Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth Part 1); RCSI in association with the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (MRCSI (Ophth) and FRCSI (Ophth))

FRCOphth Part 1 and MRCSI (Ophth) / FRCSI (Ophth) (Irish ophthalmology training examinations)

Irish ophthalmology trainees sit the UK Royal College of Ophthalmologists' FRCOphth Part 1 as their basic sciences examination, then the collegiate MRCSI (Ophth) run by RCSI, which has three components (Clinical Optics and Refraction, Written, and Clinical) and is open only to trainees on the Irish College of Ophthalmologists' BST (surgical) and BMT (medical) programmes. FRCOphth Part 1 is scored on the ICO Basic Specialist Training application scorecard, and MRCSI (Ophth) must be passed to enter Higher Specialist Training. The FRCSI (Ophth) viva is the exit examination for surgical HST.

5
Parts
18
Dates listed

Awarded by: Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth Part 1); RCSI in association with the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (MRCSI (Ophth) and FRCSI (Ophth))

Cost: FRCOphth Part 1: £725 (RCOphth, 2026). Confirm MRCSI (Ophth) and FRCSI (Ophth) fees in the RCSI application portal before budgeting for the full pathway.

Pass rates: FRCOphth Part 1, January 2026 sitting: 41.2% (77 of 187 candidates; RCOphth exam report). No pass rates are published for MRCSI (Ophth) or FRCSI (Ophth).

Who can sit it

FRCOphth Part 1: any doctor with a GMC- or IMC-approved primary medical qualification, no ophthalmology experience needed. MRCSI (Ophth): only trainees on the ICO Basic Specialist Training (surgical) or Basic Medical Training (medical ophthalmology) programmes in Ireland; 18 months of ophthalmology training for Optics and Refraction, 2 years plus FRCOphth Part 1 for the Written, and a Written pass for the Clinical. FRCSI (Ophth): MRCSI (Ophth) holders in HST year 4 or 5.

When NCHDs sit it

FRCOphth Part 1 is not required to enter ICO Basic Specialist Training but is worth 10 of the 25 Section 1 points on the BST/BMT application scorecard (2026 scorecard; results had to be in by 3pm 17 February 2026 for the July 2026 intake, and ICO states FRCOphth Part 1 results will be accepted only for sittings up to and including October 2026 for the July 2027 intake). Interns and SHOs aiming for ophthalmology therefore often sit Part 1 before or during intern year, and ICO recommends it be completed within the first 18 months of BST/BMT at the latest. Within BST/BMT the sequence is Optics and Refraction between months 18 and 24, then the Written (October) and Clinical (February) in year 3, with the March supplemental Clinical before HST selection. MRCSI (Ophth) must be passed to compete for HST/HMT entry, and its scores feed the HST scorecard. FRCSI (Ophth) is taken in HST year 4 or 5.

The parts

FRCOphth Part 1£725 (RCOphth fee table, current as of August 2026; fees reviewed annually) · 3 (RCOphth states candidates can sit at three points across the year; the 2026 sittings were January, April and October)/yr
Written, online proctored: two MCQ papers of 90 questions each, based on years 1-2 of the RCOphth OST curriculum (basic and clinical sciences, patient investigations); no clinical component · 2 x 2 hours on the same day with a 1 hour break
Eligibility: any medically qualified doctor with a GMC- or Irish Medical Council-approved qualification; no ophthalmology experience required; can be sat before entering training. Maximum six attempts (one further attempt possible with evidence of additional educational experience). Ebel pass mark set per sitting. Delivered online, so no travel needed. First-time applicants must use the RCOphth first-time application form (closes two days before the general deadline). Passing FRCOphth Part 1 is required before progressing to the MRCSI (Ophth) Written; ICO recommends completing it in the first 18 months of BST/BMT or earlier. The RCOphth Refraction Certificate is accepted in place of the MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical Optics and Refraction exam.
MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical Optics and Refraction1 main (April) plus a June supplemental for unsuccessful candidates/yr
Practical refraction examination supervised by two ophthalmologists: 20 minutes to perform a full refraction and provide a spectacle prescription, then 10 minutes of further optics/refraction tasks; pass or fail · 30 minutes
Must be on the ICO BST or BMT programme and have completed 18 months of ophthalmology training. Maximum four attempts. Held in Dublin. Confirm the current fee in the RCSI application portal.
MRCSI (Ophth) Written1 main (October) plus a January supplemental/yr
MCQ paper of 100 single best answer questions covering clinical ophthalmology and relevant basic sciences · 3 hours
Must have passed FRCOphth Part 1 and completed 2 years of ophthalmology training on the ICO BST/BMT programme. Pass mark set in advance by the Examinations Committee; supplementary attempts capped at the pass mark for scorecard purposes. Maximum four attempts. Held in Dublin. Confirm the current fee in the RCSI application portal.
MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical1 main (February) plus a March supplemental/yr
Multi-station clinical and data OSCE across all ophthalmic subspecialties, ophthalmic pathology and related basic sciences (1-3 cases per clinical station); communication, examination, investigation interpretation, evidence base and management assessed · Not published (multi-station OSCE on a single day)
Requires a pass in the MRCSI (Ophth) Written and must be passed within 2 years of the Written. Stations scored 0-100%; 40% or less is a fail, 45% borderline fail, 50% pass; a fail in any station is an overall fail. Clinical score contributes 75% of the exam score used in the HST selection scorecard; supplemental attempts capped at the pass mark. Maximum four attempts. Held in Dublin. Confirm the current fee in the RCSI application portal.
FRCSI (Ophth)1 (March in 2026)/yr
One-hour structured viva with set questions covering the breadth of clinical ophthalmology and ophthalmic surgery, conducted by at least three examiners; standard of a general ophthalmic surgeon · 1 hour
Exclusive to Irish higher specialist trainees; must hold MRCSI (Ophth) and be in year 4 or 5 of HST. Held at RCSI Dublin. Confirm the current fee in the RCSI application portal.

Dates

  • 7 Oct 2026SittingMRCSI (Ophth) Written, Dublin (MRCSI (Ophth) Written)
  • 14 Oct 2026SittingFRCOphth Part 1 written (online) (FRCOphth Part 1)
  • 13 Nov 2026ResultsFRCOphth Part 1 results (FRCOphth Part 1)
15 past dates
  • 12 Dec 2025Apply byMRCSI (Ophth) Clinical applications close (MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical)
  • 7 Jan 2026SittingMRCSI (Ophth) Written (supplemental), Dublin (MRCSI (Ophth) Written)
  • 23 Jan 2026Apply byFRCSI (Ophth) applications close (FRCSI (Ophth))
  • 6 Feb 2026SittingMRCSI (Ophth) Clinical, Dublin (MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical)
  • 13 Feb 2026Apply byMRCSI (Ophth) Clinical (supplemental) applications close (MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical)
  • 13 Feb 2026Apply byMRCSI (Ophth) Optics and Refraction applications close (MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical Optics and Refraction)
  • 6 Mar 2026SittingMRCSI (Ophth) Clinical (supplemental), Dublin (MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical)
  • 20 Mar 2026SittingFRCSI (Ophth) viva, Dublin (FRCSI (Ophth))
  • 10 Apr 2026SittingMRCSI (Ophth) Optics and Refraction, Dublin (MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical Optics and Refraction)
  • 17 Apr 2026Apply byMRCSI (Ophth) Optics and Refraction (supplemental) applications close (MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical Optics and Refraction)
  • 12 Jun 2026SittingMRCSI (Ophth) Optics and Refraction (supplemental), Dublin (MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical Optics and Refraction)
  • 6 Jul 2026Apply byFRCOphth Part 1 applications open (FRCOphth Part 1)
  • 19 Aug 2026Apply byFRCOphth Part 1 applications close (first-time applicants) (FRCOphth Part 1)
  • 21 Aug 2026Apply byMRCSI (Ophth) Written applications close (MRCSI (Ophth) Written)
  • 21 Aug 2026Apply byFRCOphth Part 1 applications close (returning candidates) (FRCOphth Part 1)

Needed for

Ophthalmology Training

Preparation resources

Resources for each exam part, with access details, costs and suggested priorities.

S

  • Official format, syllabus outcomes and 50 sample MCQs; Irish BST trainees sit this exam in the first 18 months.

  • RCSI ophthalmology exams page and MRCSI (Ophth) regulationsCollege resourceFreeMRCSI (Ophth) Optics and Refraction, MRCSI (Ophth) Written, MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical, FRCSI (Ophth)

    Sets out the Clinical Optics and Refraction, Written and Clinical components of MRCSI (Ophth) and the FRCSI (Ophth) viva format and dates.

  • eyeQ by EyedocsQuestion bank£79/3 months, £99/6 monthsFRCOphth Part 1

    2,000+ Part 1 questions with peer benchmarking; the most used FRCOphth Part 1 bank and the Eyedocs forum carries exam feedback threads.

  • Clinical Optics (Elkington, Frank and Greaney)BookFRCOphth Part 1, MRCSI (Ophth) Optics and Refraction

    The optics text closest to Part 1 optics questions and the MRCSI Optics and Refraction paper despite its age.

A
B
  • eFRCOphthQuestion bank£20/2 months, £30/3 monthsFRCOphth Part 1

    Budget bank of about 1,200 to 1,500 questions with good anatomy diagrams; quality below eyeQ so use as a supplement.

  • FRCOphthMCQ mock examQuestion bank£15 per attemptFRCOphth Part 1

    Single 180-question mock built from past-style questions; best for a final timed run.

  • Comprehensive basic science reference; read the anatomy, embryology and pathology chapters rather than the whole book.

C
  • Oxford Handbook of OphthalmologyBookMRCSI (Ophth) Written, MRCSI (Ophth) Clinical

    Clinical background and a decent optics section; not essential for Part 1 but handy on the ward for the MRCSI clinical.

Tiers are editorial: S = essential and closely mapped to the exam, A = strong, B = useful supplement, C = optional. No affiliate links; prices are indicative and change.

Preparing

FRCOphth Part 1 is a basic-sciences paper (optics, anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, genetics, statistics and investigations) mapped to years 1-2 of the RCOphth OST curriculum. RCOphth publishes an information pack and sample MCQs, and the exam reports show item difficulty and pass marks for each sitting; candidates typically combine a core optics and basic sciences text with a question bank over several months. Because ICO scores a Part 1 pass on the BST application, many Irish candidates sit it before entering training.

The MRCSI (Ophth) components map onto the ICO BST curriculum: refraction needs sustained supervised practice in clinic well before the April exam, the Written follows the RCSI syllabus in the regulations document (with sample MCQs), and the Clinical is an OSCE where examination technique, investigation interpretation and communication are all marked. Trainees prepare within the ICO teaching programme and with peer OSCE practice; the regulations and syllabus are on rcsi.com and the training pages on eyedoctors.ie.

Last verified 2026-08-18. Sources: https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/exams/rcophth-exams/part-1-frcophth-exam/ https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/exams/rcophth-exams/ https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/exams/exams-calendar/ https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/exams/pass-lists-and-exam-reports/ https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Part-1-Written-January-2026-FINAL.pdf https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/professional-cpd/professional-exams/ophthalmology https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/-/media/feature/media/download-document/dublin/cpd/professional-exams/regulations-for-the-mrcsi-ophth-exam-2021.pdf https://www.eyedoctors.ie/trainees/Basic-Training-in-Surgical-Ophthalmology.asp https://www.eyedoctors.ie/trainees/Specialist-Training-in-Surgical-Ophthalmology.asp https://www.eyedoctors.ie/trainees/Basic-Training-in-Medical-Ophthalmology.asp https://www.eyedoctors.ie/medium/images/Scorecard_for_Basic_Specialist_Training_in_Surgical_Ophthalm-p.pdf

Cookie preferences

We use cookies to save your ranking progress and preferences. Strictly necessary cookies keep the tool working. Optional cookies help us understand how the tool is used.