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RCPI (Institute of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists)
Obstetrics & Gynaecology Training
Three-year BST in obstetrics and gynaecology, followed by competitive entry to HST through RCPI.
Duration: 3 years: 2 SHO years + 1 Junior Registrar year
Annual intake: 29 first-year trainees, July 2024 cohort (77 across all three years)
Competition: Applicants-per-place not published; RCPI states applications considerably outweigh places across BST
Applications: 7 September to 9 October 2026 (RCPI window, shared across BST schemes); July start
Entry: After intern year
Exams: MRCPI (Obs & Gyn) during training, plus basic practical skills course, Certificate in Basic Ultrasound, and an obstetric emergency course (PROMPT/ALSO/MOET)
BST in obstetrics and gynaecology covers labour-ward care, operative obstetrics and gynaecological surgery. It lasts three years, with the final year at junior registrar level.
Entry and selection
The programme has around 29 places a year across five hubs. Completing internship within the previous two years scores 10 of 50 shortlisting marks in the published matrix. Check the criteria for your application year.
Exams and courses
Plan for MRCPI in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and three required courses: basic practical skills, an ultrasound certificate and an obstetric emergency course such as PROMPT, ALSO or MOET.
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.
The two-year internship recency rule favours applying early rather than after several SHO years.
Where you train
Five training hubs, each pairing a major maternity hospital with regional units: Rotunda (Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda, Beaumont, Cavan); National Maternity Hospital (St Luke's Kilkenny, Wexford, Mater); Coombe (St James's, Mullingar, Tallaght, Portlaoise); Cork University Maternity Hospital (Tralee, Waterford, Limerick); Galway/Limerick (Letterkenny, Mayo, Portiuncula, Sligo). Allocation is by electronic match on ranking plus interview score.
Facts last verified 2026-07-13. Scheme details change year to year; always confirm against RCPI (Institute of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists)'s current documentation.