MRCP(UK) 2026: Parts, Fees, PACES & South Asia Centres
MRCP(UK) exam for doctors training in medicine
The MRCP(UK) diploma is the membership exam of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom, run through the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians. It is taken by doctors in the UK and abroad who want to progress in internal medicine and its specialties, and it has three parts: Part 1, Part 2 Written and the clinical exam, PACES. For international doctors, the full MRCP(UK) diploma is also one of the GMC's acceptable postgraduate qualifications for registration in the UK.
MRCP(UK) parts at a glance
- Part 1 — two three-hour papers of 100 multiple-choice questions each. You need a primary medical qualification and at least 12 months' postgraduate experience in medical employment. Fee from the September 2026 diet: £520 in the UK or £696 internationally.
- Part 2 Written — two three-hour papers of 100 multiple-choice questions each, many including images. You must have passed Part 1. The next exam is on 25 November 2026.
- PACES — the Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills: 5 stations and 8 patient encounters over 125 minutes, each station marked by two independent examiners. Fee for the 2027/01 diet: £742 in the UK or £1,358 at international centres.
Taking MRCP(UK) in India, Pakistan and South Asia
Doctors in South Asia can sit every part of MRCP(UK) without travelling to the UK. Part 1 and Part 2 Written are online exams taken at a test centre, and PACES is held in hospitals in the region. All international centres pay the international fee.
- India — Part 1 and Part 2 Written in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kerala, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi. PACES centres include Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Pondicherry and Thiruvananthapuram, with other cities running in some diets.
- Pakistan — Part 1 and Part 2 Written in Karachi and Lahore. PACES centres in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore (Karachi is not running for the 2027/01 diet).
- Bangladesh — Part 1, Part 2 Written and PACES in Dhaka.
- Sri Lanka — Part 1, Part 2 Written and PACES in Colombo.
- Nepal — Part 1 and Part 2 Written in Kathmandu. The Kathmandu PACES centre is not running for the 2027/01 diet.
The next Part 1 exam is on 20 January 2027, with applications open from 27 October to 3 November 2026. For the 2027/01 PACES diet, applications for South Asian centres run from 6 to 13 October 2026, with exams between late February and April 2027; UK centres take applications from 10 to 17 November 2026. Centres and dates change each diet, so check the MRCP(UK) website for your chosen city before applying.
What PACES tests
- Station 1: communication and respiratory examination (10 minutes each)
- Station 2: clinical consultation (20 minutes)
- Station 3: cardiovascular and neurological examination (10 minutes each)
- Station 4: communication and abdominal examination (10 minutes each)
- Station 5: clinical consultation (20 minutes)
Examiners assess seven skills: physical examination, identifying physical signs, clinical communication, differential diagnosis, clinical judgement, managing patients' concerns and maintaining patient welfare. This format has been used since the third diet of 2023.
Attempts and time limits
Since January 2024 you may make a maximum of six attempts at each part of MRCP(UK), with one exceptional additional attempt only if you can show educational activity that will help you pass. You must pass Part 1 before sitting Part 2 Written or PACES. In July 2024 the Federation also removed the old seven-year deadline for candidates who passed Part 1 in 2013 or earlier, so they no longer need to retake Part 1.
MRCP(UK) and working in the UK
The GMC lists MRCP(UK) among its acceptable postgraduate qualifications, so a doctor who holds the full diploma can apply for GMC registration without taking PLAB. The qualification should have been awarded within three years of the GMC approving your application; otherwise you need extra evidence of recent medical practice. Doctors who do not yet hold MRCP(UK) usually register through PLAB; see all about PLAB and our PLAB exam guide. For your first NHS post and visa, read clinical attachments and NHS jobs and UK visas for doctors. Fees and dates change each diet, so always check the MRCP(UK) website before applying.
Frequently asked questions
> What are the three parts of MRCP(UK)?
Part 1 and Part 2 Written, each made up of two three-hour papers of 100 multiple-choice questions, and PACES, a clinical exam of 5 stations and 8 patient encounters.
> Who can sit MRCP(UK) Part 1?
Doctors with a primary medical qualification and at least 12 months' postgraduate experience in medical employment by the date of the exam.
> Can I take MRCP(UK) in India, Pakistan or elsewhere in South Asia?
Yes. Part 1 and Part 2 Written are held at centres in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, and PACES is held in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, all at the international fee.
> How many attempts are allowed for MRCP(UK)?
A maximum of six attempts at each part, with one exceptional additional attempt if you can show educational activity that will help you pass.
> Does MRCP(UK) exempt me from PLAB?
Yes, once you hold the full diploma. The GMC lists MRCP(UK) as an acceptable postgraduate qualification for registration, ideally awarded within three years of the GMC approving your application.
Have a question about MRCP(UK) or working in the UK? Contact us.
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