MRCP Part 1 Exam Dates 2026–27: Deadlines, Updates and When to Sit It
Dates, results, fees and changes.
Application windows and exam dates
Pick the diet you are aiming for
- Applications open
- 27 Oct 2026
- Applications close
- 3 Nov 2026
- Reasonable adjustment deadline
- 10 Nov 2026
- Exam day
- 20 Jan 2027
- Results by
- 5 Mar 2027
- Intellect Medicos batch starts
- 4 Oct 2026
- Applications open
- 9 Mar 2027
- Applications close
- 16 Mar 2027
- Reasonable adjustment deadline
- 23 Mar 2027
- Exam day
- 26 May 2027
- Results by
- 9 Jul 2027
- Intellect Medicos batch starts
- February 2027 (tentative)
- Applications open
- 13 Jul 2027
- Applications close
- 20 Jul 2027
- Reasonable adjustment deadline
- 27 Jul 2027
- Exam day
- 29 Sep 2027
- Results by
- 12 Nov 2027
- Intellect Medicos batch starts
- June 2027 (tentative)
| Diet | Application window | Exam date | Results by |
|---|---|---|---|
2026/3Closed |
14–21 July 2026 | 23 September 2026 | 6 November 2026 |
2027/1 |
27 October–3 November 2026 | 20 January 2027 | 5 March 2027 |
2027/2 |
9–16 March 2027 | 26 May 2027 | 9 July 2027 |
2027/3 |
13–20 July 2027 | 29 September 2027 | 12 November 2027 |
Days to submit your application
Weeks from application close to exam
What does this mean for you?
Many doctors call me only after they have sent their exam form. By then, the clock is already moving.
Across these four diets, there are 71 days on average between the application closing date and the exam. That is just over 10 weeks. For MRCP Part 1, that is less time than most doctors think.
My advice is simple. Start at least three months before the exam. If you plan to sit the January 2027 diet, start by October 2026. Do not wait for the form to open.
When will your result come?
Days from exam to the published result date
UK time, often on a Friday
The three Part 1 results released in 2025 all came on Fridays. In my experience, results often appear at about 5pm UK time. RCP does not promise an exact time, so do not treat 5pm as a fixed deadline.
| Exam date | Results by |
|---|---|
| 23 September 2026 | 6 November 2026 |
| 20 January 2027 | 5 March 2027 |
| 26 May 2027 | 9 July 2027 |
| 29 September 2027 | 12 November 2027 |
What does this mean for you?
Back in 2022, when I started my MRCP journey, I remember getting our results before the next application opened. We had time to think. The downside was that some doctors booked one exam after another and left too little time between attempts.
Now, the dates can overlap. For the September 2026 Part 1 exam, the next application closes on 3 November. The result is due by 6 November. If you do not pass, there is almost no time to decide on that next diet.
This is why I tell our doctors not to stop after exam day. Keep going through your notes or flashcards until your result is out.
MRCP written exams return to test centres
Remote written exams began in 2020, during COVID. For almost six years, many UK doctors sat Part 1 and Part 2 at home.
That has now changed. Part 2 moved back to centres from the July 2026 diet. Part 1 moves back from the September 2026 diet.
The exam is still on a computer. You will sit it at a test centre.
RCP says remote exams brought tech problems and exam security risks. It also points to AI, cheating and question leaks as new risks.
What does this mean for you?
If you have booked Part 1 in India or the Gulf, you will know this problem. Seats can be tight. We have seen Hyderabad, Mumbai, Riyadh and Dubai fill within hours. In some places, seats can go in one or two days.
I think busy UK centres may now face the same pressure. RCP says it is confident that most doctors can sit near home. Still, do not assume your first choice will stay open.
Apply early. Leave room for one or two days of travel. Add the cost of a train or flight, a hotel and food to your exam budget.
There is a good side. In our own course group, about one in ten doctors who sat at home told us about internet, app or proctoring problems. Some had results held while flags, including eye movement, were checked. This is our own course figure, not an RCP figure.
A test centre cannot remove every issue. But it should cut many of them. Staff will also be there if something goes wrong.
Part 1 fees have gone up
From September 2026, the fee is £520 in the UK and £696 outside the UK.
Before and after September 2026
MRCP Part 1 fees in pounds
UK
International
RCP says it has no current plan to raise fees because of the move back to centres. But fees can change. Check the official page before you pay.
So, when should you sit the exam?
There is no single answer. It comes down to three things.
Which plan are you thinking about?
Could a 3-month plan suit you?
Tap each point that is true for you.
Could a 6-month plan suit you?
Tap each point that is true for you.
Common questions
What are the MRCP Part 1 exam dates for 2026–27?
MRCP Part 1 will be held on 23 September 2026, 20 January 2027, 26 May 2027 and 29 September 2027.
When do applications open for the January 2027 MRCP Part 1 exam?
Applications for the 20 January 2027 exam open on 27 October 2026 and close on 3 November 2026. They open and close at 08:00 UK time. The window is only seven days, so apply early.
How much does MRCP Part 1 cost?
From the September 2026 exam, MRCP Part 1 costs £520 in the UK and £696 outside the UK. Before that, it was £502 and £672. Fees can change, so check the official page before you pay.
When do MRCP Part 1 results come out?
The published result date is 44 days after the exam, which is just over six weeks. The result dates are 6 November 2026, 5 March 2027, 9 July 2027 and 12 November 2027.
Can you still sit MRCP Part 1 online at home?
No. From the September 2026 exam, you sit MRCP Part 1 at a test centre. The exam is still on a computer. Part 2 moved back to test centres from the July 2026 exam.