Exam Details - Intercollegiate MRCS Part A

Candidates must possess a primary medical qualification that is acceptable to the UK GMC or the IMC. For international medical qualifications, these must be acceptable to the Council of RCSEd.

Candidates have 6 attempts to pass their Intercollegiate MRCS Part A exam.

There is an Intercollegiate policy that allows candidates to apply for an additional attempt. More information, including the relevant application form, can be found on the College website under Exams Policies and Procedures.

This is dependent on when you ask to change centres. It is not always possible to do this, so timing is key. Please contact the Examinations Department to discuss this.

You will be asked to submit a certified copy of primary medical qualifications (unless you have a GMC/IMC Number), 2 passport photographs, and a signed declaration to confirm that you have read and understood the regulations.

You will need to submit a signed declaration form to confirm you have read and understood the regulations.

You can apply for an examination via the RCSEd College website by completing the application form online or by downloading the paper application and submitting this to the Examination Section by post.

We hold examinations in the UK and Internationally. Please check the College website for exact dates and locations.

Surgical Examinations

You can submit supporting documents electronically by scanning copies and emailing these to surgical.exams@rcsed.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can send it by post to the College address of FAO Examinations Department, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW.

FPHC Examinations - FIMC / DIMC / DRTM / DUMC

You can submit supporting documents electronically by scanning copies and emailing these to fphc.exams@rcsed.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can send it by post to the College address of FAO FPHC OFFICE, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW.

Sadly, we cannot allow candidates to postpone their examination to a later diet. You will need to withdraw from the examination and then re-apply for the examination diet you wish to sit.

You must advise the Examinations Department in writing (via email) that you wish to withdraw from an examination. Depending on when you request to withdraw, you may be asked to provide supporting evidence. If you withdraw before the closing date for application, there is no requirement to submit evidence. However, following the closing date, you will be required to submit evidence which must be received by the College within 14 days of the examination commencement date.

There are a number of number of reasons for needing to withdraw from an examination; these are:

• medical reasons (illness prior or illness on the day of an examination)
• compassionate grounds (e.g. bereavement)
• unable to secure time off work

Candidates who withdraw from an examination will be subject to a 20% administrative fee. 80% of your fee will be returned via the original payment method used to pay for the examination.

Candidate notices are usually sent 4-6 weeks prior to the examination commencement date.

Occasionally candidates need to be quarantined. This depends on the examination session you are allocated to. For most examinations, we quarantine candidates who sat the morning examination session until the afternoon examination session has commenced. A light lunch is normally provided for you. You will receive information about whether you need to be quarantined in your candidate notice.

Yes - where possible, we will provide you with a securely locked cloakroom to store your belongings. If this is not possible, we will have a designated area in the examination hall for this.

When you register for the examination on the day, you will be asked to hand over your mobile phone and any other electronic devices (e.g. tablets, smartwatches) to the RCSEd Coordinator. Your device(s) will be placed in an envelope marked with your candidate number and stored securely in the RCSEd Administration Office while you undertake your examination.

Each examination varies. Results are normally published around 6 weeks after the examination has taken place. The intended results publication date will be stated on your candidate notice, and it will also be mentioned at your examination sitting.