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Are you a medical professional aiming to build a thriving career in the field of internal medicine? Then pursuing MRCP (Membership of the Royal College of Physicians), the gold standard qualification for physicians, is the right step forward. The journey towards this prestigious title starts with MRCP Part 1, which tests your fundamental knowledge and clinical reasoning. The RCP has recently released the dates for MRCP Part 1 exams in 2026, with three diets scheduled in January, May, and September. Here in this blog, we will guide you through all the details regarding the exam, including the dates, fees, and eligibility for it.

Upcoming MRCP Part 1 exam dates in 2026

• Diet 1: January 2026

  • Application period: 04 to 11 November 2025
  • Exam date: 28 January 2026
  • Fees: £502 (UK), £672 (International)
  • Reasonable adjustment deadline: 18 November 2025
  • Results: 13 March 2026

• Diet 2: May 2026

  • Application period: 03 to 10 March 2026
  • Exam date: 13 May 2026
  • Fees: £502 (UK), £672 (International)
  • Reasonable adjustment deadline: 17 March 2026
  • Results: 26 June 2026

• Diet 3: September 2026

  • Application period: 14 – 21 July 2026
  • Exam date: 23 September 2026
  • Fees: £502 (UK), £672 (International)
  • Reasonable adjustment deadline: 28 July 2026
  • Results: 06 November 2026

NB: The application window will open and close at 8:00 AM BST.

Eligibility criteria for MRCP Part 1

• A primary medical qualification recognised by the GMC UK
• 12 months of medical work experience since graduation (e.g. FY1 or equivalent)
• This one-year experience must be completed by the exam date
• Candidates are permitted a maximum of six attempts to clear the MRCP Part 1 exam

We hope this information about the MRCP Part 1 exams in 2026 was helpful for you. If you are serious about starting your journey towards the MRCP qualification, you must start as early as possible to clear the first part in one go. As the application window for the first diet exam in 2026 will open in November this year, it is important to prepare early and secure your slot on time.

If you need assistance with the exam preparation, StudyMRCP offers expert-led short and long-term MRCP Part 1 courses that have an outstanding pass rate of 92%. You can even explore our premium study materials, curated by our team of expert mentors, for completely free through the StudyMEDIC LMS 3.0 before joining the course.

Want to know more about our courses? Connect with our team today.

Authored By: Sarath