Studying in Ireland as a dual citizen from the US

I am an Irish-American dual citizen who was raised in Bend, Oregon, in the US. When I graduated from high school, I yearned for adventure and knew I wanted to leave my state. I ended up going to Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where I earned a bachelor of arts in economics and a minor in philosophy.

In my junior year I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, and fell in love with the culture and language.

When I began to apply for medical university, my family in Ireland encouraged me to apply to RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. After such a positive experience in Spain, I loved the idea of being able to live in Europe again. 

When researching the institute, I found that its mission statement resonated with me: “Leading the world to better health.” In my mind medicine should be a global community that can unite to supply the world with better healthcare. 

As a future physician, I believed that being part of an international medical class would expose me to a plethora of cultures and people. I applied to the university through Atlantic Bridge, which helps North American students apply to Irish universities. 

I interviewed for the RCSI in January 2020 and was accepted into its graduate entry medicine programme in April 2020. I began my medical education at the RCSI in September 2020 and expect to graduate in 2024. 

For my first year, I chose to live in student accommodation with classmates who were also international students. North Americans who do not hold Irish citizenship must apply for an Irish residency permit. The RCSI helped my classmates secure appointments for this once we were settled in Dublin and the renewal process is completed online each year. 

Each time I return to Europe, I have to readjust to the smaller living quarters. After my first year, I moved into a flat with a classmate and I love the neighbourhood we live in. Dublin has so many different green spaces and I am lucky enough to live by the canal, which has a path for running. 

International perspective: a Trinidadian medical student in Ireland
International perspective: a Canadian in Ireland
Alumni story: becoming a pharmacist in Ireland

Unlike US medical colleges, the RCSI does not tailor its educational model around the United States medical licensing examinations (USMLE), which makes studying for exams more difficult. 

Additionally, we must complete electives in the US during the summer before the final year. The purpose of these is to get recommendation letters from American doctors, which are needed if you apply for a US residency. 

Despite these challenges, the RCSI is known for the clinical skills it teaches. Our education is focused on practical application more than examinations, which means that when we go back to start our US residencies we are more prepared for patient interactions than our US counterparts. 

Overall, the RCSI has given me the opportunity to be educated in a highly diverse environment and within a social healthcare system. I am grateful for both because I believe it will make me a better physician and will allow me to understand how international healthcare systems work. 

If you are a medical school applicant and considering studying internationally, my advice would be to speak to current students in that university. The RCSI uses the UniBuddy platform, which allows student ambassadors to answer questions from prospective students honestly.

My second piece of advice would be to create a financial plan. Understand how you can fund an international education and consider the cost of living abroad.

Finally, if you have an interest in adventure, be sure to follow it. I believe as international medical students we are more confident in our ability to adapt and overcome. Not many Americans live abroad for years, but I think it’s one of the best ways to broaden your horizons…and maybe drink some Guinness while you’re at it.