Effective study skills are an essential component of medical education. Following analysis of current study habits of students attending the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) a brief study skills course was developed for premedical students. Course evaluation indicated that instructed students reported more positive study habits one year later than did those without such instruction: a greater number of instructed students reported taking detailed notes during lectures (56 vs 32%) and starting to revise early in term (28% vs 11%) while fewer of these students routinely used the notes of other students after lectures (2 vs 10%) or as study material (0 vs 6%). A study skills course is now routinely provided in conjunction with individual student counselling, where necessary, to facilitate student success in this Medical School.