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RCPI (Faculty of Paediatrics)
BST Paediatrics
Basic Specialist Training in paediatrics, entered separately from adult medical training.
Duration: 2 years SHO (3 to 6 month rotations): ≥6 months general paediatrics, ≥6 months neonatology
Annual intake: 53 first-year trainees commenced July 2025 (108 enrolled across both years)
Competition: July 2025 intake: 352 applications, 144 interviewed, 68 deemed appointable, 53 commenced (~6.6 applications per place taken up)
Applications: 7 September to 9 October 2026 (RCPI window, shared across BST schemes); shortlisting Dec to Jan, interviews February, July start
Entry: After intern year
Exams: MRCPI (Paediatrics) during BST
Paediatrics has a separate BST programme that accepts applications from interns.
Selection
The published figures record 352 applications, 144 interviews, 68 appointable candidates and 53 places. Clinical and professionalism stations account for 64 of the interview's 100 marks.
Application scoring
A first-author international paper scores 3 points and an international presentation 2 points, together half the publications maximum. The shortlisting criteria also score academic centile and relevant paediatric or neonatal experience. Use the published matrix to assess your application.
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.
Academic record is scored by class centile: top 10% = 6 points, next 20% = 4, next 40% = 3, next 20% = 2, lowest 10% = 1.
Where you train
RCPI does not publish a fixed site list. You rank preferences from the full rotation list and are allocated by electronic match on ranking plus interview score, receiving the full two-year rotation at offer. The 108 current trainees are spread across paediatric units nationally, with rotations covering general paediatrics, neonatology and community/subspecialty exposure.
Facts last verified 2026-07-13. Scheme details change year to year; always confirm against RCPI (Faculty of Paediatrics)'s current documentation.