The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, in partnership with Medtronic, proudly hosted the highly anticipated 2024/2025 Student Surgical Skills Competition Grand Final on Saturday 15 March, at the RCSEd campus. This prestigious competition saw over 1,300 students from medical schools across the UK compete for a coveted spot in the final.
The skills competition is core to what we are here to do as a College, encouraging more medical students to become surgeons. This will only benefit the profession and patients as we increase job competitiveness and, therefore, drive standards ever higher.
The journey to the final unfolded in three stages:
- Online Quiz – Participants first completed an online quiz assessing their core surgical knowledge. The top five scorers from each medical school moved on to the next round.
- Skills Kit Video Submission – Qualifying students received a skills kit and demonstrated three suturing techniques on a banana, submitting their recordings for evaluation. The highest scorer from each school earned a place in the Grand Final.
- Grand Final – Finalists travel to Edinburgh for an intensive one-day event, competing in a series of surgical challenges.
After a rigorous selection process, a record-breaking 43 students from across the four nations secured their place in this year’s Grand Final. To ensure an inclusive and rewarding experience, the College covered travel and accommodation for all finalists.
This year’s event brought together a diverse group of students from across the nation, representing a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Notably, there was a higher number of female finalists than male on this occasion, showcasing strong interest and engagement from women in the surgical field. This diversity fostered enriching discussions and contributed to a dynamic, well-rounded competition.
The Grand Final was an unforgettable day of skill, collaboration, and friendly competition. Thanks to the invaluable support of Medtronic, the event provided an engaging and immersive experience, making it a truly memorable occasion for all involved.
Congratulations to this year’s winners!
🥇 1st place – Laura Saunders, Queen's University Belfast
🥈 2nd place – Poppy Fletcher, University of Plymouth
🥉 3rd place – Matthew Hough, Keele University
Stay tuned for details on the 2025/2026 competition—coming soon!
