Frequently asked questions

The organisation of the Alumni Gathering is of utmost importance to the RCSI Alumni Gathering and Giving Team and the Association of Medical and Dental Graduates.

Throughout the planning and organisation, we remain mindful of the potentially disruptive impact of COVID-19 and the evolving nature of variants.

We are hopeful that we will be able to deliver the overall programme without disappointment as a result of unforeseen developments, but we reserve the right to amend the event format and programme at a later date in light of public health regulations or recommendations.

The Alumni Gathering will take place from 15-17 August 2024.

The Gathering is for alumni from the School of Medicine and Faculty of Dentistry who graduated in the following class years: 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019.

If you are travelling from a country that requires you to have a visa, please email gathering@rcsi.ie and request a visa invitation letter.

Please include your full name as noted on your passport, as well as the full name(s) of any accompanying guests.

You can contact us by emailing gathering@rcsi.ie or by calling the Alumni Office on +353 1 402 2523.

Spouses or partners of alumni are very welcome to attend the Alumni Gathering. Please ensure that you register their details and purchase a ticket for them.

Young children are welcome to attend any of the marked family-friendly events for free. However, we cannot permit children to attend the adult-only aspects of the Gathering, including: the Welcome Reception, Scientific Meeting and Gala Dinner.

We are delighted to advise that we have an optimum capacity of 500 attendees – this includes alumni and guests.

Please email us at gathering@rcsi.ie to advise us of the requirements of any guests with a disability and we will respond promptly.

There will be photographers onsite at the event. Photographs may be used on our social channels, in our Alumni eNews, Alumni Magazine and any other material we see fit. If you would not like your photograph used, please email gathering@rcsi.ie.

The Alumni Gathering Team will assist to organise class dinners on a class-by-class basis subject to request and/or demand from the class. The organisation of class dinners will happen once registration is closed (May 2024) and exact attendance figures are known. At this point, the Alumni Gathering Team will ask the class representative/s to advise if a dinner is something the class is interested in.

Class dinners will take place on Friday, 16 August. The cost of the class dinner is not included in the overall registration cost. A class may decide to organise a dinner without the assistance of the Alumni team.

The Gala Dinner will take place in the Mansion House on Dawson Street on Saturday, 17 August. At the Gala Dinner, alumni and guests will be sat at tables assigned to their class year but there will be free seating at the assigned tables.

You will be asked when registering if you have any special dietary requirements. At all events, we will always have both halal and vegetarian options available. If you have a severe food allergy or you wish to discuss your requirements, please contact us on +353 1 402 2523 or email gathering@rcsi.ie.

Further information regarding tours will be provided after registration closes in May 2024.

Please email travel@rcsi.ie or call +353 1 402 2343 and inform us that you are travelling for the Alumni Gathering. You will be providing with a list of hotels and some discounted rates.

All hotel bookings must be made through RCSI Travel in order to avail of the discounted hotel rates.

No. Unfortunately, we do not have any student accommodation available.

Registration costs will vary depending on which elements of the programme you would like to attend. Ticket prices per person are detailed below:

• Jubilee Celebration, for Classes of 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969 & 1974 only (includes drinks reception, ceremony and light lunch with wine, tea and coffee): €0
• Welcome Reception (includes drinks reception with finger food): €0
• Scientific Meeting (includes refreshments throughout the day and hot buffet lunch): €25
• Golf (includes tea/coffee, 18 holes, light lunch and transport from RCSI if needed): €80
• Gala Dinner (includes drinks reception, three-course meal with wine, dancing and a late bar): €125

You can register your attendance online here.

The first page will ask for your contact details, from the second page onwards it will list all the Alumni Gathering events; simply choose the events you wish to attend.

The third and final page requests your payment information – payment can be made by credit card or Visa, but we cannot accept payment by American Express.

As soon as you have inputted your payment information, please press the 'OK' button just once. Within a few seconds, a confirmation page will appear, and you will also receive a confirmation email.

Please firstly check your email junk/spam folder. If you cannot see a confirmation email in your inbox or email junk/spam folder, please contact us on +353 1 402 2523 or email gathering@rcsi.ie.

If you can no longer attend the RCSI Alumni Gathering, please email gathering@rcsi.ie to request a refund.

Refunds can take up to 14 working days to process.

Please note: Should you request a refund prior to 31 July 2024, a full refund will issue. Refunds after this point are at the discretion of RCSI.

Please contact our Gathering and Giving team on +353 1 402 2523 or email gathering@rcsi.ie.

Please note: Our online booking system does not accept American Express.

We warmly welcome everyone from the reunion years to attend the Alumni Gathering, and will be promoting the reunion event via our website, dedicated emails, the Alumni eNews and our social channels in the coming weeks and months. 

If you would like to know whether any of your classmates have registered, please email gathering@rcsi.ie and we can share the list of registered alumni with you. We also encourage you to reach out to any classmates who might not know about the reunion, to help spread the word and ensure that this year’s Gathering is the best yet.

Due to GDPR we cannot share alumni contact details without permission, but if you are looking to get in contact with a classmate please send us an email on gathering@rcsi.ie and we will do our best to forward to the classmate who you want to get in touch with.

There are a number of ways you can help in the organisation and promotion of the Gathering. Firstly, we encourage all alumni to reach out to any classmates who might not know about the reunion and spread the word via your own networks.

You might also like to step forward and take on the duties of class rep, whose primary role is to connect with as many classmates as possible to encourage attendance at the reunion and circulate information about the Gathering and Giving programme. Class reps are supported by the Alumni Gathering and Giving Team, who will provide regular updates by phone and email on various aspects of the reunion including timelines, event structure and opportunities for alumni to give back and support student programmes. If you would like to become a class rep, please email gathering@rcsi.ie.

Gathering and Giving is a tradition that started back in 2015 when classes first united to raise funds in support of students at RCSI. Every five years, alumni come together as a class to raise funds for their Class Gift, which is directly donated to support students in financial need through RCSI Student Programmes.

100% of all funds raised contribute to your Class Gift, which is donated directly to support students in financial need through RCSI Student Programmes, including Scholarships, Clinical Electives placements, Research Summer School grants and the Student Hardship Fund.

Here is more information about each vital programme:

Scholarships
Our scholarship programme helps talented students from all over the world study at RCSI. Our aim is to support the most passionate students who would benefit from financial assistance throughout their studies. The programme is widely supported by alumni who champion RCSI’s motto: Consilio Manuque (meaning scholarship and dexterity) and embrace these values long after they leave 123 St Stephen’s Green. The life-changing effects of a scholarship cannot be overestimated. Thanks to the ongoing generosity of alumni, a new group of young people have the opportunity to attend RCSI each year, taking important steps to fulfil their dream of becoming healthcare professionals. 

Clinical Elective Grants
Clinical Electives are an essential part of a student’s medical training – a critical step on a student’s path to becoming exceptional healthcare leaders capable of making a global impact on patients' lives. To enhance their prospects of securing top internships and residencies post-graduation, engaging in Clinical Elective experiences sets highly motivated students apart, increasing their competitiveness. Universally, students report that their experiences contribute to their development as better doctors, by enhancing their skills, equipping them to optimise resources and fostering greater empathy toward their patients. As the cost of elective placements rises, an increasing number of students are actively seeking financial support. 

Student Hardship Fund
The Student Hardship Fund acts as a vital support to our students, who through no fault of their own find themselves in financial difficulty. In light of the unprecedented challenges faced by current students, there is a growing number seeking financial assistance. This fund serves as a lifeline for these students, empowering them to persevere with their studies.  

Research Summer School Grant
Our Research Summer School programme helps to ignite scientific enthusiasm amongst the next generation of clinical scientists and healthcare leaders. It is a unique initiative that encourages more than 120 undergraduate students to participate in research projects, lectures and workshops each summer. This gives students the opportunity to gain practical laboratory and clinical experience under a Principal Investigator's supervision. The Research Summer School eight-week placements are very competitive and grant funding is currently only available for 10% of applicants.

To learn more about how these programmes help transform students’ lives, see here.  

There is no obligation to make a gift. Many of our alumni see class giving as a way of giving back and paving the way for students who make be struggling or may not have the same opportunities as others, and that is why they choose to get involved.

There are many ways to support your Class Gift. You can give your gift online here. You can donate by post by filling in a donation form sent to you from your Class Rep or download the relevant form here and post the form to us at: RCSI Development, Alumni Relations, Fellows and Members, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. 

Alternatively, you can contact our Development Team directly by email at alumnioffice@rcsi.com or telephoning +353 1 402 2729, and a member of our team will assist you.

There are many tax benefits available to our alumni depending on your region. Contact us by email and we can advise you based on your location.

Yes, of course, Dedicated members of the Development Team are on hand to speak to you.

Simply email us at alumnioffice@rcsi.com your contact details along with a short summary and we'll be in touch.