MRCOG January 2027 Expression of Interest: what candidates need to know before 2 October 2026

For doctors planning to appear for the MRCOG January 2027 exam, one important administrative step comes well before the exam itself: submitting the Expression of Interest (EOI) form on the RCOG portal by 2 October 2026.

Many candidates focus only on the exam date and start their preparation timeline from there. But the MRCOG journey has several fixed dates set by the RCOG, and missing any of them means waiting six months for the next diet. Understanding these timelines early helps candidates plan preparation with the runway they actually have — not the runway they assume they have.

Quick summary: The Expression of Interest closes on 2 October 2026. The booking window opens on 27 October 2026 and closes on 15 December 2026. MRCOG Part 1 is on 19 January 2027; Part 2 is on 20 January 2027.

What Is Expression of Interest (EOI) for MRCOG?

The Expression of Interest is an early step where candidates indicate their intention to appear for the upcoming MRCOG exam.

It is important to understand that submitting an EOI is not the same as booking your exam.

The process generally works like this:

1. Submit your Expression of Interest before the deadline
2. Wait for the exam booking window to open
3. Complete your exam booking during the given period

For the January 2027 MRCOG exam cycle, the EOI deadline is:

2 October 2026

Candidates planning their attempt should make sure they are aware of this timeline.

MRCOG January 2027 Important Dates( Keep dates in table format) 

For candidates planning their January 2027 attempt:

MRCOG Part 1

Exam Date: 19 January 2027
Expression of Interest Deadline: 2 October 2026
Booking Window Opens: 27 October 2026
Booking Window Closes: 15 December 2026

MRCOG Part 2

Exam Date: 20 January 2027
Expression of Interest Deadline: 2 October 2026
Booking Window Opens: 27 October 2026
Booking Window Closes: 15 December 2026

Why the four months before the exam matter more than most candidates realise

By the time the EOI deadline passes on 2 October, there are approximately fifteen weeks between confirmation and exam day. Candidates often assume they will "start properly" once booking is confirmed in late October — but that leaves under twelve weeks for actual preparation, which is significantly less than what most working doctors need.

MRCOG preparation is not only about completing the syllabus. It involves developing recall under time pressure, practising exam-style questions, and building the specific decision-making patterns that both papers reward. These skills take time to build alongside clinical duties.

For Part 1 candidates

Part 1 tests basic sciences applied to obstetrics and gynaecology across two SBA papers of 100 questions each. The syllabus is broad, but the exam consistently draws from a narrower set of high-yield areas — anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and statistics being the highest-weighted. Candidates who read every guideline in every topic often underperform compared to those who focus on high-yield areas and practise SBAs consistently from early in their preparation. 

For more on how Part 1 preparation is structured, see our MRCOG Part 1 course page. 

For Part 2 candidates

Part 2 tests clinical application across two papers: 50 SBAs and 50 EMQs each. The exam does not simply reward candidates who know the guidelines — it rewards those who can identify which part of a guideline applies to a specific clinical scenario, often distinguished by a single detail in the stem. This is a different skill from memorising content, and it develops through structured practice rather than repeated reading.

For more on how Part 2 preparation is structured, see our MRCOG Part 2 course page.

Common questions about the EOI process

What if I miss the 2 October deadline?

You cannot sit the January 2027 exam. The next opportunity is the July 2027 diet, which has its own separate EOI deadline announced by the RCOG in advance. 

Do I need to pay when submitting the EOI?

No. The EOI itself is a free form. Payment happens when you book your seat during the booking window (27 October to 15 December 2026). 

Can I submit an EOI for both Part 1 and Part 2 in the same diet?

Only if you have already passed Part 1 in a previous diet. First-time candidates cannot skip Part 1. Part 2 candidates must have passed Part 1 within the previous seven years and may attempt Part 2 a maximum of six times. 

Where do I submit the EOI?

On the official RCOG portal. You must first have an active RCOG account with confirmed eligibility. Instructions are available on the RCOG Expression of Interest page. 

Planning the months ahead

With the EOI deadline just over two weeks away and the exam approximately four months later, the candidates who tend to clear on first attempt use this window differently from those who repeatedly sit and struggle. First-attempt passes are rarely the result of last-minute intensive study — they usually reflect consistent daily preparation started well before the booking window opens, structured around a working doctor's actual schedule rather than an ideal one. 

The candidates who face difficulty are usually not the ones who studied less. They are the ones who spent the first months of their preparation window in an unstructured "warming up" phase, and started serious question practice too late to build the exam-day performance the RCOG papers require. 

A note on preparation: Whether you prepare independently or with a structured programme, the most useful thing you can do in the next two weeks is submit your EOI and then honestly assess how much of the four-month preparation window will be usable given your clinical schedule. That assessment is what determines whether January 2027 is realistic or whether