MRCS Exam Centre now in Delhi, Apply by Feb 12 to gain membership of UK Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

New Delhi: Bringing good news to the doctors aiming to pursue their surgical career, a new examination centre for Membership of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (MRCS) Part B examination is set to open in Delhi.

The announcement in this regard came from the Royal College of Physicians and Glasgow on Tuesday i.e. January 09, 2024. Issuing a release, the institute informed that the first exams will run from 1-3 May 2024. The closing date for applications is Monday 12 February, 2024.

MRCS is a globally-recognised intercollegiate exam run by the four Surgical Royal Colleges in the UK and Ireland, forming part of the UK surgical training pathway.

The launch of the Delhi exam centre follows the opening of an MRCS Part B exam Centre in Pune in partnership with Symbiosis International, which is now fully booked, and a centre in Thiruvananthapuram in partnership with KiMS Health, which will run the exam in September.

A fundamental part of surgical training, the exam is an OSCE – an objective structured clinical exam – assessing applied knowledge and skills. It includes 17 examined stations assessing applied knowledge and skills.

Mike McKirdy, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, said, "We are very proud of our international community of Fellows and Members, and the development of the Delhi exam centre reflects our longstanding friendship with the surgical community in India."

"The MRCS – the ‘gold standard’ exam for surgeons – is highly sought after around the world and remains a crucial milestone of the surgeon’s career in the UK. The Delhi centre is now open for applications, and our highly-experienced exams team is looking forward to meeting our Delhi candidates in May," he added.

The creation of the Delhi centre was welcomed by Professor Pawanindra Lal, Director Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery at Maulana Azad Medical College at the University of Delhi. He said, "I am delighted that the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow is opening this MRCS Part B centre in Delhi to further enable access to this pivotal exam for talented trainee surgeons."

"Successful completion of both parts of the MRCS exam not only proves that you have the correct knowledge, skills and attributes to progress to higher levels of specialist surgical training, but also provides eligibility for election to the College, which provides support and professional development to surgeons throughout every stage of their career," he further mentioned.

"With high levels of demand from candidates for the MRCS Part B, I would encourage trainee surgeons to apply at the first opportunity," Dr. Lal added.

The exam is open to all candidates who have passed the MRCS Part A exam, including those who have passed the MRCS Part A exam with another UK or Irish Royal College.

The MRCS exam is taken by those who are interested in doing a career in surgical training in the UK. Such doctors become eligible to work in the UK in a surgical residency post without taking the PLAB exam. Further, those to clear the exam get an international membership by an international college, which in turn validates the qualification of such doctors at an international level, explained Dr. Lal, who is also a fellow of the institute and has been given the responsibility of hosting the exam as a local convener host.

Generally, around 40 candidates appear for the exam in one day. This is a three-day examination so, it takes around 120 candidates at one centre. The centers are booked by the candidates on a first come first serve basis. Around 60-80% of the candidates usually clear the exam.

Further information and the link to the application form are available on the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow website at rcp.sg/delhi. 

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