Academic Intern Track

What is the Academic Intern Track?

Introduced in 2017, the Academic Intern Track provides a small number of interns with opportunities to undertake clinical research, gain experience in medical education, or enhance their leadership and management skills. The programme was created and developed by the Intern Network Executive, driven by TCD, in conjunction with the HSE’s National Doctors Training and Planning and in collaboration with key stakeholders. In 2023, due to the success of the programme, the number of opportunities to participate in Academic Intern Track were doubled from 24 places to 48 places. The NDTP are funding these posts. Essentially, as an intern on the Academic Intern Track you will gain the same clinical experience as other interns and receive the same Certificate of Experience, in addition you will:

Have protected time within the working week during one three-month rotation to undertake a project relating to clinical research, medical education or healthcare leadership and management.
Have an academic supervisor in addition to your clinical supervisors. The academic supervisor will provide you with guidance and support in carrying out your project.
Have access to research seminars and workshops, and additional training and education*.
Have access to a research bursary for up to €2,000 to cover your research costs (e.g., bench fees).
Be required to achieve the same competencies as all other interns, and you will need to complete the same mandatory elements of intern training as all other interns in addition to your academic goals.
Participate in an end of programme national showcase event that highlights the various outputs from the Academic Intern Track programme.

Why apply for the Academic Intern Track?

If you have an interest in clinical research, medical education, or healthcare leadership and management then you should consider applying for the Academic Intern Track. You will be provided with unique opportunities, support and mentorship to help you develop your skills and undertake a substantial project in an area that is of interest to you.

If you would like to experience what life is like as an academic clinician, medical educator, or a leader in healthcare, then the Academic Intern Track will provide you with this opportunity and help you make informed career choices.

If you are focused on a particular specialty and wish to undertake research in that area, participation in the Academic Intern Track will support you in doing so while still achieving the same clinical competencies as other interns.

How many places are there on the Academic Intern Track?

Currently there are 48 places on the Academic Intern Track, eight in each network.

Who can indicate an interest in an Academic Intern Track?

All suitably qualified applicants who are interested in an Intern post with the Irish health service may indicate their interest.

How do I indicate my interest in an Academic Intern Track?

For now, you need only indicate on your Stage 1 online application that you are interested in being considered for the Academic Intern Track posts.

What happens next?

The application window for Academic Intern Track opens in December. In December, you will be invited to submit your application for an Academic Intern Track post.

What will I need to submit?

The application process for the Academic Intern Track will require time and preparation above and beyond what is required for the standard internship programme. Therefore, you are advised to apply for the Academic Intern Track only if you fully intend on accepting a place if it is offered, and use the time between now and the submission date to develop the following supporting documentation:

1. A copy of your CV (no more than 1,200 words) including the following:

A copy of your University transcript (this will need to be verified prior to interview).
Please note, that the transcript you must submit for this process, should represent all years of your undergraduate medical degree to date. Examples below may represent 1 year of the transcript. Examples below are a sample transcript of a completed/graduated applicant. Please note, if you are currently in your final year of your undergraduate medical degree, we do not expect you to submit a transcript containing result from the final year.
Any additional 3rd level qualifications (PhD, Intercalated Masters, Master’s degree, Undergraduate degree)
Electives undertaken
Clinical experience to date
Any audit undertaken
Any research or clinical projects undertaken
Publications
Presentations at national or international conferences
Teaching experience
Any academic distinctions, merits or awards
You may nominate a potential project supervisor* although it is not necessary at this stage
Referee** who can attest to your capacity to undertake the Academic Intern Track (reference letter not required)

(60 marks)

*Please note that your proposed supervisor should be a consultant or equivalent with an academic background and/or supervision experience.

**Please ensure you seek the referee’s permission in advance of providing their name – letter of reference not necessary. Your proposed supervisor and referee do not need to be the same person.

2. A proposal for a research project you would like to undertake during the academic track including the following information:

(A) Title and broad outline of the research project, background information, why you would like to do this project, suggested methodology and how you would achieve a substantial portion of this work in the designated 12-week timeframe (max 700 words). Applicants are reminded that it is possible to do their research project in a discipline other than that associated with the clinical academic rotation.

(B) Proposed outcomes of the academic rotation (max 300 words):

What are your anticipated outcomes for your project?
What do you personally hope to achieve by participating in the academic track?
In what way will participation in the academic track for internship enhance your career?

Please outline some of the practical aspects of doing your project while also undertaking your clinical work during the intern year.

(40 marks)

You must select from all 48 posts preferences in your on-line application and indicate either a post preference (e.g., Academic 012). If you do not list all 48 posts but are successful at interview, you may not receive an offer if your preferred posts have already been allocated.

How are Academic Intern Track Posts allocated?

If you are shortlisted by the Academic Intern Track Recruitment Team, you will be contacted by them and invited to attend for an interview. If you are successful at interview, you will be ranked in order of merit based on a number of factors, including:

Whether you are a CAO entry student / non-CAO entry student to Medical School, as this will affect the order in which your application is considered in this allocation process;

Whether you are an EEA national / non-EEA national who does not require an employment permit to work in Ireland / non-EEA national requiring an employment permit to work in Ireland, as this will affect the order in which your application is considered in this allocation process;

The number of Academic Intern Track posts available.

In practice, this means that applicants for Academic Intern Track posts who accepted a place in an Irish medical school through a CAO offer will be allocated to Academic Intern Track posts ahead of applicants who accepted an Irish medical school place directly from the medical school, and, applicants who will not require a permit to work in Ireland will be allocated to posts ahead of applicants who will require a permit to work in Ireland. Applicants from Non Irish Medical Schools may express an interest in Academic Intern Track Posts.

If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of an Academic Intern Track post. This offer is dependent on your eligibility after Stage 2 of the HSE NRS intern application process and passing your final year exams. If allocated to an Academic Intern Track post, successful completion of all necessary pre-employment checks by the individual employer.

Once you have accepted an Academic Intern Track post, you will not be offered another intern post. If you are unsuccessful or decline the offer of an Academic Intern Track post, you will remain in the overall Intern match process conducted by NRS and the post preferences you have indicated at Stage 2 will be applied to you.

What about centiles?

Recruitment for the Academic Intern Track posts will take place before final year exams and therefore your centile will not be considered as part of the allocation process. Your exam results from your previous years of medical school will be taken into consideration. It is possible for someone to achieve the highest centile and not achieve an Academic Intern Track post.

Why is there a separate allocation / match process?

Successful applicants will be notified by the Academic Intern Track Recruitment Team of their allocation to the Academic Intern Track before final year exams commence. This will provide time to contact and meet with your academic supervisor, agree upon a project and undertake any relevant preparatory work. We strongly advise that Academic Intern Track candidates make the best use of this extra notice before commencing internship to prepare for what will undoubtedly be an exciting and challenging experience