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RCPI
HST Endocrinology & Diabetes
A five-year RCPI dual-certification SpR programme in Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus and General Internal Medicine with a mandatory European Board or UK SCE examination in year 3 or 4.
Duration: 5 years (SpR1-SpR5): four clinical years plus one year that may be full-time research; dual CSCST with General Internal Medicine
Annual intake: 12 HST Year 1 trainees in 2024/2025 (44 endocrinology SpRs across all years) - HSE NDTP Medical Workforce Report 2024-2025, Table 7
Applications: 2026 intake: applications opened 1 October 2025 and closed 29 October 2025 (application fee EUR 100). Next application cycle opens October 2026. Interview (2026): 5 February 2026.
Entry: After BST in General Internal Medicine (or approved equivalent) + MRCPI in General Medicine. The MRCPI Clinical Examination relevant to the specialty must be passed before the HST interview. IMC registration eligibility, English language competency and eligibility to work in Ireland required at application.
Exams: Mandatory (2025 curriculum): all trainees must sit either the European Board Examination in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism or the UK Specialty Certificate Exam in Endocrinology and Diabetes at Year 3 or 4 of HST.
HST Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus is a five-year RCPI Institute of Medicine programme (four clinical years, one of which may be replaced by full-time research) leading to dual CSCST in Endocrinology & Diabetes Mellitus and General Internal Medicine. The 2025 curriculum makes it mandatory to sit either the European Board Examination in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism or the UK Specialty Certificate Exam during year 3 or 4.
Entry requires BST in General Internal Medicine (or equivalent) and MRCPI in General Medicine, with the clinical examination passed before interview. The shortlisting matrix is unusual in allocating 9 of 20 marks to clinical practice; the interview is scored out of 100 across four equally weighted domains. Twelve trainees entered year 1 in 2024/2025.
How selection is scored
Shortlistingmax 20
Professional qualifications/education/achievements2
Publication & audit experience4
Leadership & management experience2.5
Endocrinology weights clinical practice (9/20) far more heavily than other RCPI schemes.
Interviewmax 100
CV (qualifications, achievements)25
Interview performance and professionalism25
Where you train
Named hospital lists are not published per specialty; SpRs rotate through RCPI-approved training sites nationally in preapproved 6- or 12-month posts. At least one clinical year must be completed in a training site outside the Dublin area; a maximum of two clinical years may be spent in the same site.
Where this leads
Award of CSCST (dual certification in Endocrinology & Diabetes Mellitus and General Internal Medicine) confers eligibility for entry on the Specialist Division of the IMC register and for consultant posts. Documented post-CSCST routes: the RCPI/HSE register of approved Post-CSCST Fellowship posts and HSE NDTP Aspire Fellowships, open to doctors within two years of CSCST.
Facts last verified 2026-07-27. Scheme details change year to year; always confirm against RCPI's current documentation.