Exam Details - Intercollegiate MRCS Part B - OSCE

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Intercollegiate MRCS Part B - OSCE

The Intercollegiate MRCS Part B (OSCE) integrates basic surgical scientific knowledge and its application to clinical surgery. Its purpose is to build on the test of knowledge in Part A and assess how this is applied in clinically appropriate contexts. This is done through a series of stations reflecting elements of day-to-day clinical practice.

Membership of the College

By choosing to sit your MRCS Part B exam at RCSEd, you will be joining our membership network of approximately 30,000 professionals in over 100 countries worldwide. As well as joining a College renowned for its friendliness and approachability, the College offers a wide range of membership services to support you through every step in your career and professional development.

Exam Benefits

Pass both parts of the MRCS exam to prove that you possesses the correct knowledge, skills and attributes to complete basic training and to progress to higher levels of specialist surgical training.

Exam Format

The Intercollegiate MRCS Part B is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). The exam consists of seventeen examining stations and two preparation stations, each lasting ten minutes. Rest stations may be added to accommodate candidate numbers. Candidates are given a one-minute reading time in which there are clearly defined instructions, briefly outlining the scenario and describing the task.

The stations are divided into two broad components:

  1. Applied Knowledge - consisting of anatomy, surgical pathology, applied surgical science and critical care
  2. Applied Skills - consisting of communication skills in giving and receiving information, history taking and clinical & procedural skills

Candidates must pass both the knowledge and skills components to pass Part B.

Costs

Exam Fee£1099

Exam Eligibility

Candidates must have passed the Intercollegiate MRCS Part A exam to be eligible to apply for Part B.

They must hold a medical qualification that is acceptable to the UK General Medical Council for Full or Provisional Registration or to the Medical Council in Ireland for Full or Temporary Registration. Overseas candidates must hold a medical qualification acceptable to the Councils of the colleges.

First-time applicants whose names do not appear on the Registers of the UK General Medical Council or Medical Council in Ireland must submit their original certificate (or an authenticated copy) of a medical qualification acceptable to the Councils of the four Colleges.

Full details can be found in the Intercollegiate MRCS Regulations document

Candidates have 4 attempts in which to pass their Intercollegiate MRCS Part B OSCE and must successfully complete this within seven years of passing their Intercollegiate MRCS Part A or MRCS Parts 1 and 2.

Additional Information

Before applying for this exam, please ensure you have read and understood the relevant documentation.

Our Exam Policies and Procedures page will provide you with more general information about sitting an exam at the College.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible to sit this exam with a basic medical degree?

Candidates must possess a primary medical qualification that is acceptable to the UK GMC or the IMC. For international medical qualifications, these must be acceptable to the Council of RCSEd.

How many attempts do I have?

Candidates have 4 attempts to pass their Intercollegiate MRCS Part B (OSCE) exam.

I have used all 4 attempts, can I have another attempt?

There is an Intercollegiate policy that allows candidates to apply for an additional attempt. More information, including the relevant application form, can be found on the College website under Exams Policies and Procedures.

How long do I have to complete this exam?

Candidates have 7 years to pass their Intercollegiate MRCS Part B (OSCE). The 7 year period begins when a candidate passes their Intercollegiate MRCS Part A.

I am a first-time applicant, what additional documentation do I need to submit?

You will be asked to submit a certified copy of primary medical qualifications (unless you have a GMC/IMC Number), 2 passport photographs, and a signed declaration to confirm that you have read and understood the regulations.

I am a re-sit applicant, what additional documentation do I need to submit?

You will need to submit a signed declaration form to confirm you have read and understood the regulations.

Do I need to provide my own equipment?

All equipment you require for each station is provided for you. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own medical equipment (e.g. stethoscope) if you feel more comfortable using this.

How can I apply for an examination?

You can apply for an examination via the RCSEd College website by completing the application form online or by downloading the paper application and submitting this to the Examination Section by post.

Where and when are the examinations held?

We hold examinations in the UK and Internationally. Please check the College website for exact dates and locations.

Where do I send my supporting documents?

Surgical Examinations

You can submit supporting documents electronically by scanning copies and emailing these to surgical.exams@rcsed.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can send it by post to the College address of FAO Examinations Department, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW.

FPHC Examinations - FIMC / DIMC / DRTM / DUMC

You can submit supporting documents electronically by scanning copies and emailing these to fphc.exams@rcsed.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can send it by post to the College address of FAO FPHC OFFICE, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW.

I want to postpone my examination, what do I do?

Sadly, we cannot allow candidates to postpone their examination to a later diet. You will need to withdraw from the examination and then re-apply for the examination diet you wish to sit.

I want to withdraw from an examination, how do I do that?

You must advise the Examinations Department in writing (via email) that you wish to withdraw from an examination. Depending on when you request to withdraw, you may be asked to provide supporting evidence. If you withdraw before the closing date for application, there is no requirement to submit evidence. However, following the closing date, you will be required to submit evidence which must be received by the College within 14 days of the examination commencement date.

What are suitable reasons for withdrawing from an examination?

There are a number of number of reasons for needing to withdraw from an examination; these are:

  • medical reasons (illness prior or illness on the day of an examination)
  • compassionate grounds (e.g. bereavement)
  • unable to secure time off work
Can I get a full refund following my withdrawal from an examination?

Candidates who withdraw from an examination will be subject to a 20% administrative fee. 80% of your fee will be returned via the original payment method used to pay for the examination.

When will I receive my candidate notice?

Candidate notices are usually sent 4-6 weeks prior to the examination commencement date.

Will I be quarantined?

Occasionally candidates need to be quarantined. This depends on the examination session you are allocated to. For most examinations, we quarantine candidates who sat the morning examination session until the afternoon examination session has commenced. A light lunch is normally provided for you. You will receive information about whether you need to be quarantined in your candidate notice.

Is there somewhere to store my belongings?

Yes - where possible, we will provide you with a securely locked cloakroom to store your belongings. If this is not possible, we will have a designated area in the examination hall for this.

Can I keep my mobile phone and other electronic devices on my person?

When you register for the examination on the day, you will be asked to hand over your mobile phone and any other electronic devices (e.g. tablets, smartwatches) to the RCSEd Coordinator. Your device(s) will be placed in an envelope marked with your candidate number and stored securely in the RCSEd Administration Office while you undertake your examination.

When will my results be published?

Each examination varies. Results are normally published around 6 weeks after the examination has taken place. The intended results publication date will be stated on your candidate notice, and it will also be mentioned at your examination sitting.


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Get in touch

If you have any questions about this exam, please contact us and a member of our Examinations team will be happy to help you.

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Examinations Section

Phone: +44 (0)131 527 1600
Fax: +44 (0)131 527 6406

Email: surgical.exams@rcsed.ac.uk