, including the much-loved Winter Wonderland and a vibrant Cultural Diversity Month, which featured booths, social events, the Womxn’s Wellness Symposium and a Futsal World Cup. International Night was among the highlights, transforming the O’Reilly Theatre with dance, music, storytelling and spoken word performances, celebrating RCSI’s global community.

The annual College Ball adopted a Regency theme with candlelit dining, ballroom dancing and the Student Choice Awards.

Learning communities hosted a range of informal social events such as movie nights, games nights and quizzes, helping to foster connection and community across the student body.

Finally, this year saw 90 students complete the RCSI Student Leadership Development Programme. Now in its 5th year, the programme continues to grow in popularity.