The Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) is an internationally recognised postgraduate dental qualification offered by the UK surgical royal colleges, demonstrating achievement beyond the primary dental qualification after foundation training. Part 1 is the written exam you pass before progressing to the Part 2 OSCE. Crucially, the MFDS is changing across 2026 and 2027: a legacy Part 1 is being phased out and a new tri-collegiate format is being introduced. This guide covers both formats, who can sit, the syllabus, the 2026 dates, and how to prepare.
What the MFDS is and who sits it
The MFDS is a long-established, internationally recognised dental qualification from the UK surgical royal colleges — the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and a bi-collegiate exam run jointly by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. It replaced the older MJDF. It is pitched at the level of a dentist who has completed foundation or basic postgraduate training, and it is a strong addition to the portfolio of anyone aiming at specialty training, though it is not a formal entry criterion. It is open to both UK and internationally trained dentists. For internationally trained dentists in particular, it is a widely recognised way to demonstrate postgraduate standard and strengthen an application, while for UK dentists it marks early commitment to professional development beyond foundation training. You can take the examination through the Royal College of Surgeons of England or through the bi-collegiate Edinburgh and Glasgow route; the papers at a given sitting are set to the same standard, so the choice is mostly about logistics and which college you wish to join.
The transition: legacy versus new format
This is the single most important thing to get right for 2026. The legacy MFDS Part 1 is one three-hour paper of 150 single best answer questions, delivered online and sat remotely, with equal marks, no negative marking and no trick questions; six attempts are permitted, and the last sitting of the legacy Part 1 is in October 2026. The new MFDS Part 1 is also a single-best-answer examination, but it is sat at assessment centres in Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester rather than remotely, and it cannot be sat from home; the new-format Part 1 begins on 28 October 2026, four attempts are permitted, and the new Part 2 OSCE follows from March 2027. The new MFDS is built around the competence of a dental core trainee completing the third year of training and is positioned as a gateway to dental specialty training. Check carefully which version you are booking, along with its eligibility and attempt rules.
Eligibility
You need a primary dental qualification acceptable to the colleges; overseas candidates need a qualification from a school on the World Directory of Medical Schools register. For the new MFDS, you also need enough clinical experience to demonstrate the COPDEND dental core training curricula learning outcomes.
The syllabus
The Dental Foundation Training Curriculum, published by COPDEND, is the basis for the exam. Part 1 assesses knowledge and applied knowledge across clinical dentistry — oral medicine and pathology, restorative dentistry, oral surgery, paediatric dentistry, periodontology, prosthodontics, radiography and radiation safety, pharmacology and therapeutics, the management of medical emergencies, and law, ethics and professionalism. The emphasis is on applied knowledge and safe decision-making in everyday dental practice rather than on rote recall, so questions tend to be framed as clinical scenarios. Candidates moving from the legacy remote exam to the new assessment-centre format should not expect the content to change fundamentally; what changes is the delivery, the attempt limit and the in-person logistics, not the underlying curriculum.
2026 dates and fees
The legacy Part 1 has a final sitting in October 2026 — the Royal College of Surgeons of England registration window runs until 5pm on 20 August 2026, while the Glasgow college's online sitting is on 6 October 2026 with a 31 July 2026 deadline. The new Part 1 is on 28 October 2026. Fees vary by college and format; the Edinburgh college has listed £587 for Part 1, with a higher fee for India-based candidates, so confirm the current fee and the exact dates with the college you are booking through. Last reviewed June 2026.
Pass rates
A single headline pass rate is not routinely published, and the figures will be in flux as the new format beds in. Treat any quoted percentage with caution. What is clear is that the exam is passable with structured preparation, and that candidates who practise to the current format and standard fare better than those relying on older material.
How to prepare
Work through high volumes of dental single best answer questions mapped to the foundation training curriculum, reviewing each miss back to the underlying topic or guideline. Because there is no negative marking, answer every question. If you are sitting the new assessment-centre format, factor in travel and the in-person logistics that the legacy remote exam did not involve, and confirm your centre and date early given the limited locations.
Where iatroX fits
iatroX offers an MFDS Part 1 bank, on iatroX's subscription (£29/month or £99/year), built around a Socratic tutor that works back through the reasoning behind a miss; questions mapped meticulously to the foundation training curriculum; spaced repetition; adaptive sequencing that targets your weak areas; and a mobile app.
A few common questions
Is the MFDS changing? Yes — a legacy Part 1 is being phased out, with a final sitting in October 2026, and a new assessment-centre format begins in 2026, with the new Part 2 OSCE from 2027.
How many questions is the legacy Part 1? 150 single best answer questions in one three-hour paper.
Is it negatively marked? No.
Is iatroX's MFDS Part 1 bank free? Not in full — the bank is on iatroX's subscription (£29/month or £99/year), with free sample questions to try first.