What does IMRCS stand for?

IMRCS stands for the Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons. It is one the membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and is open to surgeons who have passed all parts of the Intercollegiate Membership examination and meet the criteria set.

How can I become a member?

Membership to one of the three royal surgical colleges of Great Britain is open to surgeons who have passed all parts of the IMRCS exam.

The exam syllabus, format and content are common to all three colleges:

• The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• The Royal College of Surgeons of England
• The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. 

How do I know if I am eligible to take the examination?

If you’re from overseas you must hold a primary medical qualification accepted by the Medical Councils of the college. 

If you’re a prospective candidate, you can check if your medical degree is accepted on the World Health Organisation’s list of medical schools. 

You will be eligible for election as a member of the college you’ve chosen to apply for if you’ve successfully passed all parts of the exam.

If you haven’t already attempted Part 1 or Part 2 of the current IMRCS, you will be required to sit the revised IMRCS exam Part A.

How do I apply for part A?

At British Council Oman we only accept registrations for MRCS England Part A. For other colleges, you will need to apply directly.

You need to fill in an application form for IMRCS England Part A and bring it to the British Council in Muscat before the registration deadline.

The IMRCS does not offer Part B here in Oman. You can however take Part B (Oral, Clinical, Communication Skills) in Dubai and Part B (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) in Sharjah and you could contact these centres if interested.

What documents do I need to register?

For Part A registration you need:

  • a completed application form
  • a primary medical qualification that is accepted by the UK General Medical Council for full or provisional registration*
  • two recent photos signed on the back. 

Please note that official English translations are required for certificates that are not in English. A copy of an original certificate is acceptable if it is verified by a public notary or solicitor and has an official stamp accompanying the signature.

You will need to submit the IMRCS fees along with your application in the form of:

  • a bankers draft drawn in favour of the Royal College of Surgeons of England or
  • a debit/credit card payment (details specified in section 5 of the form).

When is the next exam date?

Part Exam Date Registration Dates
Part A 9-Sep-14 25 May–20 June 2014

How many parts are there in the revised IMRCS examination?

The revised IMRCS exam comprises two parts. 

Part A

Part B  OCC OR OSCE
• Is a four-hour multiple-choice question exam consisting of two papers. OCC - Oral, Clinical and Communication Skills
  • Involves an oral component, consisting of three knowledge-based question and answer sessions each lasting 20 minutes.
• Paper 1 covers applied basic science and paper 2 the principles of surgery in general. • Includes a two-part clinical component consisting of short patient examinations and a communication skills test. You must pass the oral component before proceeding to the clinical test.

• Two hours is given to complete each paper and marks for both papers are combined to give a total mark.

• To achieve a pass in Part A you must demonstrate a minimum level of competence in each of the two papers in addition to achieving or exceeding the combined paper pass mark. 

OSCE - Objective Structured Clinical Examination

The OSCE will normally consist of eighteen examined stations each of nine minutes’ duration. 

These stations will examine the following broad content areas:

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

Please note that you must pass Part A before proceeding to Part B. You must also take all components of Part B with the same college. 

How many times can I take the exams?

With effect from April 2013, candidates will be entitled to a maximum of six attempts at Part A. Candidates are permitted six attempts in which to pass all components of Part B (oral, clinical, communication skills). Candidates are allowed up to four attempts at any combination of the MRCS Part B (OSCE), the DOHNS Part 2 (OSCE) or the MRCS Part 3 (OCC).

Where can I sit the exam?

Exams are held separately by each college. You can take the IMRCS England Part A exam at British Council Muscat. You can take exam parts with different colleges, but you need to complete the whole of each individual part with one college. If you’ve applied to sit the exam with more than one of the three colleges at the same time, you’ll forfeit the additional application fee.

How can I get my results?

Results will be published on the college website and sent by post.

How do I postpone my exam or get a refund?

If you require a refund or exam postponement after the registration closing date, you should contact the Royal College of Surgeons directly.

Do you organise exams for people with disabilities?

We do our best to cater for any special needs. We will do all we can to help you understand test questions and ways of giving answers. You will be assessed fairly and objectively irrespective of disability.

If you require special arrangements please get in touch at least three months before submitting your application. Relevant supporting materials such as medical certificates should be submitted during registration. 

Where can I find out more information about the exam?

Visit the Royal College of Surgeons of England website or email examination@rcseng.ac.uk for more information about the IMRCS exam.

External links

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