Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) is an intercollegiate exam for surgical trainees who wish to become a member of one of the four surgical royal colleges in the UK and Ireland.

Your application for the MRCS must be made via the relevant individual Royal College of Surgeons’ website – either the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; the Royal College of Surgeons of England; or the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland – through which you want to take the exam. The MRCS is an intercollegiate exam, so you’ll take the same exam regardless of which college you choose to book with.

The MRCS examination has two parts: Part A (written paper) and Part B Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). You are strongly advised to read the guidance notes below before sitting the MRCS exam. They cover the following key topics: topics and skills that may be examined.

From May 2022, the four Surgical Royal Colleges of the United Kingdom and in Ireland will deliver the MRCS Part A in partnership with Pearson Vue at their global network of computer test centres. The new system will make the exams secure, simple, transparent and fit for purpose in the 21st century.

A candidate who withdraws his/her entry or is absent for an exam and wishes to sit on a later occasion is required to submit a further application form and fee by the appropriate closing date. Applications are not carried forward from one examination to another.

For MRCS Part B and MRCS (ENT) you will receive your admit letter approximately 4-6 weeks prior to your examination date via email. This letter will confirm your exact examination date, time and venue details.

The College is able to produce a visa letter in support of an application. This will cover the examination period in the country where the exam is being held.

To request a VISA letter, please fill out our VISA Letter Request Form, as soon as possible.

To achieve a pass in Part A, you will be required to demonstrate a minimum level of competence in each paper in addition to achieving or exceeding the pass mark set for the combined total mark for Part A. Candidates may attempt to pass Part A of the MRCS exam six times.

Applications are now open for our next MRCS Part A examination which will take place on Tuesday, 10 September 2024. Examination Date: Tuesday, 10 September 2024. Closing Date: Thursday, 27 June 2024. The MRCS exam aims to assess trainee surgeons in the breadth of both basic sciences and the principles of surgery.