European Specialty Examination in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ESEGH)
The ESEGH is a pan-European knowledge-based assessment for Gastroenterology and Hepatology trainees, delivered in partnership with the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK (Federation) and the British Society of Gastroenterology(BSG), based on the successful EBGH Examination and the Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE) in Gastroenterology.
The ESEGH is a high quality, reliable examination, based on a proven format, now UK (General Medical Council) Regulator approved, which is currently mandatory in Switzerland and the UK from 2018.
Registration and information:
Registration for the ESEGH will be hosted on the MRCP(UK) website (https://www.thefederation.uk/examinations/european-specialty-examination-gastroenterology-hepatology) on behalf of the ESBGH, Federation and BSG.
Registration for the ESEGH will open on 16 December 2026. Please visit the MRCP(UK) website for more information on application dates and procedure.
As of 2027, the Exam will be sat at test centres throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Sitting the Exam at home is no longer possible.
In order to guarantee a space in a test centre closer to home/work, candidates are advised to register as early as possible.
Introduction:
The European Section and Board in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ESBGH) is tasked by its parent body the European Union of Medical Specialist (UEMS) "to achieve the delivery of high-quality patient care by promoting and harmonizing high standards for medical practice and postgraduate education, and thus clinical excellence".
The ESBGH has 30 full member countries, 3 associate member countries, and 11 observer countries.
The European Specialty Examination in Gastroenterology and Hepatology is a fully validated assessment of knowledge of gastroenterology and hepatology as laid down in the European Curriculum for Gastroenterology and Hepatology Specialty Training Programme known as the "The Blue Book". The Blue Book produced by the ESBGH is in its 2023 edition and is revised every 3 to 5 years. It is available on http://www.eubogh.org
Eligibility requirements:
There are no restrictions to entry for the ESEGH. Candidates are restricted to a maximum of 6 attempts. For doctors in formal Gastroenterology and Hepatology training programs success is more likely if the exam is taken after the first year.
The remit of the ESEGH exam:
Success in this examination is a demonstration of having achieved the knowledge necessary to fulfil the requirements of the ESBGH curriculum which is a Europe-wide description of the level expected of a specialist in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Date and Venue:
The next examination will be on 07 April 2027.
As of 2027, the Exam will be sat at test centres throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Sitting the Exam at home is no longer possible.
In order to guarantee a space in a test centre closer to home/work, candidates are advised to register as early as possible.
The exam is delivered once a year.
Results:
Results will be published 4 weeks after the exam. Certificates will be posted 8 weeks after the exam
Resources for Candidates:
The ESBGH exam is centered on the Blue Book curriculum but will test a wide range of knowledge in gastroenterology and hepatology. Prospective candidates are expected to be widely read covering gastroenterology and hepatology textbooks, guidelines and journals. Attending international and national conferences and specialty meetings with academic content are also encouraged.
Knowledge of current European Guidelines and up-to-date recommendations for common GI and liver disease will be helpful to the candidate.
Recommended Reading
Textbooks
1. Bloom S, Webster G, Marks D, eds. Oxford Handbook of Gastroenterology & Hepatology (3rd edn). Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2021.
2. Chung RT, Rubin DT, Wilcox M. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease (12th edn). Amsterdam, Elsevier, 2025.
3. Marjot T, McGregor C, Ambrose T, Travis S, De Silva A, Cobbold J, eds. Best of Five MCQS for the European Specialty Examination in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2nd edn). Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2021.
4. Wang TC, Camilleri M, Lebwohl B, Lok AS, Sandborn WJ, Wang KK, Wu GD, eds. Yamada's Textbook of Gastroenterology (7th edn). Hoboken, Wiley, 2022
Journals
1. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
2. American Journal of Gastroenterology
3. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
4. European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
7. Gut
9. Lancet
10. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology
11. Neurogastroenterology and Motility
12. New England Journal of Medicine
13. UEG Journal
Guidelines
1. BSG
2. ESGE
3. EASL
4. ECCO
5. ESPEN Guidelines & Consensus Papers
6. European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
7. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
8. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
Online Resources
1. Blue Book of Gastroenterology – https://www.eubogh.org/blue-book/
2. BMJ OnExam – https://www.onexamination.com/
3. eMedicine – https://emedicine.medscape.com/gastroenterology
4. UEG Library – https://ueg.eu/library
5. Up to date – https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/uptodate
6. Specialty certificate examination in Gastroenterology sample MCQ – https://www.thefederation.uk/gastroenterology-sample-questions
Conferences
1. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
2. British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG)
3. Digestive Disease Week (DDW)
4. European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)
5. United European Gastroenterology (UEG)
Questions:
The exam will offer 200 questions in 2 three-hour examinations. The questions are in ‘best of five’ multiple-choice format. This format, in addition to testing core knowledge and comprehension, also assesses the ability to interpret information and to solve clinical problems. There will be five options - one correct answer and four alternatives to the correct answer. The four distractors will be closely related to the preferred option but less correct, therefore acting as plausible alternatives. Sample questions are available on the MRCP(UK) website ( https://www.thefederation.uk/gastroenterology-sample-questions)
Designs ]