The Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) Part 2 examination conducted by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) was successfully delivered in Kuala Lumpur from 31 July to 2 August 2026, hosted by IMU University (International Medical University). The three-day examination diet brought together candidates, examiners, role players and examination teams in an impressive international setting and demonstrated the value of delivering high-quality postgraduate dental assessment by RCS(Ed) beyond the UK.
The Kuala Lumpur diet was a substantial undertaking, with 77 candidates sitting the examination. MFDS Part 2 was delivered as a 10-station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), assessing clinical competence, communication, clinical reasoning and the management of situations encountered in dental practice.
An Impressive Venue
IMU provided an excellent environment for the examination. The university has recently undergone significant refurbishment, and its modern facilities created a professional and welcoming setting for candidates and the examination team.
The examination area was spacious and well partitioned, providing sufficient room for individual OSCE stations. Separate facilities were available for candidates, examiners and role players, while the candidate quarantine area was appropriately located and carefully supervised. Refreshments and catering were provided throughout the examination.
The venue allowed for comfortable facilities, effective audiovisual provision, dedicated candidate and role-player areas, and the close proximity of the examination circuit to supporting facilities. The striking architecture of the university, including its sweeping central staircase and contemporary interior, provided a memorable backdrop to the diet and reflected IMU's wider international outlook and links with academic institutions around the world.
Maintaining Consistency and Fairness
Delivering an OSCE of this size requires considerable preparation and coordination. Examiner briefing and calibration were undertaken before the examination, together with structured rehearsal and calibration of role players. Scenarios were rehearsed so that their delivery could be as consistent as possible for every candidate.
The independent assessor is there to provide objective feedback to the team. For this to remain robust, part of the assessor remit is to report on examiners performance across the three days, to ensure that marking is undertaken carefully against the agreed domains and standards, and to ensure that candidates received the same and fair examination experience.
Continuous Quality Improvement
A notable feature of the diet was the continuous review of the examination as it progressed. Examiner feedback was considered at the end of each day, allowing observations about scenarios, supporting images and the overall balance of the examination to inform future development.
Role players were another important component of the examination. The majority was assessed as good and consistent throughout the three days, with many having previous experience of supporting examinations, particularly encouraging for an overseas examination diet.
Organisation Behind the Scenes
Running an examination for such a large number of candidates over three days inevitably requires careful logistical planning. Candidate registration, quarantine arrangements, examiner and role-player coordination, catering and movement between examination circuits all needed to operate smoothly.
The overall organisation, administration and delivery was seamless and smooth throughout, with strong cooperation between the Royal College of Edinburgh examination team and the local IMU administrative team.
A Positive International Collaboration
Perhaps one of the strongest messages from the Kuala Lumpur diet was the effectiveness of the collaboration between the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and IMU University.
A key highlight was the supportive leadership at IMU and the efficient local team supporting delivery of the examination. Candidate feedback to the external assessor following the circuits was also reported as very positive.
Beyond the examination itself, the visit provided an opportunity for professional interaction between colleagues from different countries. Kuala Lumpur offered an exceptional setting for this, and time spent together outside the examination environment further strengthened the sense of international collaboration.
Looking Forward
The Kuala Lumpur MFDS Part 2 diet demonstrated that a large, complex clinical examination can be delivered successfully internationally while maintaining the standards of fairness, consistency and quality assurance expected of a Royal College examination.
With 77 candidates, 10-station OSCE circuits, three days of examining and extensive involvement from examination staff, local colleagues and role players, its successful delivery represented a considerable collective achievement.
The diet represented a fair test of candidates at the level of MFDS and highlighted the quality of its leadership, administration and support from IMU.
The Kuala Lumpur diet therefore represented more than the successful delivery of another examination. It reflected the increasingly international nature of postgraduate dental education and the value of collaboration between the Royal Colleges and partner institutions in providing accessible, robust and high-quality assessment for dentists around the world.
