Your Guide to the MFDS

FROM HERE, HEALTH

Your Guide to the MFDS

The Diploma of Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of The Royal College of
Surgeons of Edinburgh is a long established quality assured assessment that was revised
and updated in 2007. It enables graduates to demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge,
understanding and clinical competence that will have been obtained during Dental
Foundation Training. It marks a level of achievement above and beyond the primary dental
qualification and clearly exhibits an early commitment to professional development.
For those aspiring to enter specialty training, it will also provide a significant contribution to the
portfolio of evidence that would be required to indicate suitable eligibility.
PART 1
Part 1 of the MFDS is a three hour
examination consisting of Multiple Choice
Questions, with a mix of Single Best Answer
and Case Cluster format questions. This
question paper is designed to test your
knowledge and the deeper understanding
and application of that knowledge in a
clinical context.
The blueprint for the paper can be
found in the MFDS Guidance to Candidates
document on the College website at
www.rcsed.ac.uk

PART 2
Part 2 of the MFDS is an Objective Structured
Clinical Examination (OSCE), designed to test
your clinical competence by assessing your
communication skills and your knowledge,
understanding and management of a range
of common conditions. The examination
normally lasts around two hours, and
consists of 10 stations which are examined
plus a number of rest stations.

For further information about the MFDS

Part 2, there is a candidate guidance video
available on the College website at
www.rcsed.ac.uk/MFDSpart2video
The aim of the video is to assist candidates in
their preparation for the examination. It explains
what will happen on the exam day, provides
practical examples of how the exam will run and
gives important information about the examination.

FROM HERE, HEALTH

Where can I sit the MFDS?

The MFDS Part 1 is held twice a year in April and October at
a variety of venues throughout the UK, including Edinburgh,
Birmingham, Cambridge, Croydon and Manchester.
The MFDS Part 1 is also held overseas according to demand, at
venues including Abu Dhabi, Alexandria, Baghdad, Bahrain,
Bangalore, Brunei, Cairo, Calcutta, Chicago, Colombo,
Hyderabad, Karachi, New Delhi, Qatar, Singapore, Syria
and Trinidad.
In the UK, Part 2 is held twice a year in Edinburgh and once a
year in London. Internationally, RCSEd holds Part 2 at various
overseas centres according to demand.
For more detailed information on dates and venues please visit
www.rcsed.ac.uk or email mfds.exams@rcsed.ac.uk.

The curriculum for the MFDS examination is defined in A Curriculum for UK Dental Foundation
Programme Training, published by the UK Departments of Health. More information about the
specific sections covered in Part 1 and Part 2 of the MFDS examination can be found in the
Guidance to Candidates document. Both of these documents are available on the College
website at www.rcsed.ac.uk.

4 Your Guide to the MFDS

1. Sit the Part 1 as soon as

you become eligible after
graduation
2. Make yourself familiar with
the Dental Foundation and
MFDS Curriculum
3. Attend the MFDS revision
courses
4. Plan and organise your
studies well in advance of
the exam
5. Be confident about your
knowledge
Dr Verena Toedtling MFDS RCSEd

Am I eligible to sit the MFDS?

To be eligible to sit Part 1 of the MFDS, you must have a primary
dental qualification that is acceptable to the College. To sit Part
2 of the examination, you must have written confirmation of
a pass in Part 1 of the MFDS Examination or have exemption
from Part 1 (a list of exempting qualifications is available on
the College website which includes Part 1 MJDF), as well as
completion of 12 months full time postgraduate experience (or
part-time equivalent) in clinical dentistry, before the closing date
for entry to Part 2.

How can I best prepare for the MFDS?

REVISION COURSES
The College offers regular MFDS revision courses including the
Part 1 MFDS Revision course, which aims to increase knowledge
and understanding of the MFDS examination and to provide
revision on topics in the examination syllabus. The Part 2 MFDS
Revision course is run by experienced MFDS examiners and
includes communication skills sessions and practice OSCE
stations.
Please visit the Education section of the College website for
more information at www.rcsed.ac.uk.
An informative video outlining the Part 2 examination is
available online at www.rcsed.ac.uk/MFDSpart2video which
will also assist candidates in their preparation for the OSCE
stations of Part 2.

FROM HERE, HEALTH

How do I apply for the MFDS?

Visit the examinations section of the College website at
www.rcsed.ac.uk to choose the relevant examination, location
and date. Both parts of the examination can be applied and
paid for online or on paper.

What documents will I need in order to

complete an application?
If you are a first time candidate for Part 1, you will need to
provide your GDC Registration number, or alternatively, a
certified copy of your basic dental degree certificate; two
passport sized photographs for your ID/admittance card;
payment (via credit/debit card, cheque or bank draft); and
a signed declaration page to confirm you have read and
understand the regulations for the examination.
If you are a re-sit candidate, you do not need to resubmit the
documents above and can simply pay the fee online.
If you are a first-time candidate for Part 2 with this College, you
will need all the above documents as for sitting the Part 1 for
the first time, along with certified confirmation of your pass at
Part 1 (or exempting qualification) if passed with another College
and documentary evidence of a minimum of twelve months of
postgraduate experience in clinical dentistry.
Prospective applicants should note that the regulations are
subject to change. To view the most up to date regulations
visit www.rcsed.ac.uk

FROM HERE, HEALTH

6 Your Guide to the MFDS

How do I know when and where to attend

my examination?
You will be emailed a candidate notice around four weeks
prior to your examination date, detailing exactly when and
where your examination will be held, and what documents you
will need to bring with you. This notice will ask you to attend
registration in advance of the actual start of the examination;
it is advisable to be prepared for a wait of up to one hour.

What time should I arrive?

Please aim to arrive at the time indicated on your candidate
notice for registration.
For Part 1, candidates will be shown into the examination
hall and asked to take a seat at the desk which shows a
corresponding candidate number to your examination notice.
For Part 2, if you arrive too early you may be asked to return at a
later time. This is simply to avoid candidates from earlier circuits
coming into contact with candidates who have not yet sat the
examination.
When undertaking Part 2, a member of the Colleges
examinations team will call your candidate number when it
is time for you to take your examination and ask you to line
up with the other candidates participating in the same circuit
as you. You will then be led to your starting station and the
examination will start. The examinations team will brief you on
the route that you will take around the stations. However there
will be a staff member available at all times to make sure you
are heading in the right direction.

FROM HERE, HEALTH

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 7

Is there a dress code?

For Part 1, you should attend in comfortable clothes suitable for
a written examination.
For Part 2, you are not required to wear a white coat but should
be smartly dressed.

Will lunch be provided?

For Part 1 examinations, lunch is not provided; there is a break
between the two papers to allow you to have food.
For Part 2, if your examination is in the morning, you may be
quarantined until the candidates for the afternoon circuits have
started their examination. If the quarantine is necessary then
we will provide lunch for the morning candidates. Lunch is not
provided for candidates who have their examination in the
afternoon.

Can I bring food and drink into the

examination room?
No, however the examinations staff will have water available
for you.

I have a disability, will this affect my

examination?
Not at all, you will simply be required to declare any special
requirements at the time of application to ensure that all staff
are fully aware and suitable preparations can be made.

FROM HERE, HEALTH

8 Your Guide to the MFDS

What should I do if I am running late

or cannot attend?
Contact the College immediately on 0131 527 1600, even if you
are sitting the examination in a centre outside of Edinburgh.

Do I need to bring any equipment?

No, all equipment required will be provided at each station.

Do I have to surrender my mobile phone?

You are not required to hand over your mobile phone but you
will be required to sign the mobile phone policy and agree
to ensure that your phone is switched off and left outside
the examination hall or the OSCE circuit in the secure area
provided.

When and how will I get my results?

Results are generally released around a month after the
examination. They will be announced on the College website
and your result letter will be posted out to you within a few days.

What happens if I fail?

There is no limit on the number of attempts for Part 1, so if you
fail, you can apply to re-sit at the next available diet of your
choice. An application as a re-sit candidate can be done online
very simply, with no submission of paperwork required.
Candidates can apply online to re-sit Part 2, provided that the
Part 2 closing date is within five years of having passed Part 1
or one of the exempting qualifications. Otherwise, candidates
must re-enter and pass Part 1 prior to making a further attempt
at Part 2.

FROM HERE, HEALTH

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 9

I thought the exams were very organised and found the information
that was emailed to us i.e. times, dates, maps etc. and even the
information/ example questions posted on the RCSEd website as
being very useful. It really did make the stress of the exams easier
to cope with.
Dr Patricia Barry-Murphy MFDS RCSEd

FROM HERE, HEALTH

10 Your Guide to the MFDS

Ive passed Part 2 of the MFDS, what next?

Once you have successfully passed Part 2 of the MFDS with
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, you will be sent
documentation informing you of the next steps to becoming a
Member of the College. You will need to return election papers
and your election fee which will allow your name to go forward
in the historical ballot for election to the College at the next
Council meeting.
You must affiliate to the College before using the Diploma or
registering the Diploma with your regulatory body.

Will I get to attend a diploma ceremony?

Once the Council approves you as a new Member of the
College, you will receive further communication and be invited
to attend a Diploma Ceremony. Diploma Ceremonies are one of
the most popular events in the College calendar. New Fellows
and Members travel from all over the world to attend and have
their Diploma presented to them by the Dean of the Faculty of
Dental Surgery. Each ceremony is usually followed by a drinks
reception or dinner.

FROM HERE, HEALTH

The RCSEd is a traditional, wellrespected and internationally

recognised College which I am
privileged to be affiliated with.
Dr Verena Toedtling MFDS RCSEd

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 11

Why should I sit the MFDS and affiliate with the

Edinburgh college?
Easily Accessible - Edinburgh is easily accessible from all parts
of the UK and from overseas, with exceptional service by train
and many low cost airlines within the UK. Getting into the city
centre from the airport is very simple and fast, with a frequent
express bus in operation between the airport and Waverley
Train Station every 15 minutes. The College is located in central
Edinburgh, within easy walking distance of Waverley Station
and the Royal Mile. The College has its own hotel on-site and
offers special rates to examination candidates and Fellows and
Members.
Relaxed and Friendly Atmosphere - We understand that the
examination is a very important event for you, and our staff will
do everything possible before and on the day to make you feel
welcome and comfortable.
History - When you become a Member of the College you will
join an illustrious membership which has included some of the
greatest medical innovators and dental surgeons in history.
Representation - The College works tirelessly to represent
its Fellows and Members and their interests in the UK and
worldwide.
Local Presence - With Regional Dental Advisers throughout the
UK and internationally, career advice or local assistance is never
far away.
Benefits - As a Member of the College you will receive access
to an increasing number of membership benefits including
eligibility for research grants/awards, online discounts with a
variety of publishers, receipt of regular College publications and
much more.

FROM HERE, HEALTH

12 Your Guide to the MFDS

AFFILIATION NETWORK
The College offers a Dental Student Affiliate
Network and a Pre-Membership Network.
Contact the College or visit www.rcsed.ac.uk
for more information.

For more information about the MFDS, please

contact:
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh,
Examinations Section,
Adamson Centre,
3 Hill Place,
Edinburgh EH8 9DS
Phone: 0131 527 1600
Fax: 0131 668 9231
Email: mfds.exam@rcsed.ac.uk
View the MFDS Examination Regulations at
www.rcsed.ac.uk

FROM HERE, HEALTH

Registered Charity No. SC005317

February 2014