MRCS videos are a quick way to understand the surgical exam pathway before you open the regulations: what MRCS is, how Part A and the Part B OSCE work, who is eligible and where the exam can lead. This page groups our videos by theme, with a short written summary under each so you can check the key facts as you watch.
This guide covers each stage of the pathway, how to use the videos alongside your study, and where to find the detail on our written guides.
Table of Contents
How to use this video guide
Use these MRCS videos as an orientation layer, then go to the written guides and the official college pages for the detail. A video helps you see the big picture in a few minutes; the regulations and exam pages are what you rely on for dates, fees and rules.
We suggest you watch one theme at a time, note any questions, and then read the linked guide for that stage. You can find the full playlist on the StudyMEDIC YouTube channel.
What is MRCS: videos on the exam and the colleges
MRCS is the Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons, an intercollegiate exam that is the same for the four surgical royal colleges of the UK and Ireland: RCS England, RCSEd, RCPS Glasgow and RCSI. The exam board is ICBSE, and the exam tests the knowledge and clinical competence expected at the end of core surgical training.
The MRCS videos in this theme explain the two parts and why the exam matters if you want UK surgical training. For a fuller written explanation, read what is MRCS.
Embed video here: What is MRCS
MRCS Part A videos: the written exam
Part A is an online, five-hour multiple-choice exam with two papers on the same day. Paper 1 is Applied Basic Sciences (3 hours) and Paper 2 is Principles of Surgery-in-General (2 hours), and you need minimum competence in each paper as well as the combined pass mark.
These MRCS videos walk you through the structure and how to plan your revision around it. Part A is held at Pearson test centres in the UK and internationally, with three sittings a year, usually January, April and September.
Embed video here: MRCS Part A exam overview
| Part A detail | What to know |
| Format | Online MCQ, two papers, five hours in total |
| Paper 1 | Applied Basic Sciences, 3 hours |
| Paper 2 | Principles of Surgery-in-General, 2 hours |
| Sittings | Three a year, usually January, April and September |
| Fee from 1 January 2027 | £670 |
For the paper-by-paper breakdown, see the MRCS Part A exam format guide.
MRCS Part B OSCE videos: the clinical exam
Part B is an in-person OSCE. RCS England describes 19 stations of nine minutes, made up of 17 examined stations plus 2 preparation stations, with one or more rest stations; check your college’s current guidance, as descriptions vary slightly between colleges.
The stations cover applied knowledge (anatomy and pathology, critical care) and applied skills (communication skills, physical examination and surgical skills). The MRCS videos in this theme show how the circuit flows and how to think about each station type.
Embed video here: MRCS Part B OSCE format
Read the MRCS Part B OSCE format guide for the station-by-station detail.
MRCS videos on eligibility and exam dates
To sit Part A, you need a medical degree acceptable to the UK GMC or the Medical Council in Ireland, or, for international candidates, a qualification from a school listed on the World Directory of Medical Schools. For Part B, you also need to have passed Part A within the last seven years.
Dates change each year, so treat any MRCS videos on timing as a guide and confirm on the official pages before you apply. The table below shows the next Part A sittings listed by RCS England.
| Part A sitting | Application deadline | Exam date |
| January 2027 | 29 Oct 2026 (passed) | 13 Jan 2027 |
| April 2027 | 25 Feb 2027 | 29 Apr 2027 |
| September 2027 | 1 Jul 2027 | 1 Sep 2027 |
Embed video here: MRCS eligibility and exam dates
Check the full detail in our MRCS eligibility guide and the MRCS exam dates page, and confirm on the RCS England Part A page.
Career after MRCS: videos on where it leads
In the UK and Ireland, MRCS is required to complete core surgical training, and trainees are expected to complete both parts to progress to higher specialty training. Outside the UK, recognition depends on the local regulator, so always check current requirements where you plan to work.
The MRCS videos in this theme cover the wider pathway, including the later FRCS, a specialty-level fellowship exam taken at the end of higher surgical training. Our career after MRCS guide sets out the options in writing.
Embed video here: Career after MRCS
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch StudyMRCS MRCS videos?
You can watch them on the StudyMEDIC YouTube channel, and the themes on this page are a guide to what each covers.
Are MRCS videos enough to prepare for the exam?
No. MRCS videos are best for orientation; you still need structured study, question practice and the official exam pages for dates and rules.
Do the videos cover both Part A and Part B?
Yes. This page has themes for Part A, the Part B OSCE, eligibility and dates, and careers after MRCS.
Are exam dates in videos always current?
Not always, because dates change each year. Confirm on the RCS England exam pages and our MRCS exam dates guide before you apply.
How many stations are in the Part B OSCE?
RCS England describes 17 examined stations plus 2 preparation stations, each nine minutes. Check your college’s current guidance.
Is the MRCS the same with every college?
Yes. MRCS is intercollegiate, so the exam is the same across RCS England, RCSEd, RCPS Glasgow and RCSI.
Talk to our MRCS team about which stage to focus on next, or explore our MRCS Part A course.
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