RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

RCSI, Your University
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is a really unique institution. Founded in 1784 as the national provider of surgical training in Ireland, we have evolved in the years since to become one of the world’s leading health sciences universities, with a global reach and operations in Ireland, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Our students learn in a truly immersive environment where teaching, research, public policy and outreach activities focus singularly on building multi-disciplinary excellence in healthcare.

We are Ireland's only specialist health sciences university and the only Surgical Royal College in the world to offer undergraduate and graduate entry programmes in the disciplines of Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Advanced Therapeutic Technologies.

This makes RCSI globally distinctive in combining the deep clinical and health systems insights of a national professional body with the educational and research expertise of a world-leading health sciences university.

RCSI is ranked #1 in the world by Times Higher Education for our contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Number 3 'Good Health and Well-being'. This reflects our commitment to supporting people of all ages to live healthy lives and our work to promote the concepts of well-being and positive health.

RCSI is one of only a few prestigious medical schools to be recognised by the ASPIRE programme, which assesses international excellence in education in a medical, dental or veterinary school. The ASPIRE programme follows a rigorous peer-review process to measure and benchmark medical schools for world-class excellence in education.

A deep professional responsibility to enhance human health through innovation and collaboration in education, research and service informs all that we do. We welcome students and researchers into programmes of academic excellence and a lifelong community of colleagues that is clinically led, nurturing and supportive, enabling them to realise their potential to serve our global patient community.

We remain committed to institutional independence, service, academic freedom, diversity and humanitarian concern. Our independence enables us to chart our own course in service of excellence in human health. Placing the patient at the centre of all that we do, our values of Respect, Collaboration, Scholarship and Innovation continue to unite and direct our purpose.

RCSI degrees are accredited via our compliance with the national qualifications agency Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) as well as professional regulators across each discipline.

Research and Innovation

RCSI is a research-intensive university and we are widely recognised for leading pioneering research which has resulted in discoveries that are having a profound effect on the understanding and treatment of many diseases and disorders; and on better management of healthcare systems.

RCSI Principal Investigators receive competitive funding from a wide range of sources including government agencies and other national sponsors in Ireland as well as internationally – for example through the European Union where

RCSI researchers have had significant success through prestigious awards from the European Research Council – as well as from industry who we work closely with to ensure rapid translation of research to clinical and patient-benefit.

Our research is focused on translational research: clinical, laboratory-based and health service research informed by bedside problems and societal and global health challenges. It is focused on innovative research that leads to improved diagnostics, therapeutics and devices; tackles important healthcare delivery issues; informs policy and clinical practice and enhances the quality of education of healthcare professionals.

As an exclusively health sciences-focused education and research institution with strong links to acute hospitals, RCSI is uniquely placed to develop and enhance research for the benefit of patients and to improve human health. Our strategic research themes include:

• Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine
• Cancer
• Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
• Population Health and Health Services
• Surgical Science & Practice
• Vascular Biology

Our Campus

RCSI is a city campus located in the heart of Dublin city centre. Every element of the campus is designed with our students in mind, ensuring an immersive and enriching educational and social experience.

123 St Stephen's Green is our main campus building and one of the most iconic buildings in Dublin. It was RCSI’s first permanent address and the combined surgical college and health sciences university has been based on the site since 1810. Countless healthcare careers have been launched here during the last three centuries and it continues as an incredible place to learn - to become a healthcare professional or scientist; or to undertake advanced postgraduate training in research or professional roles.

Our flagship building, 26 York Street, is a world class environment enabling a truly transformative learning experience. It is the most advanced clinical healthcare simulation centre in Europe. This 10-storey building is an award-winning teaching, research and recreational facility. Its centrepiece is the 12,000sq.ft multi-disciplinary National Surgical & Clinical Skills Centre, mirroring a real hospital environment with its clinical skills training rooms, operating theatre and clinical training wards.