Medicine - Doctor of Medicine - Research

Develop your skills as a researcher at RCSI

You will have a range of resources, research development opportunities and training at your disposal during your MD, including:



Core and optional modules as part of our research development training – all MD scholars are expected to complete the Postgraduate Essentials (PC01) and Research Ethics and Integrity (PC04) core modules as part of their degree.



Access to the Opens in new windowVitae Researcher Development Framework, which allows you to map your competencies, identify areas for improvement and develop transferable skills



International placements – we have a competitive award for those without funding who can apply for three-month international secondment award (RCSI-funded).



Dissemination of your research. The perfect starting point for this is our Opens in new windowannual Research Day; apply for a poster or oral presentation and practice key presenting and communication skills.



Dedicated write-up space in our Postgraduate Suite in our new Library.



Key milestones

Below is a timeline of a typical four-year MD programme.



1. Project proposal



With the help of your supervisors, you will submit a comprehensive project proposal when applying to RCSI. This will help you to form a solid plan and kick-start your research.



2. Research development



Participate in the four core modules (PC01-PC04) on offer during your studies.



3. Progress reviews



You will undergo three progress reviews: an early review (up to six months), a mid review (approx. one year) and a late stage review (approx. 18 months). You will be required to give an oral presentation on the progress of your research in front of your peers and invited academic guests.



4. Submit your thesis



You will submit a thesis completion plan nine months before your planned submission. Once your thesis is submitted – at any time in your third year of study – one external examiner and one internal examiner will assess your thesis. Thesis examination details are available here.



5. Graduation



If the thesis is deemed of sufficient quality, you will be conferred with an MD in your chosen field.

To be considered eligible for the programme, you must:



Hold the degree of MB/BAO/BCh or equivalent medical degree, plus a minimum of a one-year internship.



Be eligible for full registration with the Irish Medical Council.



Have an RCSI supervisor with whom you have agreed the topic of your thesis and the logistical details for your can didature (e.g. start date, location for initial research training etc.).



You will also need to supply a copy of an academic  IELTS examination, or equivalent (for candidates whose first language is not English). 

Each unique Medical Doctorate (MD) project is carried out over a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years (full-time) (Doctoral Award NFQ Level 10).



Within this time you will be guided through your research project with the support of your supervisors and the RCSI School of Postgraduate Studies.

EU applicants: €4,700 (per annum)


Non-EU applicants: €12,800 (per annum)


If you chose to complete the programme on a part-time basis – over a minimum of four years – the fees are as follows:


•EU applicants: €2,350 (per annum)

•Non-EU applicants: €6,400 (per annum)


Please note


•An additional NUI fee of €45 (per annum) applies for Years 1 to 3.


•Fees are subject to annual review and can increase by up to 4% per annum.


•It is your own responsibility to register each year. Failure to do so will lead to automatic disqualification from the degree programme.

Your postgraduate degree at RCSI builds skills, expertise and specialist knowledge in your chosen field, in preparation for career pathways across many employment sectors including higher education, health, and industry and entrepreneurial roles.



Your degree will equip you with a transferable skill-set that is highly valued by employers particularly for problem-solving, critical reasoning, thinking in-depth along with the ability to project manage and evidence of a range of ‘soft’ skills, like communication and collaboration.



As a graduate of RCSI, you join a community of over 30,000 alumni worldwide.



With campuses located in Dublin, Dubai, Bahrain and Malaysia, some of the world’s most exciting career opportunities are available to you and your network as a graduate of RCSI.