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RCPI
BST General Internal Medicine
Medical SHO training and MRCPI examinations, followed by applications to the medical HST specialties.
Duration: 2 years SHO (3-month rotations); becomes 3-year Core Internal Medicine Training from 2027 (subject to approval)
Annual intake: 287 posts filled, July 2024 intake
Competition: July 2024: 866 applicants, 679 interviewed, 287 posts (~3 applicants per place), 289 reserve-listed
Applications: 7 September to 9 October 2026 (RCPI window, shared across BST schemes); interviews Jan to Feb, July start
Entry: After intern year
Exams: MRCPI Part I (and usually Part II) during BST
BST in General Internal Medicine combines medical SHO rotations with MRCPI examinations. Entry to a medical HST specialty is a separate selection process.
Preparing for HST
HST programmes score clinical experience, exams, audits, publications and presentations. Check the criteria for your preferred specialty early enough to plan relevant work during BST.
Proposed 2027 changes
RCPI has signalled a move to three-year Core Internal Medicine Training from 2027, with two SHO years and a registrar year, subject to approval. Confirm the structure for your intake before applying.
Research training
The ICAT programme integrates a funded PhD with specialist training.
How selection is scored
Application scoringmax 35
Medical degree within the previous 3 years (within 4 years: 5; 5 years or more: 1)10
Academic achievement by ranking band — top 10 per cent, first decile, above the 90th centile, GPA 3.7/4.0 or higher, or first class honours: base 12 (top 25 per cent: 8; top 50 per cent or UK/Ireland 2.2: 4; below top 50 per cent or no official evidence: 2)15
Structured foundational clinical training completed 2024 to 2027 (2023: 2; 2022 or earlier: 1)3
Irish health system experience of 12 months or more, internship or service (under 12 months: 0)5
Publications: first-author peer-reviewed publication (co-author publication or an oral presentation at a national or international meeting: 1)2
Academic base marks (12/8/4/2 by ranking band) are multiplied by 1.25 where the medical school is in the QS top 500, to a category maximum of 15. Source: RCPI Intern Open Day, August 2026.
Interviewmax 65
Professionalism question9
Overall interview performance15
Distinction and achievement5
Source: RCPI Intern Open Day, August 2026.
Shortlisting also requires a demonstrated understanding of general internal medicine.
Where you train
Nine training hubs: Mid-West, Galway, Mater Misericordiae, Mayo/Sligo, St James's-Tallaght, Beaumont-Connolly, St Vincent's, South East and South. You rank your preferred rotations from the full list and an electronic match combines your ranking with your interview score; your entire two-year rotation is confirmed at the point of offer. The programme requires at least 12 months of acute unselected take, six months outside the main metropolitan area, and both Level 4 and Level 2/3 hospitals.
Facts last verified 2026-07-13. Scheme details change year to year; always confirm against RCPI's current documentation.