rcsed mfds guide feb 2014

8/10/2019 Rcsed Mfds Guide Feb 2014

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Your Guideto the MFDS

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Your Guideto the MFDSThe 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 understandingand 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 examinationnormally 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.

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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, Croydonand Manchester.

The MFDS Part 1 is also held overseas according to demand, at

venues includingAbu 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 Edinburghand 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.ukor email [email protected].

The curriculum for the MFDS examination is defined in A Curriculum for UK Dental FoundationProgramme 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.


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4 Your Guide to the MFDS

Am I eligible to sit the MFDS?

To be eligible to sit Part 1 of the MFDS, you must have a primarydental 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 andincludes 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 OSCEstations of Part 2.

1. Sit the Part 1 as soon asyou 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


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How do I apply for the MFDS?

Visit the examinations section of the College website at

www.rcsed.ac.ukto 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 tocomplete 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


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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.


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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 myexamination?

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.


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FROM HERE, HEALTH


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 asbeing very useful. It really did make the stress of the exams easier

to cope with.

Dr Patricia Barry-Murphy MFDS RCSEd


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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 drinksreception or dinner.

The RCSEd is a traditional, well-

respected and internationally

recognised College which I am

privileged to be affiliated with.

Dr Verena Toedtling MFDS RCSEd


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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 thegreatest 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.


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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 1600Fax: 0131 668 9231

Email: [email protected]

View the MFDS Examination Regulations atwww.rcsed.ac.uk

Registered Charity No. SC005317

February 2014

rcsed mfds guide feb 2014

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