Student Support Services
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Student success, health and wellbeing are a University priority. The Student Development and Wellbeing Department (SDW) offers a range of support services and extracurricular opportunities that focus on your academic, personal, and professional development.
The Centre for Student Success (CSS) is a friendly drop-in learning space. It offers many programmes, activities and sessions to promote your engagement with the university and enhance your academic, personal and professional development. These programmes include the Buddy Programme, PathWay Programme, Foundation Year Personal Tutor (PT) Programme, Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) Programme, and Peer-Led Sessions (PLS).
The CSS also helps you in your new learning environment through various resources and learning sessions designed to enhance your study strategies.
Students in later years can enrol in the International Citizenship Award (ICA) and the Student Engagement and Partnership (StEP) programme opportunities. Opportunities for undergraduate personal and professional growth are supported through available funding, enabling students to represent RCSI University at local, national and international academic conferences, workshops, and other relevant events.
‘…the (ICA) programme has significantly shaped my personal and professional identity. It deepened my cultural awareness, strengthened my ethical judgment, and sharpened my reflective thinking. Through leadership roles, research involvement, and real-world ethical challenges, I learned how to advocate for patients and lead with inclusivity.’ ICA Awardee
The RCSI Bahrain International Citizenship Award programme aims to encourage students to develop the skills, values, and attitudes necessary to work effectively in a culturally diverse healthcare environment.
As part of the programme, participants will be tasked with building a portfolio to document and demonstrate their personal development and learnings stemming from interactions with people from diverse backgrounds during extracurricular activities.
- Education – Leadership and Peer Engagement
- RCSI Life – Social Engagement and Leadership
- Local community – Social Engagement and Leadership
- Overseas Challenge
- Research
The ICA is a two-year, longitudinal, mentored pathway programme open to MED2 and N3 students. To be eligible to take part, students must be in good standing and must then attend compulsory workshops on:
- Cultural Competency
- Reflective Writing
Students will record continuous reflective practice in an online diary and will be required to complete and submit a final reflective essay on what makes them an RCSI International Citizen. Students who successfully complete the programme will be assessed by the appointed ICA Board and will receive an award, which is also noted on their graduation transcripts.
For further information on the International Citizenship Award programme, please contact ica@rcsi-mub.com.
All new Foundation Year, Medicine Year 1 and Nursing Year 1 students will be assigned a Personal Tutor (PT), who is an academic member of the staff. Your Personal Tutor will encourage your academic endeavours and provide advice, guidance, and signposting for additional services to assist you on your academic journey to success. The Programme is structured around mandatory meetings in semester 1 and semester 2.
The Centre for Student Success (Student Development and Wellbeing Department) trains the Buddies who will guide you as you start your journey at RCSI Bahrain and adapt to your new learning environment. Buddies are friendly and experienced students with first-hand knowledge of what life is like at RCSI Bahrain. They act as a friendly guide to ‘meet & greet’ new students during orientation, give helpful tips and information about being an RCSI student, and signpost students on important policies and procedures for optimal student experience.
The PathWay Programme forms an important component of new student orientation. PathWay sessions provide new students with important information during the first semester and are designed to assist students in bridging gaps to support a successful transition into third-level learning at RCSI Bahrain.
All new students will receive an introduction to the academic skills required for tertiary-level learning and understand the importance of becoming a self-directed learner.
Through your engagement with the PathWay sessions, you will be able to navigate your new learning environment, become familiar with university facilities and services, and know where to go for help. You will be introduced to the importance of self-care, resilience, personal insight, coping strategies, and embed professionalism in your everyday interactions and behaviours.
PAL is a student-led programme that supports academic, personal and professional development. Volunteer students are trained as PAL Tutors to facilitate the learning of other students. PAL sessions are comfortable, cooperative, collaborative academic learning sessions for FY & Year 1 students. Sessions are timetabled, announced to all students concerned and focused on an hour of discussion, demonstration and interaction. PAL works on what students learn and how they learn, allowing all students to improve their academic performance.
The RCSI Bahrain definition of StEP is:
“Through active student engagement, RCSI is nurturing, promoting and implementing a culture of partnership and inclusivity where the expertise and perspectives of students and staff are equally valued. By working together, we are driving positive change across the RCSI community for the benefit of human health.”
Participation in the StEP programme is an enriching and empowering experience for students and staff. It recognises and equally values the many and varied perspectives and expertise of our diverse national and international RCSI Bahrain community of students and staff. Through partnership, students and staff will work collaboratively to effect real change across RCSI Bahrain. Ultimately, this will lead to an enhancement in the overall student experience. Many opportunities for student participation in StEP projects are announced during the academic year.
If you have any questions or require support, please email :
