MFDS Regulations
MFDS Regulations
MFDS Regulations
June 2019
Important note: these regulations are under continual review therefore it is recommended that
candidates keep in regular contact with the College to ensure that they have the most up-to-date
information.
Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3
2. Purpose and aims of the examination ......................................................................................................... 3
3. Content of the examination ........................................................................................................................ 3
4. Format of the examination.......................................................................................................................... 3
6. Entrance Requirements ............................................................................................................................... 4
7. Applications for admission to the examination........................................................................................... 4
8. Results ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
9. Feedback...................................................................................................................................................... 5
10. Number of attempts and exemptions ......................................................................................................... 5
11. Infringement of the regulations .................................................................................................................. 5
12. Appeals and complaints .............................................................................................................................. 6
13. Withdrawal from the examination .............................................................................................................. 6
14. Candidates with special circumstances ....................................................................................................... 7
15. Proof of identity at the examination ........................................................................................................... 7
16. Exemptions .................................................................................................................................................. 8
17. Diploma and membership ........................................................................................................................... 8
18. Curriculum ................................................................................................................................................... 8
19. Syllabus coverage ........................................................................................................................................ 8
20. Contacting the Royal College of Surgeons................................................................................................... 8
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1. Introduction
This document contains the regulations for the Diploma of Membership of the Faculty of Dental
Surgery of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
2.2. Aims
To allow the candidate to demonstrate a core knowledge and understanding of the principles and
practice of quality assured dental care.
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5.2. Possess a primary dental qualification acceptable to the Boards of the FDS at The Royal
College of Surgeons of England, and should normally be registered to practise dentistry
in their country of residence;
5.4. Have passed Parts 1 and 2 of the examination in accordance with the requirements set
out in section 3 of these regulations.
6. Entrance Requirements
6.1. To be eligible to enter for the MFDS examination all candidates must provide evidence
of a primary dental qualification and registration to practice dentistry in their country of
residence. If successful at MFDS Part 1 (or equivalent), candidates must have 12 months
clinical experience before they can apply for MFDS Part 2.
6.2. Candidates are required to successfully complete MFDS Part 1 (or equivalent) before
they can apply for MFDS Part 2.
6.3. Candidates are unable to apply for MFDS Part 2 without receiving confirmation of their
MFDS Part 1 (or equivalent) result.
6.4. The Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons reserves the right,
regardless of eligibility, to review applications on an individual basis.
7.2. If an application is found to be incomplete, the candidate will be informed and no action
will be taken until the application is complete.
7.3. Applications for the examination must be received by the closing date and time
specified in the examinations’ calendar. Applications received after the closing date will
not normally be processed.
7.4. Applications for the examination need to be submitted online through the RSC England
website.
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7.5. Both MFDS Part 1 and MFDS Part 2 exams will normally be held twice per year.
7.6. Further information regarding the examination can be found on the RCS England
website.
8. Results
8.1. Results will be posted on the secure RCS England website and distributed by post.
9. Feedback
9.1. Unsuccessful Part 2 candidates will be given feedback on their performance by domain.
10.2. Failure to successfully complete MFDS Part 2 within five years of successfully
completing MFDS Part 1 (or equivalent) will usually debar the candidate from applying
for any part of the MFDS examination.
10.3. Any candidates re-sitting the examination will need to pay the full fee, regardless of
which parts of the exam they are sitting. In the exceptional circumstance where a
candidate is allowed to sit the examinations without paying the examination fee, their
result will be withheld until payment is received in full.
10.4. An attempt is defined as an occasion when a candidate commences, but not necessarily
completes, the MFDS Part 1 or MFDS Part 2,
a. Entry to the examination being attempted by making false claims about eligibility or
falsifying entry documentation. The College reserves the right to make checks to
validate any information or documents supplied by the candidate;
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b. Unfair advantage being sought or obtained: by possession of material or devices
during an examination that might give advantage; by plagiarism of any description;
by communicating or attempting to communicate with another candidate once the
examination has commenced; or by refusing to follow instructions given by
examiners or examinations staff regarding the conduct and procedure of the
examination.
11.2. Candidates shall not give or receive any assistance or communicate by any means with
one another or any person, other than the invigilator(s) and examiner(s), at any time
while an Examination is in progress. Any candidate acting in breach of this Regulation or
who is considered by the examiners to be guilty of behaviour prejudicial to the proper
management and conduct of the Examination may be suspended from the examination.
11.3. Candidates should not remove from the examination venue, or make copies of, any
papers or examination materials.
11.4. Candidates should not attempt to obtain confidential information relating to the
examination from an examiner or examination officials or pass confidential information
on the content of the examination to a third party.
11.5. Any candidate who infringes any of the Regulations may be refused admission to, or
may face expulsion from, the Examination. All instances of misconduct are reported to
the Chair of the Examination Board.
11.6. All allegations of misconduct will be investigated in accordance with the procedures
published on the Colleges website; any penalties incurred will also be in accordance
with the published procedures.
13.2. Any candidate who wishes to withdraw an application for admission to the examination
on medical grounds and request a refund or transfer of fee must submit a request in
writing to the relevant College, accompanied by a medical certificate. An application for
consideration of a refund or transfer of fee on compassionate grounds should be
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supported by full details, plus a supporting letter from an appropriate professional. Each
such application must be submitted to the College within 28 days following the date of
the commencement date of the examination.
13.3. The College reserves the right to review admission to the examination on an individual
basis in exceptional circumstances.
13.4. A candidate who becomes ill or has an accident during the examination must inform the
Lead Examiner for that diet as soon as possible. On the advice of the Lead Examiner, the
candidate may withdraw from the examination or the Lead Examiner may agree with
the candidate how the candidate should proceed to complete the examination.
14.2. It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the College when they submit their
application of any additional needs they have, the reason for them, and any reasonable
adjustments that have been helpful in the past.
14.3. Applications for reasonable adjustments to meet additional needs are normally
required to be supported by written evidence. For example, in the form of a medical
report from their general medical practitioner for medical conditions, or an educational
psychologist's report for a learning difference such as dyslexia.
15.2. For the purpose of visual identification, any candidate sitting any examination may be
required to remove any clothing and/or other item which covers all, or part of, the
candidate’s face. The College will observe sensitivity in the visual identification of
candidates.
15.3. To facilitate the assessment of non-verbal communication skills and interaction with the
examiner, the College reserves the right to require candidates to remove any item of
clothing and/or other item which covers all or part of the candidate’s face.
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16. Exemptions
16.1. The following are currently accepted by the College as providing exemption from Part 1
of the MFDS:
a. Part 1 of the MJDF of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
b. Part 1 of the MFDS offered by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh or the
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow;
c. Part 1 of the MFD of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
18. Curriculum
18.1. The COPDEND Dental Foundation Training Curriculum can be found on the following
webpage: https://www.copdend.org/postgraduate-training/872-2/
19.2. All the domains from the COPDEND curriculum will be assessed: clinical,
communication, professionalism and management & leadership. The specific clinical
topics and major competencies assessed can be found in the examination syllabus.
Examinations Department
The Royal College of Surgeons of England
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3PE