The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh proudly hosted the highly anticipated 2025/2026 Student Surgical Skills Competition Grand Final on Saturday 14 March at the RCSEd campus. This prestigious event saw over 1,000 students from medical schools across the UK compete for a coveted place in the final.
The competition lies at the heart of the College’s mission: to inspire and support the next generation of surgeons. By encouraging more medical students to pursue surgical careers, the initiative helps strengthen the profession and ultimately improve patient care through increased competitiveness and higher standards.
The Road to the Grand Final
The journey to the final unfolded across three stages:
- Online Quiz – Participants completed an online assessment of their core surgical knowledge, with the top five scorers from each medical school progressing to the next round.
- Skills Kit Video Submission – Qualifying students received a skills kit and demonstrated three suturing techniques on a banana, submitting recordings for evaluation. The highest-scoring student from each school secured a place in the Grand Final.
- Grand Final – Finalists travelled to Edinburgh for an intensive one-day event, competing in a series of surgical challenges.
Following a rigorous selection process, a record-breaking 46 students from across the four nations earned their place in this year’s Grand Final. To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, the College covered travel and accommodation for all finalists.
This year’s cohort reflected a rich diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Notably, there were more female finalists than male participants-highlighting the growing interest and engagement of women in surgery. This diversity contributed to a dynamic, collaborative, and well-rounded competition environment.
The Grand Final proved to be an unforgettable day of skill, teamwork, and friendly competition. It delivered an engaging and immersive experience, making it a truly memorable occasion for all involved.
Congratulations to the Winners
1st place – Harry Abel
Newcastle University
2nd place – Sandrina Mocartaite
Swansea University Medical School
3rd place – Enya Costin
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Additionally, a huge congratulations to Warwick Medical School, who were the overall top-scoring school from Heat two of the competition. This award was picked up by Surajee Keunghakit, the top-scoring student from the school, huge congratulations!
Top Scoring School
Warwick Medical School (Surajee Keunghakit)
Stay tuned for details of the 2026/2027 competition coming soon!
