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College of Psychiatrists of Ireland
Psychiatry Training
Four-year psychiatry BST through the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, followed by higher training.
Duration: ~4 years BST: a Foundation Year + 3 further years, as eight 6-month attachments; HST (~3y) follows separately
Annual intake: 80 places (annually since 2022; 75 in 2021, 63 in 2020)
Competition: July 2025: 303 applicants for 80 places (~3.8 per place; 163 shortlisted, 159 interviewed). Applications have risen steeply: 122 (2023) → 192 (2024) → 303 (2025)
Applications: July 2027 intake: applications open 9 October 2026 and close 1 December 2026 at 5:00pm (CPsychI announcement, August 2026); Zoom interviews late January; first offers mid-February
Entry: After intern year
Exams: MRCPsych during BST (Papers A & B, then clinical); membership scores shortlisting points
Psychiatry BST comprises a foundation year and three further years across eight six-month attachments. Trainees complete the required written and clinical membership examinations before higher training.
Applications and scoring
Applications rose from 122 in 2023 to 192 in 2024 and 303 in 2025, against 80 places each year. The published shortlisting matrix awards 4 points for an Irish internship, points for each six months of psychiatry SHO experience, and points for Paper A.
Training location
BST is organised through deaneries. Check the placements and on-call arrangements within your preferred region before applying.
How selection is scored
Shortlistingmax 44
Understanding of the Irish health system10
Clinical experience in physical health6
The interview has three domains, each marked out of 100 with a minimum pass of 40: motivation and understanding of psychiatry, clinical and diagnostic skills, and communication and team skills. An Irish internship alone is worth 4 shortlisting points.
Where you train
Nine university-linked deaneries covering the country: University of Limerick (Mid-West); University of Galway/RCSI (Midlands/North/North-West); UCD Mater; UCD St Vincent's (Dublin South, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford); two TCD Dublin deaneries; UCC (Cork/Kerry); RCSI (North Dublin/Drogheda); University of Galway (West). You rank deaneries at application and are allocated by interview rank against per-deanery places. The Foundation Year is typically two general-adult posts in one centre, with later rotations across at least two centres in the deanery.
Facts last verified 2026-07-13. Scheme details change year to year; always confirm against College of Psychiatrists of Ireland's current documentation.