FFD Exam Update
FFD Official Application Dates:
- November 15th - 17th 2023 Exam (face-to-face in RCSI Dublin): The FFD Assessment portal will open for new applicants for all FFD specialties between June 12th - 26th, 2023. Further details will be added to this webpage in due course.
RCSI fully complies with the up-to-date Irish Government's guidance on all measures and restrictions related to Covid-19. Therefore, the FFD exams may be subject to change with short notice without any liabilities to RCSI. Candidates will accept this guidance by signing up to the Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI examinations.
Updated Regulations for FFD Examinations
The Faculty of Dentistry RCSI recognises the very significant impact which the COVID pandemic has had on candidates preparing and presenting for the Specialty Fellowship Examinations. It is the aspiration that all examinations will be delivered “Face to Face” at RCSI Dublin, depending on and governed by the existing pandemic circumstances worldwide and in particular in Ireland at the time of the examinations. The Faculty have made some amendments to the written aspects of the FFD examinations to comply with the existing COVID advice at the RCSI. Therefore, the following information supersedes the information in the FFD Examination Regulations in regard to the Written aspects of the examination only. The written examinations will be delivered as follows:
Written Examinations will be held in the RCSI with the following sections:
- Short Answer Question Paper (90 minutes). This paper contains 10 short answers questions. Candidates are expected to write approximately 200 words in response to each of the 10 questions.
(The Short Answer Question Paper has replaced the Essay Papers in all FFD Examinations. Essay Papers are no longer a part of the FFD Written Examination)
- “OSCE Type Paper” (90 minutes) This paper consists of 15 OSCE Type Questions
Viva Examinations, Case Presentations and Clinical Scenarios
These aspects of the FFD Examinations will be held in the normal manner as outlined in the existing FFD Regulations
FFD OSOM and OM Part A
For the FFD Part A Examination. This examination previously consisted of an Essay Paper in the General Principles of Medicine and Surgery. This essay paper is now replaced by a Short Answer Paper as outlined above.
FFD OSOM and OM Part B
For the FFD in OSOM and FFD OM Part B there is no longer an Essay Paper. The Essay Paper is now replaced by the Short Answer Question Paper as outlined above.
The Specialist Fellowship Diploma of the Faculty of Dentistry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, will be granted to those who are eligible to sit for and pass the examination.
The Faculty of Dentistry Fellowship examinations (FFD) are normally conducted in April and November each year. Updates regarding the application window for candidates seeking approval to sit the FFD examination will be posted on this page.
All information pertaining to the FFD RCSI examination is provided below, however if you have any questions, please visit our FAQs section below, or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Once you are sure that you meet the eligibility criteria, please begin your application.
FFD Frequently Asked Questions
The requirements to present for the FFDRCSI examination are as follows:
- BDS/B Dent Sc. or equivalent basic undergraduate Dental Degree
- MFD/MFDS/MJDF
- Evidence of satisfactory completion of three years full-time (or part-time equivalent not normally exceeding six years) training. Candidates are required to submit certified, documented evidence of their training/relevant hospital positions.
Evidence of satisfactory completion of three years full-time training must be submitted to the Faculty. OSOM & ORD training can be completed in different institutions but evidence of this must be provided at the time of application. For all other specialities training must be completed in the same institution.
Candidates interested in sitting the FFD RCSI examinations must submit their documentation for assessment, during a specified period of time, to the Faculty of Dentistry FFD assessment Portal which can be accessed here.
The assessment portal will open twice a year for a limited period of time. Details of the next assessment window can be viewed on our Faculty website here.
The Faculty of Dentistry will be in contact with you shortly after you submit your documents for assessment. If you deemed eligible to sit the FFD exam, you will be sent an approval letter which you will need in order to officially apply for the exam and pay your exam fee. You will officially apply for the exam and pay your exam fee through the RCSI postgrad admin system and further details regarding this will be included within your approval letter.
The Faculty intends to run all FFD exam specialties entirely face-to-face in 2023, circumstances permitting. 2023 FFD exam dates can be found here.
The format of the written part of the examination will include a 90 minute, 15 station OSCE paper, to be followed by 90 minutes of a 10 short answer questions paper. Please note that the length, format and timing of the written papers and other aspects of the examination may be subject to change for operational/health and safety reasons which we will communicate with candidates where applicable. The FFD examination will also include Viva's and case presentations, where relevant, on a face-to-face setting at RCSI in Dublin.
Applicants who withdraw from an examination before the examination closing date will have the application fee refunded, less a 20% administrative charge. Applicants who withdraw after the exam closing date, or who fail to attend, will forfeit the fee paid in full. If work commitments prevent your attendance, the Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI is not responsible for the refund of any part of the application fee. Transfers are not normally permitted.
If you are unable to travel to Ireland for the exam due to a local Covid restriction within your area/Country, your application would be transferred to future exam sitting.
There may be occasions when your attendance is affected by circumstances beyond your normal control. In this instance an application for exceptional circumstances must be submitted as detailed in the Professional Exams – Exceptional Circumstances Policy. Applications of this nature must be made within 14 days of the date of the examination.
Please refer to the Irish Government travel advice website for up to date travel information: https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice
Please refer to the Irish Government travel advice website for up to date travel guidance: https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice
In order to become a Fellow of the Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI you must have successfully completed a Fellowship Examination of the Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI. The Fellowship is not normally awarded by affiliation.
If you pass Part A of the examination you will be exempt this section for the following 4 diets.
Candidates who hold a medical degree are exempt from Part A. Please note that only the FFD OSOM and FFD OM have been divided into Part A and Part B. Under the new “on-line” arrangements, the rest of the FFDRCSI Specialties are in a single part (On-line written + face-to-face examination)
No refund of fees or transfer of exam will be allowed once a candidate sits their written papers. Refund/Transfer of fees will only be allowed in advance of the written papers and only in the case that a candidate cannot travel due to Covid restrictions or in the case of very special circumstances.
The Specialist Fellowship Diploma of the Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI is registrable in the Register of Dentists for Ireland as an additional qualification provided that the name of the holder already appears in that Register. Details regarding the registration of the diploma may be obtained from the Registrar, Irish Dental Council, 57 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland. The Diploma does not entitle the holder to admission to the Register of Dental Specialists in Ireland.