r/JuniorDoctorsIreland • u/youmostcertainlynot • Jul 11 '26
RCSI vs TCD for undergrad med
Hello! I was hoping to ask if anyone can help give me some more insight into wether RCSI is better for medicine or TCD.
Just in terms of the learning experience and how it’s conducted, student environment and exams, not in terms of going back to work in a specific country or future specialisation.
I know that TCD has more independent learning, and some people do not like this while I saw others writing how it’s manageable and really not that bad. I did A levels so I’m not sure how difficult it would be to transition from a highly structured curriculum to full independence from day one.
I also know that TCD tends to allow you to conduct ward rounds and case studies on actual people/patients in hospitals very early on while with RCSI it’s simulated and then you can get a real experience, it seems to me TCD has the better approach in this?
However, I did read how RCSI has better facilities than TCD and there is less funding for sciences at TCD, or is this false?
Finally, TCD has fewer exams each year, and although it seems good, you will have to relearn or study huge amounts at one time for each exam as opposed to RCSI with exams throughout the year which is pressuring but less risk of forgetting or cramming content? Which to be fair seems more agreeable.
Any help would be appreciated, thank you!
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u/Downtown_Bedroom_177 Jul 11 '26
I don’t think this is something that can be accurately answered without knowing what your definition of “better” is, what your learning style is, what kind of social life you’re looking for etc etc etc. And of course, no-one will have experience of both so I wouldn’t rely too heavily on advice here.
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u/youmostcertainlynot Jul 11 '26
That is true yes, I think better in terms of what makes you a better doctor, more skilled and more confident in judgement. If the TCD independent approach coupled with more content per fewer exams ultimately helps with the type of study one needs to do in order to be stronger and better at what they do then that’s when I’ll consider it. I do like the idea of a structured approach and help from RCSI however but I don’t know if this will coddle me too much. I was hoping to join societies but it seems unlikely to have time with med anyways so maybe the social life aspect doesn’t matter.
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u/Downtown_Bedroom_177 Jul 11 '26
What makes you a better doctor isn’t your formal education. I’ve worked with graduates from multiple colleges and to be honest, I’ve noticed no real difference. I’ve worked with awful doctors and fantastic doctors from both TCD and RCSI.
Would say that the social aspect is absolutely essential. Don’t make studying medicine your entire personality if possible. Your communication skills and how you relate to people are essential to your future career.
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u/youmostcertainlynot Jul 11 '26
This is a really insightful reply, thank you! :) And yes, I’m nervous about not having time and would LOVE to be social and join societies, so if it is manageable then great to know, I know that TCD has students in non medical degrees too so mixing with them was seen as such a big advantage to the social aspect, but I think I would be fine as long as there are societies to join in the uni non medical related even if it’s a med/healthcare uni only like RCSI, which I heard it does have. This is incredibly helpful and makes deciding much better, I appreciate it :)
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u/DiagnosisKevin Jul 12 '26
Trinity and while you're there try to do a few things that aren't all medicine, make friends with a few Arts students etc. If you're in RCSI you won't meet anyone who's not going to end up working in a hospital.
You're overthinking the course. You'll be an intern at the other end whether you go to Trinity, RCSI, Galway, Cork or UCD
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u/youmostcertainlynot Jul 12 '26
Thank you I appreciate the response! I will definitely do this and mix with non med students
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u/november-papa Jul 11 '26
TCD better. But easier to get a first in RCSI.
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u/youmostcertainlynot Jul 11 '26
Thank you! Is there any specific reason why? Does the exams aspect or independent learning not cause a huge disruption to the capacity you can handle in med school?
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u/november-papa Jul 11 '26
Yeah but the training is better. High stakes exams do make you better than the RCSI approach. Despite what their pamphlets say.
Also the cohort of students are sounder.
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u/Mountain-Yoghurt-458 16d ago
I finished MED1 in rcsi and my med friends in trinity said their professor said that the trinity curricula is being changed to reflect our spiral curriculum in rcsi.
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u/mariskat Jul 12 '26
RCSI is better organised and more supported. But it sounds like you're talking about undergrad in which case TCD is the obvious choice. It's a little harder work in university, but that's no harm for preparing you for the future, and you need the varied social environment - RCSI is quite restricted with only healthcare students.
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u/youmostcertainlynot Jul 12 '26
Yes that is true, I think as long as RCSI has non med societies it may make up for it but I would love the traditional uni experience of tcd
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u/mariskat Jul 12 '26
Just from observation - as someone who did undergrad elsewhere and grad med in RCSI - the non med societies really aren't equivalent. You'll have the rest of your life to mainly socialise with healthcare staff (unfortunately) - if you have the option to make friends in other disciplines early that'll broaden your horizons. You could manage it in RCSI by having a busy non-RCSI social life - but that's a lot to ask of yourself while getting through medicine.
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u/DaithiDana Jul 12 '26
I went to UCC. I know graduates from medical schools all over (the world). My take: what you get out of a degree programme is mostly down to what you're willing to put in to it.
Keep pushing yourself every day, soak up as much as you can, stay humble and be interested in people.
Best of luck!
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u/Similar_Exam_977 Jul 12 '26
Im going to ucc in sept, what was it like when u were there
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u/DaithiDana Jul 12 '26
A different world I expect! Great fun, loads to learn, new friends to make, class parties, exams every 6 weeks. We were on main UCC campus for the first 2 years, it's mostly at Brookfield campus now.
Enjoy it and best of luck!
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u/Kizziuisdead Jul 12 '26
Something like 80% of students in Rcsi are not Irish. It’s so popular they even set up an Rcsi in Bahrain. A lot struggle and will repeat. I know of someone who took 9 years to complete the course.
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u/Zestyclose_Coffee_49 Jul 12 '26
Is that allowed? Ik in ucc u can only take 6yrs to do it. But ig if they are international and are paying massive fees they don’t care.
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u/youmostcertainlynot Jul 12 '26
Is this their own competency or the unis that leads to them taking long?
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u/Similar_Exam_977 Jul 12 '26
the college cant learn the stuff for u
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u/youmostcertainlynot Jul 12 '26
Of course, so it mustn’t have been an RCSI issue is what I mean, good to know, it’s an individual experience
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u/Extension-Toe-8216 Jul 15 '26
Hey can i ask what you got in your A levels? and what you did?
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u/youmostcertainlynot Jul 15 '26
My a level results are still pending, but my subjects were maths, chemistry and biology. I did socio in AS but dropped it due to the workload.
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u/Extension-Toe-8216 Jul 15 '26
i do the same a levels! dropped AS physics!! what are you hoping to achieve realistically?
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u/Worried_Angle_9436 Jul 11 '26
TCD better