Submission and approval of a research synopsis by the Research Evaluation Unit (REU) are mandatory for all FCPS-II candidates from 2025 onwards.

All trainees must attend the Research Methodology, Biostatistics & Article Writing (RMB&AW) workshop before initiating their synopsis writing. This workshop is essential for understanding research submission requirements and ensuring compliance with CPSP guidelines.

FCPS-II trainees (Straight Track) inducted from July 2024 onwards must submit a supervisor-approved synopsis to the REU at least six months before their scheduled IMM examination. Sub-specialty trainees in Medicine and Surgery must submit their synopsis within the first six months of the third year of residency.

Trainees must choose a research topic in consultation with their supervisor. The topic must be relevant to the field, innovative, and feasible within the training period.

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The research synopsis must be written in the trainee's own words using clear and precise language. Plagiarism should not exceed 19%, and AI-generated content must remain below 30%.

Plagiarism is broadly categorized into deliberate (intentional) plagiarism and unintentional plagiarism:

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For Synopsis submission candidate apply Step 1 & Step 2 and one hard copy of synopsis submit to the CPSP REU department is mandatory, including

• Synopsis (one sided printed as per CPSP format)
• Covering Letter (Duly Signed & stamped by your supervisor)
• Non-duplication certificate (Duly Signed & stamped by your supervisor)
• Application form (Duly signed by trainee) and Synopsis Paid Fee Challan
• Ethical Approval/Registration Certificate
• Clinical Trial Registration

Candidate cannot submit their hard copy of synopsis without completion of Step 1 and Step 2 (uploaded soft copies of documents) including,

• Soft copy of Synopsis (word format)
• Covering Letter (Duly Signed & stamped by your supervisor) PDF format
• Non-duplication certificate (Duly Signed & stamped by your supervisor) PDF format
• Application form (Duly signed by trainee) and Synopsis Paid Fee Challan PDF format
• Ethical Approval/Registration Certificate (PDF format)
• Clinical Trial Registration (PDF format)

Important note:

• It is mandatory to submit the hard copy of your corrected synopsis to the CPSP REU and upload a soft copy (Word Format) on your e-portal after plagiarism and AI detection.
• It is mandatory to submit the hard copy of your corrected synopsis to the CPSP REU and upload a soft copy (Word Format) on your e-portal after the observation.
• When applying for Step 1, please carefully enter your synopsis topic and select your submission center. If there's any mistake, the trainee will be solely responsible for delays. Should you find an error, kindly send your query to reu@cpsp.edu.pk or contact us at Ext: 387/320 for correction.
• Before applying for Step 1 and Step 2, candidates must ensure their research work adheres to ethical principles and obtain ethical approval from the relevant Ethics Review Committee (ERC) before initiating data collection.
• Before applying for Step 1 and Step 2, trainees must choose a research topic in consultation with their supervisor. The topic must be relevant to the field, innovative, and feasible within the training period. The CPSP library will no longer provide topics or any information regarding them.
• Do not apply multiple times for Step 1 and Step 2. If you are facing any issues with the e-portal, kindly send your query to reu@cpsp.edu.pk with a screenshot for correction.
• Please ensure that the submitted hard copy documents and synopsis are identical to the versions uploaded on your e-portal.

For second fellowship trainees, submission of synopsis is not required, however, prior approval of the article topic from REU is mandatory. The topic must be submitted via email or hard copy for approval before initiating data collection /publishing articles.

The initial evaluation report of the synopsis is provided within six weeks of submission. Candidates can request for further clarification or schedule virtual or in-person meetings if needed.

Failure to comply with research guidelines, including late submission, incomplete documentation, high plagiarism, or incorrect referencing, may result in delays in approval and subsequent examination eligibility.

The synopsis evaluation process involves multiple levels of review, including assessments by a Research Analyst, Statistician, and Bibliographer, before final approval by the Head of the REU.

The research study design and sample size calculations must be justified with appropriate statistical methods, ensuring validity and reliability of results.

Trainees are encouraged to use reference management tools such as EndNote or Medeley to maintain accurate citations and formatting in accordance with CPSP guidelines.

Candidates must ensure that their research work adheres to ethical principles and obtain ethical approval from the relevant Ethics Review Committee (ERC) before initiating data collection.

Any changes to the approved synopsis, including modifications in study objectives, methodology, or sample population, require prior approval from the REU.

Data collection can only begin after the synopsis has been formally approved by the REU. Retrospective data collection, as well as data extraction from hospital records, is strictly prohibited.

Each trainee must publish at least one original research article in an HEC-approved W, X, or Y category journal as the first or second author. The published article must be uploaded on the e-portal at least three months before the FCPS Part II examination.

Each trainee must submit their own research article; co-authoring a single article with another trainee for fulfilling the examination requirement is not allowed.

Candidates should be mindful of journal selection, ensuring that their chosen publication aligns with CPSP's approved list of HEC-accredited journals to avoid rejections or complications in the examination process.

Before submitting your article to a journal, please ensure that the journal is included in the updated list as per the guidelines outlined in CPSP/Sec/2025/447, dated 22nd July 2025. It is also mandatory to include your supervisor's name in the list of authors.