Important Election Information
Civica Election Services
The College has appointed contact Civica Election Services (CES) to conduct this election on our behalf. Nomination and voting for all College elections is entirely online. There is no postal vote.
Letters of Support
If you are required to provide a letter of support, then this must be uploaded to the CES website before the nominations close or the nomination will be declared invalid.
Proposers and Seconders
You are responsible for providing the name of a valid proposer and seconder who have indicated their willingness to support you and who are in good standing with the College (see definition of good standing). Automated verification messages will be sent to your proposer & seconder notifying them that they have been added as in support of your application.
Please note that adding proposers and seconders without their knowledge could be considered in breach of the College’s Election Code of Conduct.
You will need to provide their name and email address. As such, it is important that you engage with your proposer and seconder in plenty of time prior to the deadline for nominations and ensure you have this information in advance of starting your nomination.
Please note a nomination will be declared invalid if your supporters are not in good standing and alternative supporters are not received and accepted by the College prior to the deadline for receipt of nominations.
Good Standing
Good Standing in respect of a Fellow or Member means they:
(i) are not in arrears with their subscriptions or fees to the College and/or a Faculty; and
(ii) have no restrictions on their practice from a regulatory body.
You do not need be registered with a regulatory body, if you are no longer in Active Clinical Practice[1].
Eligibility to vote
The College operates a rolling ballot for the election of new Fellows and Members throughout the year. To facilitate the election, the College agrees a cut-off point in advance of the election.
Only Fellows and Members elected to the membership prior to such date will be noted as eligible to vote.
For the 2026 elections, the cut-off date is Friday 15 July.
Voting Link
You will be sent a unique voting link in an email from Civica Election Services.
If you have any queries, please contact Civica Election Services: support@cesvotes.com.
Council Elections
Nominations for Election to Council 2026
We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for RCSEd Election to Council 2026 through Civica Election Services (CES).
There are 4 places available on Council and the College strongly encourages our Fellows to stand for Council and help shape the future of the profession. To find out more about our election and to submit your nomination, please complete the online form via the Start button on the CES website.
You will also be contacted directly by CES from their takepart@cesvotes.com mailbox regarding nominations and voting.
If you have any questions about this election, please contact the President's Office at presidentpa@rcsed.ac.uk.
Voting closes on Tuesday 01 September 2026.
All nominees must provide a letter of support from their primary employer (if applicable). A template letter is available. This must be uploaded to the CES website before the nominations close on 29 June 2026 or the nomination will be declared invalid.
Nominees must also provide the names, roll number (if possible) and email address of two Fellows of the College who are in good standing and who have indicated their willingness to support the nominee at the time of submitting an online application. Automated messages will be sent to your proposer/seconder notifying them that they have been added as supporting your application.
Please note a nomination will be declared invalid if the supporters are not in good standing and alternative supporters who are in good standing are not notified prior to the application process closing on 29 June.
Dental Council Elections
Nominations for Election to Dental Council 2026
The Faculty of Dental Surgery is pleased to announce that nominations are open for election to the RCSEd Dental Council through Civica Election services (CES).
There are three places available on Dental Council and we encourage eligible Fellows of the Faculty of Dental Surgery to put themselves forward. For more information about the election and to nominate yourself, please complete the online form via the Start button on the CES website.
You will also be contacted directly by CES from their takepart@cesvotes.com mailbox regarding nominations and voting.
If you have any questions about this election, please contact the Faculty of Dental Surgery at dental@rcsed.ac.uk.
Voting closed on Monday 24 August 2026.
Deadline for nominations: 17:00 (UK Time) on Monday 13 July 2026
The Faculty of Dental Surgery is now seeking nominations for three positions on Dental Council.
Applicants must be Fellows of the Faculty of Dental Surgery in Good Standing. Due to the current composition of Dental Council, the positions are only open to individuals based within the UK.
These positions are suited to Fellows of the Faculty who would like to take the next step in their leadership journey. The Dental Council is responsible for the strategic direction of the Faculty of Dental Surgery. Working alongside a dedicated Faculty Executive team, Dental Council members will help drive the direction of the Faculty with its focus on professional examinations, education and standards. Dental Council represents the needs of the dental profession within RCSEd and the interests of the Faculty to external partners.
These are elected positions on a voluntary basis with expenses reimbursed and include support for travel and accommodation as needed.
The roles are ideally suited to individuals who are committed to giving back to the dental profession and playing a key role in supporting and engaging with our diverse, friendly and committed community of practice.
For more information on how to nominate please see our nomination portal. For more information on RCSEd elections including Dental Council, please see our Elections Hub.
All nominees must provide a letter of support from their primary employer (if applicable). A template letter is available. This must be uploaded to the CES website before the nominations close on 13 July 2026 or the nomination will be declared invalid.
Nominees must also provide the names, roll number (if possible) and email address of two Fellows of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of RCSEd who are in good standing and who have indicated their willingness to support the nominee at the time of submitting an online application. Automated messages will be sent to your proposer/seconder notifying them that they have been added as supporting your application.
Please note a nomination will be declared invalid if the supporters are not in good standing and alternative supporters who are in good standing are not notified prior to the application process closing on 13 July.
Trainee Election
Background
At its January 2025 meeting, College Council approved the proposal to have two Trainee members of Council. This decision followed wide consultation on the best way to facilitate the input of the College’s affiliated trainees to key College activities, including training, education and assessment.
Period of Office
The successful candidates shall serve on Council for the period from 20 November 2026 to November 2028, demitting office at the AGM in that year.
Voting is now open until Friday 28 August, RCSEd use Civica Election Services (CES) to manage the elections in a secure and confidential way, those eligible to vote should have received a unique email link from CES directly via the email address takepart@cesvotes.com. If you are eligible to vote (please see below for eligibility) and don't recall receiving this email, please check your email spam folder, or contact CES via support@cesvotes.com.
Voting closes on Friday 28 August 2026.
Any candidate wishing to stand for election must:
- Be a UK-based Member, affiliated to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and be in good standing.
- Be a holder of the MRCS or FRCS, the latter of which must have been gained within the last 2 years.
- Be at least at ST3 (or equivalent if in an academic programme)
- Have a proposer and seconder, both of whom should be eligible to vote in this election (see below for criteria).
- Provide supporting documentation from their Training Director and employer granting appropriate leave or circumstance to fulfil the commitments of this role.
The Trainee member of Council will normally be permitted to remain on Council for up to 6 months after their CCT/CST date provided that this does not exceed the 2-year term. Should a Trainee member be unable to complete their 2-year term then a new election process shall be initiated.
All UK-based MRCS holders affiliated to this College and/or UK-based Fellows of this College who have gained their FRCS within the last 2 years and who are still holders of a Trainee number, are eligible to vote. Being in good standing with the College is a pre-requisite of eligibility.
SASLED Election
Background
At its September 2014 meeting, College Council approved the proposal to have an SASLED member of Council. This decision followed wide consultation on the best way to facilitate the input of the College’s affiliated SASLED doctors to key College activities, including training, education and assessment. At its AGM in 2024, the College agreed to increase the number of SASLED places on Council to two and to afford them full voting rights, thus making future SASLED members of Council eligible to stand for higher-office and vote in the election of Office-Bearers.
This is an exciting and important role as part of the Council of the College which represents the professional interests of the College's membership. Decisions made by Council formulate policy and direct the College in its mission to promote the highest standards of surgical practice.
Period of Office
There is one vacancy. The successful candidate shall serve on Council for the period from 20 November 2026 to November 2029, demitting office at the AGM in that year.
Please note, that in addition to becoming a member of the RCSEd Council, the SASLED representatives lead the SASLED Committee, which meets three-times per year, as Chair and Deputy Chair.
To find out more about our election and to submit your nomination, please complete the online form via the Start button on the CES website.
You will also be contacted directly by CES from their takepart@cesvotes.commailbox regarding nominations and voting.
Nominations closed on Friday 14 August 2026.
Voting opens on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Any candidate wishing to stand for election must:
- Be UK-based, Fellows of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, in good standing with the College.
- not be under investigation by or facing disciplinary action of any kind from a regulatory or employing organisation, such as but not limited to the General Medical Council or an NHS Trust or Health Board;
- not be a trustee or member of the Council of any other surgical, medical or dental royal college
- be a holder of the MRCS or FRCS/MFDS or FDS.
- be an SASLED doctor or SASLED dental surgeon.
- have a proposer and seconder, both of whom should be eligible to vote in this election (see below for criteria)
- be able to provide a letter of support from your primary employer confirming that you will be released, as required, to fulfil the role of a member of Council. Please note that non-Office-Bearer members of Council should serve for a maximum of two years beyond leaving NHS/Academic employment or active clinical practice. Candidates may be requested to provide additional evidence in this regard.
SASLED Council Members are elected by the College’s Fellows and Members. Being in good standing with the College is a pre-requisite of eligibility.
Additional Information
[1] Active Clinical Practice means:
a Surgical Fellow or Member of the College
has a valid licence to practise as a medical or dental practitioner from a national regulatory body, such as but not limited to the UK General Medical Council (GMC); and
is engaged as a medical practitioner in a recognised medical specialty for which a licence to practise is required in terms of (i) above.
a Dental Fellow or Member of the College who
is fully registered with a national regulatory body, such as but not limited to the UK General Dental Council (GDC); and
is engaged as a dental practitioner in a recognised dental specialty for which a licence to practise is required by their national regulator in terms of (i) above.
Contact us
For any queries relating to the Council Elections, please email the President's Office: presidentpa@rcsed.ac.uk
For any queries relating to the Dental Council Elections, please email the Faculty of Dental Surgery: dental@rcsed.ac.uk
Documents