In line with the global standards of quality medical education, RCSI Bahrain received a five-year renewal of the accreditation of its undergraduate medicine programme, until November 2026, from the Irish Medical Council (IMC).

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Medical Council Assessor Team held a comprehensive virtual assessment of the undergraduate medicine programme and an inspection of RCSI Bahrain facilities via video conferencing in March 2021. To perform the re-accreditation process, the IMC team led by the Chair of the Visiting Team and Medical Council Member, Professor Mary O’Sullivan, and comprising of Council and external members, met with the RCSI Bahrain Executive Management Team, School of Medicine staff, the University’s Student Council, students from all year groups and RCSI Bahrain interns. In addition, the team held several meetings with RCSI Bahrain training leads and Clinical Lecturers at King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH), Bahrain Defence Force Hospital (BDF), Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and multiple health centres across Bahrain.

To assess medical programmes, the Medical Council utilises the World Federation of Medical Education’s (WFME) ‘Global Standards for Quality improvement in Medical Education’ framework. The Medical Council’s accreditation report provided feedback and recommendations for the University to maintain the high-quality medical education it offers to its students. The Council also commended RCSI Bahrain for the strong presence of professionalism throughout the undergraduate medicine programme, the quality of facilities on campus and at teaching sites, the support provided by the research office to medical students and staff across the spectrum of research activities and the enthusiasm and commitment of RCSI Bahrain medical students to their education.

President of RCSI Bahrain, Professor Sameer Otoom commented, “RCSI Bahrain extends its thanks to all Council members, as well as our staff, students, alumni and partner hospitals, for their thorough review and recommendations, which support the University’s constant efforts to develop its teaching and learning approach and the academic and clinical experience of our medical students. With our accreditation standards and a world-renowned curriculum, RCSI Bahrain medical students graduate with the knowledge and experience to compete for extensive career opportunities worldwide.”

RCSI Bahrain’s undergraduate medicine programme has been accredited by the Irish Medical Council since 2014 and its School of Medicine is included in the World Directory of Medical Schools and placed on the International Association of Universities’ ‘List of Universities of the World’ (UNESCO).