RCSI Optum Ireland Health Care Aim High Graduate Entry Medicine Access Scholarship 2026

The Optum Ireland Health Care Aim High Graduate Entry Medicine Scholarship is RCSI’s first scholarship for its Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programme, offered in partnership with Optum Ireland, part of the United Health Group (UHG). The partnership is designed to grow the healthcare workforce in Ireland and focuses on underserved students seeking degrees in primary or specialised care, or emerging healthcare technologies. 

The Optum Ireland Health Care Aim High Graduate Entry Medicine Scholarship aims to support a Graduate Entry Medicine student attending RCSI to realise their potential whilst lessening the financial burden so that they can fully focus on their academic coursework. The scholarship will be awarded to one successful GEM candidate who entered their first undergraduate degree through the HEAR scheme.

• Table of Content
• About Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
• RCSI Postgraduate Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of RCSI Postgraduate Scholarship
• RCSI Postgraduate Scholarship Courses
• Requirements for RCSI Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

RCSI Postgraduate Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of RCSI Postgraduate Scholarship

• The scholarship offers additional financial support of €40,000 in total, divided across the four years of the GEM programme.

RCSI Postgraduate Scholarship Courses

• Medicine

Requirements for RCSI Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification

All Aim High GEM applicants must:

• Be eligible for admission to RCSI's Graduate Entry Medicine programme through CAO (course code RC101). Eligible applicants must present a minimum upper second class honours (2H1) in their first accredited undergraduate honours bachelor degree (equivalent to QQI Level 8) and a competitive GAMSAT score. This degree can be in any discipline.
• Submit a CAO application listing Medicine – Graduate Entry (RC101) as a course choice.
• Have resided in Ireland for at least three of the last five years preceding admission.
• Complete the Aim High GEM Scholarship Application Form by the closing date of 1 July.
• Provide a personal statement (no more than 500 words) as part of your application, outlining their motivation and commitment to study medicine and pursue a career as a healthcare professional.
• Provide verification of previous HEAR eligibility for entry to their first undergraduate level 8 degree award (a letter from the Access Office from their third level institution verifying CAO entry was via the HEAR). This should be emailed as an attachment to [email protected] by the closing date of 1 July. 

Please note

• Immediate family members of any UHC, UHG or Optum Ireland 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

How to Apply

For more information, kindly visit RCSI scholarship webpage.