The Cardiff-Hong Kong FRCR IIb Course

The 2026 Cardiff-Hong Kong FRCR 2b Course

The 2026 course will run in Hong Kong around September 2026. Final dates to be announced, and bookings open mid 2026. Watch this space! If you want to register interest for 2026, please contact Carly Biscoe – VCC.FRCR@wales.nhs.uk

Please note that this course is only available for Hong Kong trainees

Course Overview

  1. Pre-recorded lectures (access within a set date period of three months)
  • A library of around 40 pre-recorded video lectures covering essential tumour sites for the FRCR exam.  These will be released before the on-campus course.
  • These lectures cover key aspects in up-to-date cancer management, with explanations of the evidence base, current guidelines, SACT, and radiotherapy technique, all of which support preparation for both the FRCR2a and FRCR2b examinations.
  • The lectures are designed to supplement, but not replace background reading and knowledge of published guidelines and literature.

2. An intensive 3 day on-campus course held at Hong Kong

  • This will concentrate on clinical management and decision-making as examined in FRCR 2B. It is intensive and highly interactive, and is designed to improve your confidence and capabilities when tackling the realistic clinical scenarios presented in the FRCR exam, applying principles and practices in the UK.
  • 3 very experienced and expert faculty from the UK will provide face-to-face live teaching sessions on their specialist tumour sites as well as bespoke tuition in small groups focussing on exam techniques, together with a much larger UK-based faculty providing virtual live teaching sessions, all supported by the fantastic Kong Kong team.
  • The sessions will include:
    • Orientation: what is the FRCR exam really about, and how does it reflect contemporary oncological practice?
    • Interactive lectures/Q&A covering specific tumour subsites and management issues.
    • Radical and palliative radiotherapy planning exercises
    • Mock exams
    • Communication skills
    • Viva skills
    • Exam tips
  • There will be plenty of opportunity for informal one-to-one conversation with the UK faculty over coffee, lunch etc. The course is small, focussed, relaxed, and personal.

The Cardiff-Hong Kong Course philosophy

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 Hong Kong course to bridge this gap.

The benefit of bringing the course to Hong Kong 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.

Expectations of Cardiff-Hong Kong Course Delegates

You will have reasonable general oncological experience and knowledge as expected of a trainee who has passed FRCR I, and who is preparing for the FRCR II exam. You will have an understanding of the clinical management of the major tumour subsites, at least. You may lack confidence in some areas.

You will have reviewed all of the pre-recorded material thoroughly before coming to Hong Kong. This is essential, as the intensive on-campus course held at Hong Kong does not repeat the didactic material covered in the pre-recorded lectures.

The on-campus teaching and virtual live sessions at Hong Kong are strongly oriented towards decision-making and clinical scenarios, as tested in the exam.

This is a demanding but enjoyable, satisfying, and useful course. You and your classmates will all be put on the spot, in a safe and supportive environment. You are expected to participate. Developing confidence is one of the goals.

For further information on how to enrol for the Hong Kong Course please contact Carly Biscoe – VCC.FRCR@wales.nhs.uk

The September 2025 Course

2024

2023

…and the Class of 2010