M.B Public and International Health

6 Years Online Bachelors Program

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Program Overview

Medicine at RCSI is designed to turn motivated students into confident, compassionate doctors through a programme that blends strong scientific foundations with early and continuous clinical experience. It’s ideal for students who are serious about medicine, enjoy problem-solving and want to study in a university that is completely focused on healthcare education.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year / Year 1
Students who need an academic bridge begin with a Foundation Year, while others enter directly into Year 1. You build a solid understanding of the human body through subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology and Biomedical Science, while also being introduced to clinical skills and communication. From the start, you learn to think like a doctor, not just a science student.

Year 2
In second year, learning becomes more integrated and system-based. You continue studying normal human structure and function across body systems like cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems, while developing stronger clinical and examination skills. This year helps you connect science with patient care and prepares you for more active clinical learning.

Year 3
Third year marks the transition from theory to practice. You explore disease processes through subjects such as Pathology, Microbiology and Clinical Medicine, learning how illness develops and how doctors diagnose and manage conditions. Clinical exposure increases, helping you gain confidence in patient interaction and professional decision-making.

Years 4 and 5
The final years are predominantly clinical and hospital-based. You rotate through major medical specialties including Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Family Medicine and Obstetrics, working directly with patients under supervision. These years are designed to prepare you fully for internship and postgraduate medical training.

Focus areas

Human biology, clinical skills, systems-based medicine, pathology, patient assessment, professional practice, communication.

Learning outcomes

A strong scientific understanding of health and disease, the ability to assess and manage patients safely, apply evidence-based medicine, work effectively in healthcare teams and communicate confidently with patients and colleagues.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This degree leads to eligibility for medical registration, is accredited by Ireland’s medical regulator, and is internationally recognised for postgraduate training and clinical practice.

Reputation (employability & recognition)

RCSI is globally recognised for medical education, with graduates progressing into internships and specialist training programmes across Ireland, the UK, North America, Australia and beyond.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At RCSI, medicine is taught through early, structured and continuous clinical exposure, so you learn what it truly means to be a doctor from the very beginning. Rather than waiting until later years, you develop practical skills, professional behaviours and patient-centred thinking alongside your academic studies. This approach ensures that by the time you graduate, clinical environments feel familiar, not overwhelming.

Your experiential learning includes:

Early clinical skills training
From first year, you learn essential skills such as patient communication, history taking, basic examinations and professional conduct, helping you grow comfortable interacting with patients early on.
State-of-the-art simulation facilities
You train in advanced clinical simulation and anatomy facilities that mirror real hospital settings, allowing you to practise procedures and decision-making in a safe, supported environment before working with patients.
Integrated clinical exposure
As you progress through the programme, clinical learning is increasingly embedded alongside classroom teaching, helping you apply medical knowledge directly to real patient scenarios.
Hospital-based clinical rotations
In the senior years, you complete extensive placements across major specialties such as medicine, surgery, paediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and family medicine, working as part of healthcare teams in real clinical settings.
Research and scholarly activity
Students are encouraged to engage with medical research, developing critical thinking skills and an evidence-based approach to clinical decision-making.
Interprofessional learning
You learn alongside students from other health disciplines, reflecting the collaborative nature of modern healthcare and preparing you to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Professional identity development
Throughout the programme, strong emphasis is placed on ethics, professionalism, empathy and reflective practice — shaping you into a well-rounded doctor, not just a technically skilled one.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Undergraduate Medicine (MB, BCh, BAO) from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland progress into highly respected medical careers both in Ireland and internationally. On graduation, students are well prepared to enter internship training and move forward into specialist pathways such as General Practice, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychiatry and other medical and surgical disciplines.

This degree opens doors to long-term, globally recognised medical careers:

Direct pathway to internship and postgraduate training
Graduates are eligible to apply for internship programmes, the essential next step toward full medical registration and specialist training.
Strong global recognition
The RCSI medical degree is internationally recognised, allowing graduates to pursue further training and medical careers in regions such as the UK, North America, Australia, the Middle East and Europe.
Wide range of medical career options
Alumni progress into hospital medicine, surgery, general practice, academic medicine, research, public health and healthcare leadership roles.
Excellent preparation for competitive specialties
Early clinical exposure, strong clinical skills training and emphasis on professionalism help graduates perform well in competitive postgraduate training applications.
Research and academic progression
Graduates interested in research can pursue MD, MSc or PhD programmes, leading to careers in academic medicine, clinical research or medical education.
Leadership and healthcare innovation
RCSI graduates are well positioned to move into leadership, policy, global health and healthcare management roles later in their careers.

Further Academic Progression

After completing this programme, students can continue their studies through postgraduate medical training programmes, specialist registrar pathways or higher degrees in Medical Education, Clinical Research, Public Health, Global Health or Biomedical Sciences. These routes support progression into consultancy, academic leadership and international healthcare roles.