The MRCS Part B is a clinical exam for surgeons and surgical trainees which attracts many candidates each year. We currently have overseas centres for our MRCS Part B exam in Egypt (Cairo), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), the UAE (Dubai) and India (Delhi) and are looking to expand and provide greater accessibility for candidates for our overseas exams.

As a host you will be involved in the planning and preparation of the exam to ensure we continue to deliver the same high-quality exam wherever we are in the world. We are interested in hearing from potential new host venues for our overseas examinations. If you are interested in your hospital (or other venue) hosting an overseas MRCS Part B examination, please follow the process outlined below.

How can we become a Host Venue?

Our preference would be to have the host themselves hold the MRCS or have a local MRCS sponsor willing to be involved with the examination delivery.

At every stage of identifying a new venue, we have to consider the cost implications to ensure value for money for the College and our candidates. Please be as open about the potential venue costs from the expression of interest

We will also need to consider the implications of safe travel for our examiners, staff and candidates so please be mindful of current FCDO travel advice. It is unlikely we will be able to consider any venues in locations with current travel safety warnings.

Step 1: Complete the expression of interest form.

This short form outlines our requirements of host centres and ensure that we get some basic initial information from prospective host centres. Receipt of the form will be acknowledged within 1 week of submission.

Step 2: Exams staff will review the expression of interest and assess initial viability – this may include further questions for the potential host and will also include a data viability assessment of the location to ensure the likelihood of candidates wishing to sit at the venue.

Step 3: If the initial assessment of the expression of interest is successful, Exams staff will arrange an initial video call on Microsoft Teams. This will include further details about the venue and location (including potential local transport and hotels) to further assess the viability of the potential venue. Following this call, Exams staff will request detailed cost breakdowns.

Step 4: If viability assessment and initial calls are successful and the venue seems to be a good fit for College examinations, Exams staff will arrange an in-person site visit. This will be a short visit – no more than 1-2 days – and the potential host will be expected to show staff around the venue and the local area. This visit would usually be tied in with an additional local examination to reduce travel time and costs for staff. This means that the visit could be several months away or at quite short notice.

Step 5: Assuming that there are no major concerns at this stage, Exams staff will arrange a follow up video call on Microsoft Teams to finalise dates for an initial pilot delivery of an MRCS Part B examination. This will detail expectations on deadlines for things to be arrange and confirmed.

Step 6: In the lead up to first delivery, Exams staff will provide a spreadsheet detailing deadlines for different tasks to be completed and communicated. At this point, we would expect a response time from our hosts of no more than 3 working days to ensure we do not miss crucial dates in the operational process of setting up a new host venue.

Step 7: Our first delivery in a new venue will be considered a pilot test – the examination will run as expected for candidates but there will no expectation that this will become a permanent venue until after first delivery and evaluation.

Step 8: Following first delivery, Exams staff will arrange a video call via Microsoft Teams to fully evaluate the venue. If any concerns are unable to be resolved or addressed, the College will have to re-evaluate using the venue for future delivery. Assuming that no major concerns were raised at this stage, the College would add the venue as a regular delivery site and look at confirming the most immediate next delivery date at that venue.

Step 9: It is at this stage that we would look for a UK-based convenor to be matched with the centre, if there is not already one for the location. This will be a clinical examiner who will be an additional point of contact and support for the local host venue.