Over 400 post-primary students from across Ireland explored what it means to work in healthcare at the 2025 RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences Open Day.

The event featured a series of interactive workshops, tours and talks from educators and students to inspire prospective students interested in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and advanced therapeutic technologies.

Professor Tracy Robson, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at RCSI, said: "At RCSI, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. Our Open Day is a unique opportunity for students to experience hands-on learning and to explore how a degree in healthcare can empower them to make a real difference to patients' lives and the wider community.”

The 2025 Open Day showcased RCSI’s new Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme, Ireland’s first community-based dental degree programme. Dentistry workshops provided students with a practical introduction to areas such as restorations, implants, and dentures, offering a glimpse into the day-to-day skills of dental professionals. The new programme will be taking CAO applications this year and will welcome its first students in September.

In the RCSI SIM Centre for Simulation Education and Research, students explored the state-of-the-art facilities where RCSI undergraduates train for clinical practice. Attendees had the opportunity to practice a clinical skill, such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on dummy patients, and experience simulation teaching including a delivery by a birthing mannequin.

Physiotherapy workshops highlighted the role of the profession in prescribing physical activity and exercise for people with different types of conditions. The sessions highlighted the vital role that physical activity and exercise plays for those who have suffered a stroke, as well as people with chronic lung conditions and chronic ankle ligament sprain.

At RCSI’s pharmacy dispensing laboratory, attendees learned about the important, diverse and ever-expanding role pharmacists play in our healthcare system, enjoying a hands-on experience of how pharmacists help patients with asthma take their medicines correctly and manage their health.

The Advanced Therapeutic Technologies (ATT) workshop introduced students to the rapidly evolving fields of precision medicine and therapeutic technologies. Participants explored the effectiveness of novel treatments against cancer cells, showcasing the programme’s focus on cutting-edge advancements in healthcare.

You can find further information on the medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and ATT programmes at RCSI here.