RCSI 2025 Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship

The Aim High Medicine Scholarships were established in 2012 by RCSI Alumni to provide scholarships for Irish Leaving Certificate students who excel academically and are passionate about developing a lifelong career in medicine.

The scholarships are offered to students who are Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) eligible. In addition to the normal supports provided through the Government Free Fees Initiative and SUSI Grant, these scholarships offer additional financial support of €25,000 in total, for the duration of the Undergraduate Medicine programme.

The objective of the scholarships are to lessen the financial burden of attending the University and therefore allow the student to fully focus on their academic coursework.

• Table of Content
• About Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
• Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship
• Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship Courses
• Requirements for Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)

Founded as the national training body for surgery in Ireland, RCSI has been at the forefront of healthcare education since its establishment in 1784.

Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship

Application Deadline	01 Jul 2025
Value	€25,000
Country to study	Ireland
School to study	Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
Type	Undergraduate
Course to study	View courses
Sponsor	Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship

These scholarships offer additional financial support of €25,000 in total, for the duration of the Undergraduate Medicine programme.

Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship Courses

• Medicine

Requirements for Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship Qualification

All Aim High applicants must:

• Be eligible for admission to RCSI's Medicine programme through the Opens in new windowCAO (course code: RC001).
• Be eligible and apply for HEAR, and indicate in their CAO application that they wish to apply via the HEAR scheme.
• Submit a CAO application listing Medicine (RC001) as a course choice.
• Present Opens in new windowHPAT in the same year as applying to the CAO.
• Have resided in Ireland for at least three of the last five years preceding admission.
• Present a minimum of six recognised subjects (2 x H5 and 4 x O6/H7) in the same sitting of the Irish Leaving Certificate examination to include Irish (unless Opens in new windowexempt), English, Mathematics, a third language and a science subject from the following group: Physics, Chemistry, Physics/Chemistry, Biology or Agricultural Science.
• Achieve a minimum of 480 points and meet the minimum subject grade requirements for five or six-year entry to the Medicine programme in the same sitting of the Irish Leaving Certificate.
• Complete the online Aim High Medicine Scholarship Application Form by the closing date of 1 July. Early application is encouraged.
• Provide a personal statement as part of your application, including your motivation and commitment to study medicine and pursue a career as a healthcare professional.
• Arrange for a confidential academic referee to complete the Aim High Medicine Scholarship Confidential Academic Reference Form in advance of the closing date of 1 July.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Aim High Medicine Access Scholarship

The Ireland Healthcare Aim High Scholarship is delivered at RCSI in partnership with Optum Ireland, as part of its Ireland Healthcare Scholarship Programme. This programme was established to enhance the performance of the health system and improve the overall health and well-being of the people within our local community. It seeks to grow the healthcare workforce within communities in Ireland and focuses on underserved students seeking to pursue a career in medicine and healthcare.

Please note that the Ireland Healthcare Aim High Scholarship is offered in addition to the Aim High Medicine Scholarships, which are funded by RCSI Alumni. The level of funding offered via the Ireland Aim High Scholarship will be the same as the Aim High Medicine Medicine Scholarships. 

Application for the Ireland Healthcare Aim High Scholarship should be made as part of the standard Aim High scholarship application. Those who meet the additional criteria (outlined below) will be considered for the Ireland Healthcare Aim High Scholarship:

• Applicants must have resided in Dublin for at least three of the last five years preceding admission.
• Immediate family members of any UHC, Optum Ireland, or Foundation senior employees or executives are not eligible for this scholarship.

As part of the scholarship application, RCSI and Optum Ireland may request to meet with applicants.

Application Deadline

July 1, 2025

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) on forms.office.com to apply

For more details, visit RCSI Scholarship webpage