About Us

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is the oldest and largest of the UK surgical Royal Colleges, and one of the largest of all the UK medical Royal Colleges. First incorporated as the Barber Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1505, the College has been at the vanguard of surgical innovation and developments for over 500 years. 

Today we are a modern, thriving, global network of medical professionals with a membership of well over 23,000 professionals who live and work in more than 100 countries around the world. 15,000 of these live and work in the UK and 80% of that figure are based in England and Wales. Our membership includes people at every stage of their career, from medical students through to trainees, consultants and those who have retired from practice.

With our interest in professional standards, the College’s primary role – and the main concern of our Fellows and Members - is to ensure the safety of our patients and provide them with the best possible care. We do this by championing the highest standards of surgical and dental practice; through our provision of courses and educational programmes, training, examinations and Continuous Professional Development; our liaison with external medical bodies; and by influencing healthcare policy across the UK.

Our main campus in Edinburgh, which includes a dedicated skills laboratory, the Surgeons' Hall Museums, College Library, function and meeting facilities, a 77 bedroom hotel, postgraduate accommodation, and office space for over 140 staff, was joined in 2014 by our second site in Birmingham’s prestigious Colmore Row. This new base offers office space, facilities for events and courses and spaces for our membership to meet and take part in the College’s activities.


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