CGDent Scotland
Study Group
Helping you to pass the MFDS or to refresh your knowledge!
You can register for a place on our Study Groups for MFDS Part 1 and 2 tuition aimed at helping you pass the exams offered by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
We can help you gain
a postgraduate qualification now
With our expert tuition you can get all of the information, tips and skills you need along with up to eight sessions/20 hours of CPD.
The aim of the MFDS examination is to assess your knowledge and understanding of the structures and processes required to provide quality-assured dental healthcare.
What our students say
Absolutely delighted to have passed!!
Thanks for all your help, the study nights made it so much easier. I doubt I’d have passed without it! Couldn’t recommend it enough! LP
Hope you are well, thankfully I passed!
Thank you so much for all your help and guidance in the study group. AM
Thanks for all the hard work you and everyone put into the study course, not sure it’d have been a pass without it. Look forward to seeing everyone in December. PA
I passed thank goodness! I’ve only heard good news from everyone else so far. Thanks for all your help and support with the MJDF study groups. It was really appreciated. I thought the study group was very well run and extremely supportive - please pass on my thanks to the other tutors. TC
Thanks a million for all the help with the mock exam!
It was a massive help. RM
Successful candidates will receive a Diploma of Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surfury (of the related Royal College), validating a period of vital postgraduate training that prepares you for general or specialist practice in either primary or secondary care. The exam consists of:
- A Part 1 examination in the form of one written paper containing multiple choice questions (MCQs)
- A Part 2 examination in the form of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)
CGDent Scotland
Study Group
Our study group programme in Glasgow is designed to give you an understanding of the topics and skills covered in parts 1 and 2 of the MFDS examination. Prior to the advent of Covid-19, we guided up to 20 candidates through the MJDF exam each year using face-to-face tutorials and online resources and have achieved success rates of 90-100% every year since 2017.
In June 2020 we moved to an online tuition model and expanded the programme to cover the MJDF and MFDS; now we focus entirely on MFDS. The study evenings provide a great platform for dentists who would like to reinforce their skills and knowledge.
So, with our help, you can work towards gaining a postgraduate qualification which shows your commitment to quality dental healthcare or use this opportunity to brush up on essential skills with updates on current developments and new working guidelines.
What you get with the Group is not just the means to pass an exam but an improved toolkit for dentistry. In our linked study evenings we tutor in a friendly, sociable way and gain from the range of experiences of our members - from our tutors, our newly qualified colleagues and dentists who may have practised for years.
How does it work?
When you sign up for our course you’ll gain access to a series of online and face-to-face tutored meetings, resources and a range of support (by email and on What’sApp) from experienced tutors. Our tutors are all volunteers who have recently been through the exam process themselves and are keen to share their expertise. It’s because of this, and our candidates hard work, that we have had such great success rates over the years.
1
Online
For each part of the exam we offer four tutored sessions. These are provided online using Zoom. This gives us the best platform to combine tutor sessions, candidate presentations, discussion and updates. Most of you will be familiar with online CPD, these won’t just be a series of lectures – they are designed to be as interactive as possible.
2
Meet
We will provide face-to-face support and exam conditions for our Mock Exam Day for Part 2. Our Mock Exam is a full rehearsal for the exam conditions you will face on the real exam day. After the mock exam we have a feedback session where each question is dissected so you can fully understand what you are being tested on with each OSCE.
When does the course run?
We will begin our academic year for Part 1 at the start of February 2024. Prior to this we will set out the course for you at an induction evening and list your reading materials.
The 2024 session provisional dates are set out below. If you have to miss any meetings there will be a summary of what we have covered along with full resources.
Study Group
Important Dates
2024 PART 1
Exam deadlines and dates
MFDS in Glasgow: Application deadline is 5 February 2024 (exam fee is £540) for the exam held on 9 April 2024.
Places are available for study evenings for this exam.
2024 PART 2
Exam deadlines and dates
MFDS in Glasgow/Manchester:
Application deadline 26 August 2024 (exam fee is £770). Exam dates: 7/8 November 2024.
There is limited space for this Part 2 study group.
Meeting dates and
Course content
Meetings are usually held on Tuesdays and will run from 7:00pm-9pm (between 2 and 2.5 hours). We will include a wide range of topics relating to the MFDS plus recent updates on new working practices.
Due to a number of exam sittings having been revised or cancelled over the pandemic our study evening timetable is here as a guide. If you are interested in joining the Group or attending meetings please register and we will get back to you with the most up to date information.
| Meeting # | Provisional Date | Potential Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 Meeting 1 | 6 Feb 2024 | Clinical and legal considerations associated with Tooth Whitening, Local Anaesthetics and Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Drugs |
| Part 1 Meeting 2 | 20 Feb 2024 | Conventional and Resin-bonded Bridge Design, Treatment Planning for Mandibular Third Molars, Oral Cancer and Dental Trauma |
| Part 1 Meeting 3 | 5 March 2024 | Sjogren’s Syndrome and Xerostomia, Dentoalveolar Infections, Odontogenic Cysts |
| Part 1 Meeting 4 | 19 March 2024 | Consent and Capacity Act (2005), Minamata, Mock Paper |
| Part 2 Meeting 1 | 27 Aug 2024 | OSCE technique and Communication, OSCE practice |
| Part 2 Meeting 2 | 10 Sept 2024 | OSCE Practice |
| Part 2 Meeting 3 | 24 Sept 2024 | OSCE Practice |
| Part 2 Meeting 4 | 8 Oct 2024 | OSCE Practice |
| Mock Exam | 26 Oct 2024 | Mock Exam Day in person (followed by a final session) |
How do I join the Study Group and
Apply for a place on a specific exam
It’s easy to join our study group. Just fill out the simple form. We’ll then get back to you with more details.
We recommend joining the Group so that you can benefit from a full range of support but you can also attending individual meetings (i.e. the Mock Exam).
Once you have registered we’ll be in touch to discuss the payment options. To become a full member of the Study Group you will need to have made a payment from the options listed here.
How do I pay for
Tuition and exam fees?
For Part 1 in 2024, new members can join for £329 and this fee provides you with online teaching and 12 hours of CPD, mock tests, plus you can attend the CGDent Scotland Study Day in December 2024.
If you are taking the MFDS exam you would need to pay the fee for this separately. There may also be support available for group members who are not currently employed.
For Part 2 in 2024 Study Group participants will receive tuition for £399. Membership provides you with four tuition evenings, a mock exam day and up to 12 hours of CPD.
Please contact us if you are interested in just attending a specific meeting or the Mock Exam event.
Part 1
For 2024: £329 by 15 January 2024
Pay for all of your tuition in one go prior to the first tutor evening of the course. This covers you for all of the virtual tuition for part 1 online resources and membership of the What’s App group.
Part 2
For 2024: £399 by 6 August 2024
Pay for all of your online and face-to-face mock day tuition in one go prior to the beginning of Part 2 in August 2024. This covers you for all of the tuition for part 2, online resources and membership of the What’s App group.
REMEMBER, you need to pay for your exam fees separately and this information will be provided on the MFDS website. If you are taking the course to revise and refresh your skills the tuition fee will be your only cost.
EXTRA BENEFITS
On completion of the course you will qualify for a much-reduced rate place at the CGDent Scotland Study Day on Friday 6 December 2024.
EXTRA BENEFITS
The full course is anticipated to qualify for up to eight sessions of CPD.
EXTRA BENEFITS
Fantastic true to life Mock Day so you get a practice run for the real exam day. A post-event drinks at which we’ll pick up the tab!
EXTRA BENEFITS
Further reductions may be available to founding members of the College of General Dentistry. Find out more about the College which launched in July 2021.
Your Tutors
The tutors who run Scotland’s MFDS groups are practising dentists who have all gained postgraduate qualifications. We understand what it’s like to have to juggle work and study and so we have tried to tailor the course to be of maximum benefit to you.
Our team for 2024 includes tutors Paul Friel, Kathleen Berry, Patricia Thomson, Robbie Thomson, David Comerford, Emma Carr, Sharon Letters and Jack Mollison. We also have the luxury of being able to call on a range of guest tutors and recent group members for specific subjects.
Our Study Group has helped guide hundreds of successful candidates through their postgraduate exams. We’ve helped new dentists kickstart their careers and older colleagues to rekindle their love of the profession. Above all we’ve made lifelong friends and built a community of like-minded people. During these times of uncertainty the Study Group is here for you, whatever your goal.