Transfer from RCSI Dublin Medicine: Failed Exams, €61,000 Fees and Your Options in 2026
21.10.2026
Short answer
Transfer from RCSI Dublin: €61,000 a year for non-EU medicine students, failed exams, ECTS credits, Irish residence permission and switching without losing a year.
Can you transfer from RCSI Dublin Medicine?
Quick answer: Yes. Medicine students at RCSI Dublin can transfer to English-taught medical faculties elsewhere in Europe. Ireland uses ECTS, so a full year of 60 ECTS carries over without conversion. The receiving faculty compares your transcript and module descriptions with its curriculum and decides the entry year. Planned early, many students keep their study time.
| Point | RCSI Dublin, undergraduate medicine |
|---|---|
| Degree | MB BCh BAO |
| Programme length | 5 or 6 years |
| Non-EU tuition | about €61,000 per year |
| Six-year tuition | about €366,000 |
| Credit system | ECTS, 60 per year |
| Transfer support | Free consultation with Medschool Experts |
A transfer from RCSI builds on what you have already passed. Your credits are in ECTS from the start, which makes the formal side of the move simpler than from the UK.
Why do non-EU students leave RCSI Dublin?
Cost is the main reason. At about €61,000 a year, six years of tuition reach roughly €366,000, and Dublin is one of the most expensive student cities in Europe.
Progression is the second. A failed repeat examination can lead to a repeat year, which for a non-EU student means another €61,000.
The third is personal fit: the city, the pace or the wish to be closer to family. None of this is a verdict on RCSI's teaching.
Failed exams at RCSI — what now?
A failed exam at RCSI Dublin does not end your medical career. Repeat examinations are part of every medical programme.
The real question comes after a failed repeat or when a repeat year is proposed. At RCSI's non-EU fee, many students decide to protect their passed modules and continue at another faculty rather than pay for the same year again.
Plan before the decision falls.
How much does RCSI Medicine cost compared with other options?
Non-EU tuition for undergraduate medicine at RCSI Dublin is about €61,000 per year in 2026/27. With a planning figure of about €1,600 per month for living costs in Dublin, six years cost around €481,200.
At our European partner universities, English-taught Medicine and Dentistry start from €1,750 tuition per semester, Pharmacy from €1,500 and Veterinary Medicine from €3,000 per semester. For Medicine that means from €3,500 per year, or from €21,000 over six years.
| Item | Per year | Six years |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | €61,000 | €366,000 |
| Living costs in Dublin (approx. €1,600 per month) | €19,200 | €115,200 |
| Total | €80,200 | €481,200 |
Can you transfer from RCSI without losing a year?
Often, yes. It depends on your passed modules, how well they match the receiving curriculum and when you apply. Starting in spring gives more options than reacting to autumn repeat results.
Medschool Experts regularly achieves high placements for transfer students. The receiving faculty sets the entry year, so we never promise a year before it has decided.
How do RCSI credits carry over?
Ireland uses ECTS, the same system as the rest of the European Higher Education Area. A full year at RCSI carries 60 ECTS, so no conversion is needed.
What matters is content. RCSI's curriculum integrates systems-based modules with early clinical exposure. Module descriptions with learning outcomes and contact hours let the receiving faculty see what you have covered. We prepare this comparison with you.
Which universities accept transfer students from RCSI?
A transfer is possible, and Medschool Experts offers it. We work with 25+ partner universities in Europe specifically for this situation, and we check every profile individually and free of charge: your transcript, your credits and your career goal decide which university and which year fit. We do not publish lists of universities that accept transfer students, because the answer differs from file to file.
We answer this individually. Book a free transfer consultation and we will tell you which options are realistic.
Free transfer consultation
Thinking about a transfer from RCSI Dublin? Have your transcript checked for free.
Medschool Experts plans and carries out study transfers to our 25+ partner universities in Europe and aims for no loss of time. The consultation is free.
Book a Free Transfer ConsultationWhat happens to your Irish residence permission when you leave RCSI?
Non-EU students in Ireland hold student immigration permission, usually Stamp 2, registered through an Irish Residence Permit. It is tied to full-time study. When you withdraw, the permission no longer covers you. For a faculty in another EU country you apply for that country's residence permit. We plan the timing so you move from one status to the next without an unnecessary gap.
Which documents does a transfer from RCSI need?
You will need an official transcript from RCSI, the module descriptions of what you have passed and confirmation of your enrolment status. Apostille and translation rules depend on the destination country. We give you the exact list once your options are clear.
How long does a transfer from RCSI Medicine take?
Plan with three to six months from the first consultation to your start at the new faculty.
Is your degree recognised after a transfer from RCSI?
Yes. Ireland is an EU member state, and so are the faculties most RCSI students move to. When you graduate from an EU medical faculty, your degree is recognised throughout the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC, just as an Irish degree would be.
Why transfer from RCSI with Medschool Experts?
A study transfer is a complicated undertaking, and a move out of Ireland as a non-EU student adds residence questions. Our experts have close to ten years of experience in study transfers worldwide and therefore plan and carry out a transfer from RCSI Dublin with confidence. The consultation is free. Read more on our services page or in our student stories.
The author's view
RCSI is one of the few medical schools in Europe that has built its whole identity around international students, and it does that well. The price reflects it: about €61,000 a year for non-EU students.
When a student at RCSI writes to us, the conversation usually starts with numbers. One repeat year costs as much as a complete degree elsewhere. That is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to plan.
I started my own studies in Sofia in 2015 at 24, and I know how much a clear plan is worth when the path changes. Since then, my team and I have placed more than 500 students. Talk to us early.
Marcel Kloos, founder and owner of Medschool Experts and a federally recognised dentist.
Summary
- Non-EU tuition for undergraduate medicine at RCSI Dublin is about €61,000 per year in 2026/27.
- RCSI uses ECTS, so a year of 60 ECTS carries over without conversion.
- A failed repeat or repeat year is a common reason to transfer.
- Stamp 2 permission ends with full-time study, so timing matters.
- Medschool Experts plans the transfer and the consultation is free.
Conclusion
A transfer from RCSI Dublin is a sensible option when non-EU fees, a progression decision or your residence situation no longer fit your plans. Your credits are already in ECTS, and early planning protects your study time.
If you are thinking about leaving RCSI, speak to us before the next progression decision. Book your free transfer consultation and we will review your options together.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer from RCSI Dublin to another medical school?
Yes. Medicine students at RCSI Dublin can transfer to English-taught medical faculties elsewhere in Europe. The receiving faculty reviews the transcript and module descriptions and sets the entry year. Medschool Experts organises the process, and the first consultation is free.
Do I lose a year if I transfer from RCSI?
Not necessarily. Many students transfer from RCSI without losing study time. It depends on your passed modules, the curriculum match and the timing of your application.
I failed a repeat exam at RCSI. Can I still transfer?
Yes. A failed repeat or a proposed repeat year does not rule out a transfer. Your passed modules keep their value and can count at a new faculty instead of paying another €61,000 for a repeat year.
Do RCSI credits need to be converted?
No. Ireland uses ECTS, so a full RCSI year of 60 ECTS carries over directly. The receiving faculty then compares module content with its own curriculum.
Does this apply to RCSI Bahrain or RCSI Penang?
This article covers RCSI in Dublin. RCSI also runs campuses in Bahrain and Malaysia with their own fees and rules. A transfer from those campuses is possible too, and we advise on all of them.
What happens to my Stamp 2 permission if I leave RCSI?
Stamp 2 student permission is tied to full-time study in Ireland. When you withdraw, it no longer covers you. For a faculty in another EU country you apply for that country's residence permit.
Do I need an agency to transfer from RCSI?
It is not required, but a transfer combines credit matching, documents and residence timing. Medschool Experts has close to ten years of experience in study transfers worldwide and advises you free of charge.
Which universities accept transfer students from RCSI?
Several English-taught medical faculties in Europe accept transfer students from RCSI Dublin. Which fit depends on your transcript and plans, and we tell you in a free consultation which are realistic.
Is my degree still recognised in the EU after transferring?
Yes. A degree from an EU medical faculty is recognised throughout the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC.
Is the first consultation with Medschool Experts free?
Yes. The first consultation about a transfer from RCSI Dublin is free. We look at your transcript and residence situation, and you decide afterwards whether you want our support.
What students say about Medschool Experts
Over 500 placements at 25+ partner universities across 10+ countries. See how our students experienced their path into medical school abroad in our student stories.
About the author
Marcel Kloos
Founder and owner of Medschool Experts, federally recognised dentist
Marcel Kloos is the founder and owner of Medschool Experts, a placement agency for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy degrees abroad. Since 2021 the team has secured more than 500 study places at 25+ partner universities in Europe and worldwide.
Study medicine abroad: Marcel's own path
Born in Stuttgart, Marcel started his degree late: at 24 he enrolled at the Medical University of Sofia, Faculty of Dental Medicine, and graduated in 2021 from the English-language programme. He went through the same steps his clients face today — nostrification of school certificates, entrance interviews, finding a flat in Sofia and later the recognition of a foreign degree. He is a federally recognised dentist.
What Marcel does at Medschool Experts
Today Marcel lives in Bern and runs Medschool Experts full-time. He visits every partner university in person, negotiates placement agreements directly with faculties and deans, and leads the free consultations in which applicants learn at which university they can start next semester. His YouTube channel on studying medicine abroad has helped thousands of applicants compare universities, costs and recognition.
Topics Marcel writes about
- Study medicine abroad independent of your high school diploma grades: universities, costs and admission
- Study dentistry, veterinary medicine or pharmacy in Europe in English
- Tuition fees and living costs at medical schools in Europe and worldwide
- Recognition of foreign medical degrees in the EU, Switzerland, the UK and the US
- Transferring between medical schools and returning home into a higher semester
All articles by Marcel Kloos are based on first-hand visits to the universities and conversations with current students. Book a free consultation to discuss your own path.
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