Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DO I JOIN THE COLLEGE?
- By Examination (Fellowship & Membership Examinations)
After success in an examination, the examination section will contact the candidate confirming their success in the examination. If this examination leads to election, the petition for election paperwork is sent out for completion and has to be returned to petitions@rcsed.ac.uk.
Once petitions are received and checked, candidates will be proposed for election at the meeting of the Council of the College which has been confirmed to the candidate by the examinations department. Petitions are only processed for election once all forms and any outstanding training has been completed by the candidate. Candidates are not required to attend the Council meeting. Once the confirmation of election has been completed a welcome pack will be sent and includes dates of the College’s Diploma Ceremonies.
- By Examination (Diploma Examinations)
After success in a Diploma examination, candidates will be written to offering them affiliation with the College (Dental Care Professional/Dental Associate). Once the Diploma is ready the candidate can receive it either at a ceremony or receive it via the post.
- By virtue of success in a sister College examination
If a prespective Fellow has passed the JCIE/JSCFE Fellowship examinations they can apply for Fellowship (FRCSEd(****) of this College. A pass list is received from JCIE confirming which College the successful candidate has indicated he/she wishes to affiliate to. We will then send the relevant forms and requirements by email to the candidate. Candidates will be proposed for election at the next meeting of the Council of the College. Fellows may change affiliation from one College to another.
If a prospective Member has completed the intercollegiate Membership examination of a sister College (MRCPSGlasg, MRCSEng or MRCSIrel) they can apply for Membership (MRCSEd) of this College. Emails should be sent to membership@rcsed.ac.uk, who will then send the relevant forms and requirements by email. Candidates will be proposed for election at the next meeting of the Council of the College.
If a prospective Fellow has passed the ISF Fellowship examinations they can apply for Fellowship (FDS(****)RCSEd of this College. A pass list is received from ISF confirming which College the successful candidate has indicated he/she wishes to affiliate to. We will then send the relevant forms and requirements to them by email. Candidates will be proposed for election at the next meeting of the Council of the College. Fellows may change affiliation from one College to another.
If a prospective Member has completed the Membership in Dental Surgery examination of a sister College (MFDS RCPSGlasg, MJDF RCSEng or MFDS RCSIrel) they can apply for Membership (MFDS RCSEd) of this College. Emails should be sent to membership@rcsed.ac.uk, who will then send the relevant forms and requirements by email. Candidates will be proposed for election at the next meeting of the Council of the College.
If a prospective Member has completed the Membership examination of the HKISBSC and any required training they can apply for Membership (MRCSEd) of this College. Emails should be sent to membership@rcsed.ac.uk, who will then send the relevant forms and requirements by email. Candidates will be proposed for election at the next meeting of the Council of the College.
If a prospective Member has completed the International Council of Ophthalmology examinations (ICO) they can apply for Membership (MRCSEd) of this College. Emails should be sent to membership@rcsed.ac.uk, who will then send the relevant forms and requirements by email. Candidates will be proposed for election at the next meeting of the Council of the College.
HOW DO I JOIN ONE OF THE COLLEGE FACULTIES?
Membership will receive a list from each of the Faculties (at present FST, FDT and FPC) confirming who can be awarded Fellowship, Membership or Associate (Affiliate) Membership of each of the Faculties.
Associates (Affiliate) are written to enclosing an update details form and invoice. Once these are received back their record is updated and a certificate sent to them.
Fellows and Members are written to enclosing a petition for election asking them to return this along with a copy of their CV (non-existing Fellow/Member only). Candidates will be proposed for election at the next meeting of the Council of the College.
Fellowship ad hominem and without examination are dealt with by the Secretariat.
For Surgical enquires please contact Irene MacDonald i.macdonald@rcsed.ac.uk and for Dental enquires email us at dental@rcsed.ac.uk.
For Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care enquiries, please contact membership-fphc@rcsed.ac.uk.
IS THERE A STUDENT MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY?
Yes, there is a student membership category along with two trainee categories; foundation and pre MRCS. Affiliation with The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is a sensible step for any student, foundation doctor or trainee with an interest in surgery. It signals your intention to follow a career in surgery, and will give you access to a range of opportunities that you might otherwise miss out on.
As well as being a valuable addition to your CV, affiliating to the Student, Foundation Doctors' or Pre-MRCS Network gives you access to a wide range of benefits.
Benefits of the Affiliate Network include:
- Discounted fees on relevant courses and events in the UK
- Access to bursaries and grants
- College rcsed.net email address and mailbox to use throughout your surgical career*
- Access to exclusive educational resources including webinars, reports, posters, videos of lectures and much more
- Acland Anatomy - a versatile educational resource, valuable to those at all career stages, but of particular benefit to Affiliates studying for the MRCS examination, especially those with restricted access to anatomy specimens
- Access to networking events with College Office Bearers and senior surgeons in your area
- Career advice and professional support from your local Regional Surgical Adviser
- Certificate of Affiliation for your portfolio
- Quarterly copies of the College's award-winning publication Surgeons' News to which you can contribute
- Regular e-newsletters
- Easy access to booking courses and examinations through the College website
- Personal library services using our well-resourced medical and surgical library, with the latest in texts, journals and electronic resources
- Online discounts for medical publishers including Oxford University Press, Wiley-Blackwell, Quintessence Publishing and Elsevier
- Discounted accommodation at the College's Ten Hill Place Hotel
- Discounted rates on meetings, events and celebrations at the College's venues
You can sign up here.
Annual fee for joining the RCSEd Affiliate Network:
- Student Affiliate Network membership - £10
- Foundation Doctors' Affiliate Network membership - £15
- Pre-MRCS Affiliate Network membership - £25
- International Student Affiliate membership - £5
- International Pre-MRCS Affiliate membership - £20
I HAVE FORGOTTEN MY USERNAME AND PASSWORD. HOW DO I FIND IT?
Your username is the email address that you have registered with us. If you have forgotten your password we can provide a reminder to your registered email address.
Open this link and click on 'Forgotten Password'. Enter your email address and click 'Reset'. This will send a password reminder. All passwords are case sensitive.
DO MY MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY?
There is a period of time from passing examination, being elected and returning the completed welcome forms where accessing the membership benefits is unavailable. We recommend that your welcome pack is completed and returned to the Membership Department as quickly as possible to speed up the process.
WHAT ARE THE NON-SURGICAL MEMBERSHIP FEES?
Fellows and Members paying full subscriptions can apply for non-surgical subscriptions. This category is for professions such as GP, Clinical Radiology, Anaesthetics. Applications can be emailed to membership@rcsed.ac.uk along with confirmation from the Fellow/Members place of employment confirming their name, employment status, as well as their start and end date (if there is one). This must be on official headed stationery and signed by their head of department/practice manager.
WHAT IS THE ELECTION FEE PAYMENT PROCESS?
After receipt of Petitions for election these are checked to ensure they are completed. Records are then updated and processed for election. Election fees are sent to Finance for processing. Finance will e-mail candidates if their card fails. Fees are not normally processed until after the closing date for receipt of application which is usually three weeks before the Council Meeting.
CAN I TRANSFER MEMBERSHIP FROM OR TO A DIFFERENT ORGANISATION?
Please contact the Membership Department at membership@rcsed.ac.uk
WHAT IF I HAVE MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED IN THE FAQS?
Please contact the Membership Department at membership@rcsed.ac.uk
HOW DO I ADVISE OF MY RETIREMENT?
There are various options available to you once you retire. Please contact the Membership Department at membership@rcsed.ac.uk for further information
CAN I CHECK IF SOMEONE IS A FELLOW/MEMBER?
Please visit our Member Search to look through our database. Should the search prove unsuccessful then please contact the Membership Department at membership@rcsed.ac.uk
HOW DO I RENEW MEMBERSHIP WITH RCSEd?
There are a range of ways in which subscription fees can be paid to the College. You can pay by:
- Direct Debit (This is our preferred method of payment – we offer monthly, quarterly or annual Direct Debits)
- Online by credit or debit card - https://subsonline.rcsed.ac.uk
- Over the phone (+44 131 527 1654)
WHAT IS MY RCSEd MEMBER NUMBER?
There are two different reference numbers we use at RCSEd – Reference number and Roll number.
Your reference number is generated by the college when you first sign up – whether this be of general interest or to sit an exam. Your reference number is quoted on most correspondence from the college.
Your roll number is a historic number that is allocated to you when you have been elected a Fellow/Member of the college.
HOW CAN I GET A RECEIPT FOR TAX PURPOSES?
If you are a UK taxpayer, your College fees are a tax deductible expense and you are eligible for full tax relief, which could save you up to 40% of your subscription fees. You can even claim this retrospectively for all your College subscriptions back to 2011. Please contact the Membership Services Department by telephone (+44 131 527 1654) or email membership@rcsed.ac.uk if you require a receipt.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED MY COLLEGE GIFT?
The annual college gifts (Desktop Calendar, Diary or Notebook) are issued to all Fellows and Members each year in September for the following year. If you haven’t received your college gift, please contact the Membership Services Department by telephone (+44 131 527 1654) or email membership@rcsed.ac.uk
