Overview
MRCP(UK) is the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom, a postgraduate exam for doctors training in internal medicine. It is run by the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and has three parts: a Part 1 written exam, a Part 2 written exam and PACES, the Part 2 clinical exam. The clinical exam is aimed at trainees who hope to move on to higher specialist training (ST3).
Who can apply
Part 1: You need at least 12 months of postgraduate experience in medical employment.
Part 2 written: You must have passed Part 1.
PACES: You must have passed the Part 1 written exam before you can sit it.
Exam pattern
| Part | Format |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | One day, two papers of three hours, each with 100 best-of-five multiple-choice questions. Computer based, no images. |
| Part 2 written | One day, two papers of three hours, each with 100 best-of-five questions. Computer based, includes images. |
| PACES | Half-day clinical exam at a hospital or clinical skills centre: five stations, eight patient encounters, two independent examiners at each station, and seven core clinical skills assessed. |
From the September 2026 (2026/03) diet, Part 1 is delivered at test centres. From the 2026/02 diet, Part 2 written is also delivered at test centres. Exams in Myanmar and Sudan continue to use remote online proctoring.
Syllabus
Part 1 tests knowledge in line with the UK curricula for Core Medical Training and Internal Medicine Training, with weight on common and important disorders, clinical science and national guidelines. Part 2 written tests clinical judgement: diagnosis, planning investigations, choosing management and judging prognosis. PACES tests practical clinical examination and consultation skills.
Important dates
Part 1 sittings in 2026:
| Diet | Applications | Exam date | Results expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/1 | 4 to 11 November 2025 | 28 January 2026 | 13 March 2026 |
| 2026/2 | 10 to 17 March 2026 | 21 May 2026 | 3 July 2026 |
| 2026/3 | 14 to 21 July 2026 | 23 September 2026 | 6 November 2026 |
Application windows open and close at 8:00am UK time. For PACES in the UK, applications for the 2026/03 diet opened on 20 July 2026, with exams running from September to November 2026. Applications for the 2027/01 diet open on 10 November 2026, with exams from January to April 2027. PACES results in the UK usually come within 15 working days of the exam, and internationally within 20 to 30 working days.
Fees
| Exam | Until the 2026/02 diet | From the 2026/03 diet |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 and Part 2 written, UK | £502 | £520 |
| Part 1 and Part 2 written, international | £672 | £696 |
| PACES, UK | £716 | £742 |
| PACES, international | £1,311 | £1,358 |
PACES fees at some overseas centres differ, for example Hong Kong and Singapore, so check the fee for your centre.
How to apply
Apply online through the MRCP(UK) candidate account during the application window for the diet you want. Reasonable adjustment requests have their own deadlines before each sitting.
After the exam
Part 2 written and PACES both depend on having passed Part 1. PACES results in the UK usually come within 15 working days of the exam, and internationally within 20 to 30 working days.
Preparation tips
Work through the Core Medical Training and Internal Medicine curriculum topics and national guidelines rather than relying on recall alone.
Part 1 has no images, while Part 2 written does, so prepare for interpreting them in Part 2.
Do I need to pass Part 1 before PACES?
Yes. The Federation requires a Part 1 pass before you can attempt PACES or the Part 2 written exam.