Ireland · RCPI HST Paediatric Cardiology · 2027 intake criteria

RCPI HST Paediatric Cardiology: points estimator and scoring guide

RCPI 2027 intake shortlisting and interview criteria Last checked

Rate yourself on each of the five rows RCPI scores to estimate your score out of 20, and see what you can still add before the next window.

Next applications expected October 2027

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RCPI Paediatric Cardiology HST points estimator

Answer one question for each scored domain. We add up your points with the published rules shown on each step, then show what you could still add before the deadline, with dates. It takes about two minutes.

We'll show your result and email you a copy.

Which are you applying for?
When are you applying?

We use this to date your plan. Applying this round, it works back from the deadline. Applying next year, you get the long-run version instead.

Shortlisting (2027 intake). Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 20.

Maximum 5 pointsProfessional Qualifications/Education

Professional Qualifications/Education | Undergraduate performance, teaching awards, higher degrees

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 5 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Undergraduate performance, teaching awards and higher degrees.

Watch out. A teaching award is listed here, not under Teaching Experience, so put it in this row.

Caps. RCPI publishes only the row maximum (5). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

Maximum 5 pointsPublication & Audit Experience

Publication & Audit Experience | Publications, specialty publications, presentations, posters, audit – proof of same will be required

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 5 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Publications, specialty publications, presentations, posters and audit, each with proof.

Watch out. Items without proof don't count: "proof of same will be required".

Caps. RCPI publishes only the row maximum (5). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

Maximum 6 pointsProgression in Clinical Practice and Suitability

Progression in Clinical Practice and Suitability | Candidate shows evidence that present achievement and performance is commensurate with the totality of the period of training, e.g. experience in specialty, attendance at specialty clinics etc. Candidates must show their suitability for a career in Paediatrics and their career trajectory.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 6 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Experience in the specialty, attendance at specialty clinics, and evidence that your progress matches your time in training and that Paediatric Cardiology suits you.

Watch out. This is the biggest row (6 of 20) and it is judged against "the totality of the period of training", so more years are expected to show more.

Caps. RCPI publishes only the row maximum (6). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

Maximum 2 pointsLeadership & Management Experience

Leadership & Management Experience | Candidate demonstrates experience in leadership or management role e.g. Rostering duties, hospital committee membership,etc.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

A leadership or management role, for example rostering duties or hospital committee membership.

Watch out. The examples are formal roles (rostering, committees); helping out informally is harder to evidence.

Caps. RCPI publishes only the row maximum (2). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

Maximum 2 pointsTeaching Experience

Teaching Experience | Candidate demonstrates experience with teaching, outside of day-to-day teaching of medical students or higher qualification in teaching

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Teaching outside routine teaching of medical students, or a higher qualification in teaching.

Watch out. Routine bedside teaching of medical students is excluded by the wording, so list teaching beyond it: nurses, juniors, simulation, organised programmes.

Caps. RCPI publishes only the row maximum (2). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

Interview (2027 intake). Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 100.

Maximum 20 pointsCV – career to date

CV – career to date | 20

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Your career so far as the panel reads it from your application and your answers.

Watch out. The structured application form is the panel's starting point, so anything left off it is hard to bring in on the day.

Caps. Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

Maximum 20 pointsResearch/Audit/Teaching

Research/Audit/Teaching | 20

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Your research, audit and teaching, discussed with the panel.

Watch out. Teaching is scored here alongside research and audit, so have one teaching example ready with what you did, for whom and what changed.

Caps. Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

Maximum 20 pointsClinical Question 1

Clinical Question 1 | 20

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

A clinical question set by the panel.

Watch out. Clinical reasoning is two fifths of the interview, so prepare cases as much as your CV.

Caps. Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

Maximum 20 pointsClinical Question 2

Clinical Question 2 | 20

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

A second clinical question.

Watch out. Worth as much as your whole CV domain.

Caps. Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

Maximum 20 pointsSuitability/Professionalism/Interview Performance

Suitability/Professionalism/Interview Performance | 20

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Suitability for Paediatric Cardiology, professionalism and how you perform at interview.

Watch out. This is scored on the day, not from paperwork.

Caps. Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

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Where these numbers come from

  • 10 domains, worded as in the official guide
  • 2 official sources, each dated
Method and sources

Your score adds up the option you pick in each domain, using the published rules shown on each step. "Could still add" uses only steps the guide allows before the deadline. No competition figures are shown for Irish HST. Last checked 30 October 2026.

  1. RCPI Entry Guidance and Advice: HST Shortlisting and Interview Criteria & Specialty Entry Requirements. 2027 intake. The page says "Applications for our 2027 Higher Specialist Training (HST) programmes are now closed." Criteria are published as tables on the page, not as PDFs.
  2. RCPI HST Application Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions. 2027 intake ("Applications for our Higher Specialist Training (HST) programme will open 01 October 2026.")

HST Paediatric Cardiology is the one RCPI programme that accepts UK training as equivalent: “Access to HST from BST completed either in Ireland or UK. Equivalence based on training requirements.” If the Faculty of Paediatrics shortlists, it reviews your appraisals and scores five rows: Professional Qualifications/Education 5, Publication & Audit Experience 5, Progression in Clinical Practice and Suitability 6, Leadership & Management Experience 2 and Teaching Experience 2. There’s no total line; the rows add up to 20. RCPI publishes only the maximum for each row, so the panel decides each mark. The calculator at the top of this page is a self-estimate: you rate yourself against each row and it adds up your own estimate, not RCPI’s score. The interview is out of 100, in person, on 5 February 2027. The 2027 window closed at 5pm on 29 October 2026, and MRCPI Clinical must be passed by 31 December 2026.

Where Teach the Teacher counts for Paediatric Cardiology

We claim the course on the Teaching Experience row (2 of 20), and the panel decides. The row reads “Candidate demonstrates experience with teaching, outside of day-to-day teaching of medical students or higher qualification in teaching”. The Erudical course is a live online day with “6 hours of live teaching with an expert”, plus a self-paced course of over 12 hours in 20 modules. It’s training in teaching, not a postgraduate qualification, so show it alongside teaching beyond routine student teaching, such as an ECG or echo series for SHOs or a programme you run for the ward team. The 2027 window has closed, so it counts from the next window. At interview, teaching is part of Research/Audit/Teaching (20 of 100). We claim the course there as formal training in teaching; it carries no fixed marks, and the panel decides what it adds.

Rules in the Paediatric Cardiology criteria that change a score

Shortlisting “will be a review of the Appraisals submitted on your behalf”, so appraisals carry weight next to the CV. UK applicants still need MRCPI: the FAQ says “All HST candidates must have successfully passed their MRCPI Clinical Examination relevant to their speciality by 31st December 2026” and “MRCP UK and Membership from other Irish Training Bodies are not considered equivalent, unless otherwise specified.” The equivalence exception covers BST only. Publications, presentations, posters and audit need “proof of same”, and nothing can be added after the close: “No, the Admissions Team is not in a position to accept any documents or updates to applications following the close of applications.” Places follow interview rank. The interview has five domains of 20: CV – career to date, Research/Audit/Teaching, two clinical questions, and Suitability/Professionalism/Interview Performance.

Worked example: a UK ST4 paediatric registrar

Take a UK ST4 with MRCPI Paediatrics, two national posters on Kawasaki disease, an echo audit, a seat on the junior doctors’ forum and a monthly ECG teaching series for paediatric SHOs. The ECG series is outside day-to-day teaching of medical students, so it fits Teaching Experience. The forum is less formal than the leadership row’s examples (rostering, hospital committee). RCPI publishes no marks within rows, so we can’t total this. A Teach the Teacher certificate adds a teaching course beside the ECG series on a row worth 2 at most; the panel decides, from the next window.

RCPI Paediatric Cardiology HST shortlisting points at a glance

RCPI 2027 intake shortlisting and interview criteria Last checked

Shortlisting (2027 intake)

Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 20.

The table has no total row; the five row maxima (5, 5, 6, 2, 2) add up to 20. "The Faculty of Paediatrics may be required to shortlist applicants, included in this shortlisting will be a review of the Appraisals submitted on your behalf, as outlined below:" Ranking: "Posts are allocated by the NSD(s) taking into account rank at interview and available places." Self-estimate (owner ruling 30 Oct 2026): RCPI publishes only the maximum for each row, so the calculator asks you to rate yourself on each row (none, some, good, strong) and adds up your own estimate. These steps are ours, not RCPI's; the panel scores the real marks.

RCPI Paediatric Cardiology HST Shortlisting (2027 intake): every domain, what scores and the maximum
DomainWhat scores (official wording)Max
Professional Qualifications/Education
  • 0 points None yet
  • 1.5 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 3.5 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 5 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 5 points.

RCPI publishes only the row maximum (5). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

5
Publication & Audit Experience
  • 0 points None yet
  • 1.5 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 3.5 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 5 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 5 points.

RCPI publishes only the row maximum (5). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

5
Progression in Clinical Practice and Suitability
  • 0 points None yet
  • 2 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 4 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 6 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 6 points.

RCPI publishes only the row maximum (6). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

6
Leadership & Management Experience
  • 0 points None yet
  • 0.5 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 1.5 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 2 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points.

RCPI publishes only the row maximum (2). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

2
Teaching Experience
  • 0 points None yet
  • 0.5 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 1.5 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 2 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points.

RCPI publishes only the row maximum (2). The panel decides the mark; no bands or examples of scores are published.

2
TotalNot published as a single figure: this is the sum of the domain maxima.20

Shortlisting (2027 intake): Dates for this round

  • Applications opened (2027 intake) source
  • This round closed 29 Oct 2026 (2027 intake); nothing can be added to those applications source
  • MRCPI Clinical must be passed (FAQ wording) source
  • Next applications open (2028 intake), expected early October 2027 expected source
  • Next applications close (2028 intake), expected late October 2027: what you claim must be done by then expected source

Shortlisting (2027 intake): What you can still add before 29 October 2027

What each of these adds is the difference between the option you would reach and the one you already hold, so it can be nothing if you hold that option already. The calculator works out the gain from your own answers.

  • Publication & Audit Experience. For the next intake: finish an audit cycle or QI project and present it, and submit papers early enough to be published or accepted before the window opens. Keep verifiable proof of each one.
  • Leadership & Management Experience. For the next intake: take on a formal role (rota, committee, QI or teaching lead) and get a dated letter confirming it.
  • Teaching Experience. For the next intake (window expected October 2027): complete the Erudical Teach the Teacher course (live day plus self-paced) and keep both certificates, and keep a dated log of teaching you deliver, with feedback where you can get it. Gets you to: Some (about a third of the marks).

Interview (2027 intake)

Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 100.

Five domains of 20, total 100 as published. Self-estimate (owner ruling 30 Oct 2026): RCPI publishes only the maximum for each row, so the calculator asks you to rate yourself on each row (none, some, good, strong) and adds up your own estimate. These steps are ours, not RCPI's; the panel scores the real marks.

RCPI Paediatric Cardiology HST Interview (2027 intake): every domain, what scores and the maximum
DomainWhat scores (official wording)Max
CV – career to date
  • 0 points None yet
  • 6.5 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 13.5 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 20 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points.

Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

20
Research/Audit/Teaching
  • 0 points None yet
  • 6.5 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 13.5 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 20 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points.

Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

20
Clinical Question 1
  • 0 points None yet
  • 6.5 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 13.5 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 20 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points.

Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

20
Clinical Question 2
  • 0 points None yet
  • 6.5 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 13.5 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 20 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points.

Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

20
Suitability/Professionalism/Interview Performance
  • 0 points None yet
  • 6.5 points Some (about a third of the marks)
  • 13.5 points Good (about two thirds)
  • 20 points Strong (full marks for this row)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 20 points.

Interview domain worth 20. RCPI publishes the category and its marks only; the interview panel scores it.

20
Total100

Interview (2027 intake): Dates for this round

  • This round closed 29 Oct 2026 (2027 intake); nothing can be added to those applications source
  • HST Paediatric Cardiology interviews (in person) source
  • Next applications open (2028 intake), expected early October 2027 expected source
  • Next applications close (2028 intake), expected late October 2027: what you claim must be done by then expected source

Interview (2027 intake): What you can still add before 29 October 2027

What each of these adds is the difference between the option you would reach and the one you already hold, so it can be nothing if you hold that option already. The calculator works out the gain from your own answers.

  • Research/Audit/Teaching. For the next intake (window expected October 2027): complete the Erudical Teach the Teacher course (live day plus self-paced) and keep both certificates, and keep a dated log of teaching you deliver, with feedback where you can get it. Gets you to: Some (about a third of the marks).

Evidence traps

  • Nothing can be added after the close. A paper accepted or a talk given after 5pm on 29 October 2026 waits for the next window. No, the Admissions Team is not in a position to accept any documents or updates to applications following the close of applications. source
  • Your appraisals are reviewed as part of shortlisting, so they matter as much as the CV. The Faculty of Paediatrics may be required to shortlist applicants, included in this shortlisting will be a review of the Appraisals submitted on your behalf, as outlined below: source
  • Teaching medical students on the ward doesn't fit the Teaching Experience row; it asks for teaching beyond that, or a higher qualification. Candidate demonstrates experience with teaching, outside of day-to-day teaching of medical students or higher qualification in teaching source
  • Every publication, presentation and research item needs proof uploaded with the application, and RCPI reviews only the documents it asks for. Verifiable proof will be required. Please follow the instructions on the application form. ... Please only upload the requested documents. Additional documents will not be reviewed. source
  • MRCPI Clinical is a hard entry rule with no exceptions, and MRCP(UK) isn't accepted as equivalent unless the specialty says so. All HST candidates must have successfully passed their MRCPI Clinical Examination relevant to their speciality by 31st December 2026. There are no exceptions to this requirement. ... MRCP UK and Membership from other Irish Training Bodies are not considered equivalent, unless otherwise specified. source

Sources

For every row, the interview marks and the official dates on one printable page, add your email and we’ll send you the PDF.

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Paediatric Cardiology HST questions, answered

How many points is teaching worth for RCPI HST Paediatric Cardiology?

2 of the 20 shortlisting marks, for “Candidate demonstrates experience with teaching, outside of day-to-day teaching of medical students or higher qualification in teaching”. At interview it is part of Research/Audit/Teaching, worth 20 of 100.

Can I apply for HST Paediatric Cardiology in Ireland with UK training?

Yes. The criteria say “Access to HST from BST completed either in Ireland or UK. Equivalence based on training requirements.” and RCPI’s FAQ adds “The only exception to this policy is for applicants to the HST Paediatric Cardiology programme, which accepts UK-based training programmes as equivalent.” MRCPI Clinical is still required by 31 December 2026, and MRCP(UK) isn’t treated as equivalent unless specified.

How is Paediatric Cardiology HST shortlisting scored?

Five rows: Professional Qualifications/Education 5, Publication & Audit Experience 5, Progression in Clinical Practice and Suitability 6, Leadership & Management Experience 2 and Teaching Experience 2, which add up to 20. The Faculty also reviews your appraisals. Only the maxima are published.

When is the HST Paediatric Cardiology interview for 2027?

In person on 5 February 2027. Applications closed at 5pm on 29 October 2026.

Does a teach the teacher course count for HST Paediatric Cardiology?

We claim it on the Teaching Experience row, and the panel decides. Pair it with teaching beyond routine medical student teaching, such as an ECG or echo series for juniors. It counts from the next window.

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