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RCSI
HST Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Five-year RCSI specialty training programme (ST3-ST7) in oral and maxillofacial surgery, requiring both medical and dental degrees plus Core Surgical Training and the MRCS.
How the length works
Requires both medical and dental degrees; RCSI describes the full surgical pathway as seven years.
Duration: 5 years of specialty training (ST3-ST7); RCSI describes the surgical pathway as seven years (ST1-ST7) excluding the required dentistry degree
Competition: 2025 ST3 cycle (Specialty Progression Metrics 2017-2025, AD8706): 4 CST applicants tracked, 0 ESR; 2 appointed. 2024 cycle: 1 CST applied; 1 appointed. Cycles 2019-2023 recorded 0 OMFS appointments, including years with no intake.
Applications: Annual cycle per RCSI Specialty Training Intake Guide 2026: applications open October-November and close in November; academic paperwork deadline January; OSCE completion and academic scoring February; interviews March (2026 intake: week commencing 13 March 2026); posts allocated March-April for a July start. Applications for the July 2026 intake are closed.
Entry: After Core Surgical Training (ST1-ST2) + MRCS and a specialty interview. Applicants must hold both medical and dental degrees, with a dental qualification registrable with the Dental Council of Ireland at commencement of specialty training. Entry is via direct Pathway progression or the Equivalent Standards Route (ESR).
Exams: MRCS required for ST3 eligibility (completed during CST). Exit qualifications per RCSI: FRCS (OMFS) - Intercollegiate Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons - and the CCST from RCSI.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the only Irish surgical specialty requiring both medical and dental degrees; the dental qualification must be registrable with the Dental Council of Ireland at commencement of specialty training. The RCSI specialty programme runs five years (ST3-ST7) within a seven-year surgical pathway (ST1-ST7) that excludes the dentistry degree. Completion leads to the FRCS (OMFS) and the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training.
Entry is at ST3 after Core Surgical Training (ST1-ST2) and the MRCS, by direct progression or through the Equivalent Standards Route. Selection uses the ISPTC 1,000-mark progression score: a 600-mark CST record, a 40-mark academic score and a 360-mark five-station interview, with 60% minimums at shortlisting and interview. Intake is intermittent: RCSI's progression metrics record no appointments between 2019 and 2023, one in 2024 and two in 2025.
How selection is scored
Pre-interview shortlisting - CST scoresmax 600
Cumulative CAPA 1, 2, 3 scores (Trainer Assessment Reports + RCSI eLogbook) plus Operative Surgical Skills and Human Factors in Patient Safety OSCEs500
MRCS Part B score is added under a published weighting formula ((% above the 60% cut-off) x 4; weighting varies by exam sitting) to give the 600-mark CST total. Shortlisting score (CST 600 + academic 40) carries a 60% minimum.
Academic scoringmax 40
Higher degree by thesis (PhD 30, MD 26, MCh 20, submitted with verification 16)30
Other higher degrees/awards (taught modular MCh or relevant Masters 20, Higher Diploma 14, Diploma 10, Certificate 6)20
Publications (peer-reviewed papers 6-20; invited review up to 8; book chapters 4 each max 8; case reports 2 each max 4)30
Presentations at scientific meetings (international/national, 2 each)10
Prizes for research (international 10, national 6)10
Other approved education programmes/courses (5 each)10
Section maxima sum above 40; the academic component is capped at 40 marks (ISPTC Pathway scoring matrix, Specialty Training Intake Guide 2026).
Specialty interviewmax 360
Station 1 - Quality and safety in surgical healthcare80
Station 2 - Commitment to academic advancement and lifelong learning40
Station 3 - Knowledge of current issues relevant to surgical practice80
Station 4 - Decision making in surgery80
Station 5 - Professionalism and probity in surgical practice80
Each station is scored out of 100 by 2-3 panel members and pro-rated; a minimum of 60% of the interview total is required for appointment. Final progression score is out of 1000.
Equivalent Standards Route (ESR) variantmax 1000
CST or recognised equivalent record (logbook, MRCS, TARs, OSCEs)500
Out-of-programme experience (eLogbook 30 + Trainer Assessment Reports 35)65
Academic performance (thesis max 55; publications max 55; presentations 18; prizes 18; courses 10 - capped at 75)75
Interview (same five stations)360
Applies to ESR candidates instead of the Pathway split. The intake guide states the ESR academic matrix applies to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.
Where this leads
CCST from RCSI plus FRCS (OMFS). RCSI notes trainees may pursue additional two-year surgical fellowships in head and neck oncology with microvascular and cosmetic facial surgery, craniofacial and skull base/paediatric maxillofacial surgery, or cleft surgery.
Facts last verified 2026-07-27. Scheme details change year to year; always confirm against RCSI's current documentation.