Undergraduate

Applicants to RCSI Undergraduate programmes are categorised as either EU or non-EU for entry requirements and fee purposes, based on specific criteria. The main application channel for school leavers from Ireland and the rest of the EU is the Central Applications Office (CAO).

International (non-EU) applicants apply directly via the RCSI website or through our partners, Atlantic Bridge, if resident in Canada or the United States at the time of application.

Entry requirements and application processes for Undergraduate programmes at RCSI vary depending on your course of interest, whether you are an EU or non-EU student, and whether you are applying as a school leaver, graduate or mature entry student.

Applicants must meet minimum academic criteria as well as English language proficiency requirements if your first language is not English.

More detailed information on entry requirements for each programme is available at each of the following: Advanced Therapeutics, Dentistry, Graduate Entry Medicine, Medicine, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy.

EU versus non-EU status is determined by two main criteria:

A. Nationality or immigration status

• You may qualify for EU fee status if you are:
  • An EU, EEA, Swiss or UK citizen (UK included under the Common Travel Area post-Brexit)
  • A person with refugee, subsidiary protection or humanitarian status
  • Certain family members of EU citizens or refugees with appropriate Irish immigration permission
  • Holding an EU, EEA or UK passport does not automatically grant EU fee status.

B. Residency (the '3 out of 5 years' rule)

• You must usually have been ordinarily resident in the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland for at least three of the five years immediately before the start of your course.

Ordinary residence means living there lawfully and full time, not short visits or holidays. For applicants under 23, residency is normally assessed using parents’ residence, not the student’s own.

Further details regarding EU or non-EU status are available on this page.

The duration of your studies at RCSI depends on your chosen course and your academic background.

The Medicine programme is available as a four-year, five-year or six-year degree. Dentistry takes five years to complete, as does the MPharm programme. Bachelor of Science degrees in Advanced Therapeutics, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy are each four years in duration. Graduate entry options are available for some courses.

Yes, international students can apply to study at RCSI.

Undergraduate applicants are categorised as either EU or non-EU for entry requirements and fee purposes, based on specific criteria. International (non-EU) applicants can apply directly via the RCSI website or through our partner Atlantic Bridge if resident in Canada or the United States at the time of application.

RCSI’s Undergraduate programmes are academically recognised qualifications awarded by the National University of Ireland (NUI) and aligned with the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Professional recognition and registration outside Ireland are determined by the relevant regulatory authorities in each country and may involve additional requirements, such as examinations or supervised practice.

RCSI graduates are highly sought after by leading international employers and join a global alumni network of more than 35,000 healthcare professionals and scientists working in over 100 countries.

Graduates of RCSI’s Undergraduate programmes may apply to practise abroad, subject to meeting the professional registration and regulatory requirements of the country in which they wish to work.

RCSI programmes equip students with strong clinical and scientific foundations, professionalism and a global outlook, supporting graduates who wish to pursue a career or further training or education internationally.

Graduates of our Medicine programmes frequently secure residencies and achieve high match rates in the US, the UK and other countries, with the support from RCSI in preparing for residency, foundation programme applications and licensing examinations.

Undergraduate teaching at RCSI is delivered through English. All applicants must demonstrate a high level of English language competence. Applicants whose first language is not English must present a minimum overall average IELTS score of 6.5, with no individual band (reading, writing, listening and speaking) lower than 6.0, taken in a single sitting. IELTS certificates must be less than two years old at the time of admission. Equivalent scores in TOEFL are also accepted.

Applicants who have completed programmes delivered entirely through English, such as the International Baccalaureate or A Levels, are not required to supply an IELTS certificate as part of their initial application.

Applicants presenting A Levels must hold a GCSE English grade 4/C or above to meet RCSI’s English language requirement.

RCSI’s Centre for Mastery: Personal, Professional and Academic Success (CoMPPAS) provides integrated support for all students through three key pillars: student welfare, learning enhancement and career development.

CoMPPAS offers confidential one-to-one counselling, academic skills training and career guidance, including tailored supports for clinical rotations, delivered by a dedicated team of education, career and welfare professionals. Our Career Design Centre offers a tailored programme for each student to support every stage of your career, from the moment you become a student up to three years post-qualification.