Part 2B Course

The FRCR part II is the final postgraduate professional exam in clinical oncology in the UK, and is required for anyone who wishes to become a consultant Clinical Oncologist in the UK.

UK practice largely reflects modern, evidence-based international practice. Wherever you work, the FRCR exam is a benchmark for ability and understanding in the practice of modern clinical oncology.

The aim of the exam is to ensure that those who pass are able to function as good, safe oncologists, working to contemporary British standards and guidelines for radiotherapy, SACT, AOS, and supportive care, as practiced in cancer centres large and small across the UK.

This is an exam which tests your ability to demonstrate conventional and practical understanding and decision-making for the sort of clinical situations relevant to everyday patients in a busy modern oncology department.

All UK Clinical Oncology trainees must pass FRCR in order to complete their training and become consultants. Almost all of them attend the Cardiff FRCR 2B course, which has run successfully for over 30 years.

We recognise that international FRCR 2B candidates, who often have superb book learning, good clinical experience, and who are clearly impressive in relaxed conversation, often perform less well than expected in the exam. Reasons for this are multifactorial.

The Cardiff course has since 2012 devoted specific sessions for international delegates attending the course in Wales, to very good benefit. We have also learned a great deal.

International Candidates

• often lack confidence in the context of a demanding and sometimes intimidating exam.
• may lack experience in aspects of precision radiotherapy, brachytherapy, skin radiotherapy, molecular radiotherapy.
• may be unfamiliar with different cancer aetiologies seen in European vs. non-European populations.
• may primarily practice as radiation oncologists, and lack experience in SACT, Palliative Medicine, or aspects of general medicine relevant to Acute Oncology.
• may not be up to date with the latest SACT protocols/new biologicals/decision points & indications.
• may have learned non-UK standard oncology in their local unit.
• are quite possibly uncertain about clinical decision-making in the context of British practice as tested in the exam. This is complex, and includes an understanding of how medicine functions in the UK, availability of various treatments, and some sometimes subtle cultural factors.

International Oncologists often do not have the Internal Medicine experience or MRCP, required for Oncology trainees in the UK.  Since Acute Oncology Service has become an integral part of day to day oncology practise and is a vital part of the FRCR 2B exam assessment, we provide extra sessions on AOS on the Kolkata course to bridge this gap.

The benefit of bringing the course to Kolkata is that it is tailored to your needs. We provide the Cardiff course in its entirety, but we are also able to assess and help overcome the obstacles that can disadvantage international candidates.