About Us

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) was founded in 1505 by Royal Charter granted by King James IV. From the discoveries of Simpson and Lister to modern-day pioneers of medicine and dentistry who are developing simulation, VR and robotics, the College has been a seat of learning and advancement for over 500 years. 

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is the oldest Surgical College in the world with a prestigious network of over 32,000 professionals in over 140 countries across the world, touching every stage of the career path from medical student to consultant.

The College is home to Surgeons, Dental Surgeons and members of the Surgical and Dental teams who put Patient Safety at the heart of everything they do. Our high-quality education and examinations ensure that standards are upheld across all specialties and in all countries. 

We are committed to the global health priority of patient safety, which is the main concern of our Fellows and Members. Every aspect of the College's work underpinned by a commitment to improving patient safety and delivering optimal care. We do this by championing the highest standards of surgical and dental practice through our provision of courses, examinations, and Continuous Professional Development; our liaison with external medical bodies; and by influencing healthcare policy across the UK.

We also support our professionals with a host of resources from our membership App, Library Services, Podcasts, Webinars, and our magazine, Surgeons' News, to keep them up to date on the latest techniques, news, data, and insights in their field.

The College headquarters are located in Edinburgh, housed within Surgeons Hall, a world-famous Category A listed building designed by William Henry Playfair in 1832. The main campus hosts a dedicated skills laboratory, the Surgeons' Hall Museums, College Library, a 129-bedroom hotel - Ten Hill Place Hotel, function and meeting facilities - Surgeons' Quarter, a Cafe, and office space for over 210 staff. 

In April 2014, the College opened its second office in Birmingham to cater for the 80% of its UK membership based in England and Wales. 

In January 2018, a third international office was opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to meet the needs of its growing international membership.

Our Offices

Our Faculties

We are proud of our six Faculties: the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS), the Faculty of Surgical Trainers (FST), the Faculty of Dental Trainers (FDT), the Faculty of Perioperative Care (FPC), the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (FPHC), and the Faculty of Remote, Rural and Humanitarian Healthcare (FRRHH). This allows us to drive for development and advancement in key areas across the healthcare spectrum, with aid from key experts within each speciality.

The Privy Council approves the Laws of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Download below.