Your Cart is Empty
Medicine Interview Guide
Online vs in-person
Important Dates
Interview Formats
Question Types
Helpful Resources
MEDICINE INTERVIEW 2022 Update
Medical school interviews are the final hurdle of the admissions process before your hard work culminates in receiving an offer. With an increasing number of applicants every year to UK medical schools, it’s your chance to show your suitability to become a doctor. At the interview stage, the slate is effectively wiped clean, meaning that for most interviews, it is solely your performance in the interview itself that stands between receiving an offer or not. As you might’ve guessed, it is therefore essential for every applicant to prepare well. But with so much conflicting and repetitive advice, how do you know where to begin?
The MSAG have been leaders for UK medicine interview preparation for the past 13 years, and we were one of the first companies to run interview courses. Since then, we have continued to update our knowledge through research and the experiences of our trained coaches who have sat on the interview panels at Universities such as Cambridge, Kings, Brighton and St George’s.
This page is the culmination of our knowledge and is designed to become your one-stop guide for interview preparation. We will guide you through everything you need to do to bring your best interview performance on the day.
- • Expected timeline, format and styles of interviews for 2022 entry
- • Most common question types and how to answer them well
- • Advice for unique interviews such as Oxbridge and Asynchronous styles
- • Example mark schemes for common questions
- • Tailored 2022 preparation advice for each of the 41 UK medical schools
- • Experiences from successful medical students who were once in your shoes!
Online or In-Person?
In 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, medical schools had to move their interviews from in-person to online. We have reviewed the website of each medical school for 2022 entry interviews, to bring you the latest information.
Online Interviews
Which medical schools are doing interviews online? For 2022 applications, we know that 19 out of 41 UK medicine and dentistry schools have confirmed that their interviews will be held online. These are usually conducted over video call, on platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
In-Person Interviews
2 Universities have confirmed that they are hoping to run interviews in person, but this is likely to change if restrictions are imposed.
Unconfirmed style of Interview
20 UK medical schools have not yet confirmed whether they will run their interviews online or face-to-face, and are likely waiting for more information regarding restrictions due to the pandemic.
This includes Bristol medicine interviews, Edinburgh medicine interviews, Leeds medicine interviews, Manchester medicine interviews and St George’s medicine interviews.
Once confirmed, we will update this page - so bookmark and check back!
INTERVIEW DATES
Going through the medicine application process can bring up many questions. When will I receive interviews? When will interviews be held? When will I receive an offer or rejection?
The short answer is - the timeline for interviews varies depending on the Universities that you’ve applied to, and the features of your medical school application.
- • For Bristol medicine interviews, Glasgow medicine interviews and Southampton medicine interviews, the schools rank applicants based solely on UCAT once the minimum entry requirements are met, so those with a higher UCAT score are called to interview first.
- • Some Universities such as King’s College London use a combination of UCAT score and academics such as GCSEs. Other Universities take a holistic approach to viewing your UCAS application, making it much harder to predict whether you will be in an early or later round of interviews.
When are interview invitations sent?
The earliest interview invites are usually sent from mid-November. For those expecting a KCL medicine interview interview, invitations are sent from mid-November. For both the Oxford medicine interviews and Cambridge medicine interviews, invites are from mid-November to give sufficient notice for the interview dates in December. Both Manchester medicine interview and Liverpool medicine interview invitations are sent from mid-November.
However, if you haven’t received an invite by the new year, don’t worry! Many other Universities send offers on a rolling basis, meaning that you could receive one any time from November to February! For example, Newcastle medicine interview invitations are sent between December and January. UCL medicine interviews are sent in batches on this rolling basis, from December.
When are interviews held?
Medical school interviews are held any time from November to May, with the majority being held between December and January. When these will be, completely depends on the Universities that you have chosen.
A large proportion of schools hold interviews over multiple dates. The earliest KCL medicine interviews will be in November, and run all the way until May. Bristol medicine interviews will run from December to April, in multiple batches.
Alternatively, some Universities choose to hold their interviews on a few set days. For example, Oxford medicine interviews are held on a handful of days in December. Likewise, Warwick medicine interviews will all be over a few dates in December. Cambridge medicine interviews are held over a three-week period in December.
When will I receive offers?
Once the interview process is done, there is an (anxious) wait to be sent offers via UCAS - the culmination of your hard work to allow you to study medicine! What can help you during this waiting period? Well, the knowledge that medical schools send out their offer decisions at different times - and finding out when to expect offers from your chosen medical schools.
The earliest offers in previous years have been in December for some high-perfoming candidates at schools that make offers in batches, such as Manchester. Oxford and Cambridge medicine offers are sent out by early January for all applicants. UCL medical school aims to notify applicants of the outcome of their interview within four weeks of the interview. Most other medical schools, such as Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool and Leicester will notify candidates in March. KCL medicine offers can be issued up until the end of May.
The Interview format
Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMIs)
Multiple Mini interviews (or MMIs) are a common type of medical school interview format.
- • They allow medical schools to assess for a breadth of competencies and personal qualities that are expected of a good doctor.
- • They consist of a number of stations (usually between 4-8) of a set length, with questions or tasks to complete. After completing each MMI station you move straight onto the next and follow a pre-arranged circuit, until you have completed all of the stations.
- • For 2022, it is likely that many MMIs will run virtually.
Because MMIs usually function as ‘mini interviews’, they contain a wide variety of different question types, ranging from motivation and skills based questions, to roleplays with professional actors, and even task-based or picture-based stations.
The key point to note for your preparation is that MMIs differ between different Universities. They can differ in the number of stations, the length of stations, and the types of interview questions or tasks given. For example, Bristol medical school has used MMI interviews for many years but it does not usually contain a roleplay. Queen’s Belfast medicine interviews usually consist of multiple scenarios and role play stations. Keele medicine interviews have recently had a video station and KCL medicine interviews often contain a picture station.
It is important to be well prepared and informed about the number, length of stations and common interview questions at your chosen Universities, simply because they vary so much.
To help with your preparation, we host MMI mocks that are tailored to each medical school, using past questions collected over previous years and the insights of our experienced coaches. The variation between schools is also why many of our applicants will choose to come to a Mock MMI circuit for each of their chosen Universities. It makes sense - as for example, the MMI experience at Leicester will be very different to the one at Manchester! You can save by purchasing two MMI mocks at once in our bundle deal.
MMI Interviews for 2022 entry
• Aberdeen medicine interviews
• Anglia Ruskin medicine interviews
• Aston medicine interviews
• BSMS interviews
• Cardiff medicine interviews
• Edge Hill medicine interview
• Exeter medicine interviews
• Hull York medicine interview
• Imperial medicine interviews
• Kent and Medway medicine interviews
• Lancaster medicine interviews
• Leeds medicine interviews
• Leicester medicine interviews
• Lincoln medicine interviews
• Manchester medicine interviwes
• Plymouth medicine interviews
• Queen’s Belfast medicine interviews
• St Andrews medicine interviews
• St George’s medicine interviews
• UCL medicine interviews
• Ulster medicine interviews
• Warwick medicine interviews
Panel Interviews
Panel interviews are another common type of medical school interview, and are often seen as the more traditional format. They have become more common since many Universities changed their format to online, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a panel interview, you are usually interviewed by 2-3 people, who may be practicing doctors, teaching staff, scientists or senior medical students. You remain with the same 2-3 interviewers throughout the interview, giving you more time to build a rapport and showcase your personality.
Just like with MMIs, not all panel interviews are the same! They can vary in the number of interviewers, the length of the interview and type of questions asked. For example, Barts and the London School of Medicine’s 2022 interview is a panel with two assessors, lasting for 20 minutes, consisting of personal questions and analysis of an article. In contrast, Sheffield medicine interviews for 2022 are in panel format, with two interviewers covering eight sections, with questions sent out in advance to applicants.
It is more common in a panel interview for you to be asked questions on your personal statement as the interviewers have a longer time with you. Read our section below for advice on preparing to be questioned on your personal statement.
Panel Interviews for 2022 entry
• Barts medicine interviews
• Cambridge medicine interviews
• Dundee medicine interviews
• Glasgow medicine interviews
• KCL medicine interviews
• Newcastle medicine interviews
• Oxford medicine interviews
• Sheffield medicine interviews
Asynchronous Interviews
Asynchronous is a newer type of medical school interview, which has been used by a few schools since the COVID-19 pandemic required interviews to be moved online. ‘Asynchronous’ means ‘not occuring at the same time’. These interviews involve applicants being given the questions in advance, video recording their answers during a time slot, uploading these videos to a platform and the recordings are then reviewed by the admissions team at a later time.
If you are expecting an Imperial medicine interview, the University has confirmed that the first stage of their interviews for 2022 entry will be an asynchronous MMI format. This will enable candidates to record themselves remotely, and the interviews will cover a variety of domains including teamwork, communication skills, ethical issues and contribution to the University. The full information is available on their website.
Interview Question Types
There are many questions that can be asked during your medical school interviews, covering a wide range of topics. Remember that medical school interviews are not designed to test your medical knowledge, rather they are used to look for candidates with the skills and attributes required of a good future doctor. The first step to success is acknowledging that you can prepare for the questions and answers - but knowing how to do this well is important!
This comprehensive guide will go through these common questions alongside our best interview tips, allowing you to prepare for them all to stand the best chance on your interview day!
Most Common questions
There are a variety of common question types that come up in most medical school interviews, that you should be very familiar with and spend time preparing for.
Common MMI questions
Multiple mini interviews (MMIs), often have common question types that differ from other interview styles. Due to the fact that you spend a short amount of time at multiple stations, MMI stations are often varied and include some non-traditional question types such as roleplay, picture, video and task-based stations. These stations can feel very unlike any interview you will have done before, so it’s important to prepare and practice for them in a realistic mock setting.
If you have applied to medical schools that use MMI interviews, then you should be prepared for the variety of question types that come up.
- • Have you revised your knowledge of medical ethics?
- • Are you aware of current issues affecting health professionals/the NHS?
- • Have you practiced roleplays?
Common Panel Questions
In a Medical school Panel interview, the questions asked tend to be more traditional. In these interviews you can expect to be asked personal questions around your motivation, experiences and skills, due to being with the same 2-3 interviewers for the duration. Some Universities will also use your personal statement and ask you questions related to this - so it’s important to revise what you have written, before booking a panel mock interview!
Why Medicine?
‘Why do you want to study medicine?’ is probably one of the first questions that you expect to be asked. It is a motivation question designed to understand your reasons for wanting to become a doctor.
In answers to this question, interviewers are looking for well-thought out reasons that demonstrate a realistic understanding of a career in medicine, and reasons that are personal to you. It is important that your reasons are specific to becoming a doctor rather than any other healthcare professional.
You should expect to be asked this at all of your interviews and so thorough preparation for this question is key!
Ethics Questions
Many applicants are very nervous at the prospect of the roleplay station and the thought of acting in front of a professional actor and examiner! It is completely understandable, however role play stations are a very effective way of testing your interpersonal skills, and this is why they are common stations in MMIs. For example, Queen’s Belfast medicine interviews often have multiple roleplays in their MMI.
You may at first think that you can’t revise knowledge for roleplay stations, however there are some common types of role play scenarios that repeatedly come up.
Role Plays
Many applicants are very nervous at the prospect of the roleplay station and the thought of acting in front of a professional actor and examiner! It is completely understandable, however role play stations are a very effective way of testing your interpersonal skills, and this is why they are common stations in MMIs. For example, Queen’s Belfast medicine interviews often have multiple roleplays in their MMI.
You may at first think that you can’t revise knowledge for roleplay stations, however there are some common types of role play scenarios that repeatedly come up. We advise preparing for a role play station by familiarising yourself with these common scenarios, and then practicing with a mock MMI circuit in front of an actor!
Motivation/Medical School Knowledge
Motivation questions are asked to try to understand your reasons to apply to medicine and the particular medical school that you are interviewing at. ‘Why do you want to be a doctor?’ is a very common one, but you should also be prepared for others.
‘Why do you want to study at X medical school’? Is another common motivation question.
- • Admissions tutors are looking for applicants who are passionate about their particular University and will contribute well to University life.
- • You need to show your passion with reasons that are personal to you and also personal to the University.
- • Take a look at what the medical school offers - it may be helpful to think about reasons that are related to the course structure, the University and the city that you will live in for 5-6 years as a medical student!
- • It would be good to reference if you have been to the University before through open days or have visited the location.
- • Try to make sure that your reasons show your personality and interests - you may be interested in a particular society or feature of the city.
Work Experience/Insights
When asking you about your work experience, interviewers want to see that you have a realistic understanding of the career. These questions can appear both in MMIs and panel interviews, and some Universities may even ask you about a particular experience that you wrote about in your personal statement - so remember to re-read this!
To answer these questions well, you need to demonstrate personal insight into a career as a doctor. A good answer won’t just detail what you saw on work experience, but you need to show what you learnt from placements and how this impacts your motivation to become a doctor.
Situational Judgement (SJT) Questions/Duties of a doctor
You’ve probably heard of the SJT if you sat the UCAT, but these scenario-based questions also come up at medical school interviews!
As the name suggests, you will be asked for your judgement and how you would respond to certain situations. You may encounter similar situations as a medical student or a doctor, and these questions are designed to test your ability to prioritise, make decisions and justify your actions.
- • You can tell when you have been asked an SJT question in the interview, as you will be outlined a scenario and asked “How would you respond?” Or “What would you do?”.
- • Common themes that come up in these scenarios are communication, teamwork, clinical seniority, honesty, integrity, patient safety and confidentiality.
- • The key to answering SJT questions is to have a well-structured answer that goes through your response step-by-step, in order of priority and the reasons why you have chosen to do each step. This can be difficult to think of on the spot!
- • We teach a simple structure to help you to answer SJT questions (and many more common question types) in our Live Online Interview Course.
NHS Hot topics
Medicine and healthcare is a constantly evolving field, and it is important for future medical students and junior doctors to keep up to date with healthcare news and topical issues. You can be asked questions in your medical school interview about current healthcare issues such as privatisation, the COVID-19 pandemic and the problems facing the NHS.
Without a strong foundation of knowledge to prepare for these questions, they may catch you off guard, so it’s important to read around current healthcare issues.
What do you think are currently the biggest issues for healthcare in the UK? Make a note of them and plan some model answers for potential hot topics questions. You may want to look at good sources for healthcare news to help with your revision.
Prioritization tasks
Prioritisation tasks can be a bit of an unexpected interview question, but prioritisation is an important skill to have as a future medic, to aid in decision making and with the workload of the job!
For these question types, you will usually be given a list - this could be a list of items, of actions or tasks and you will be asked to prioritise them. You may be asked to choose the three most appropriate or important items on the list, or rank them in order of importance.
St George’s MMI interviews often have a prioritisation task, and Anglia Ruskin MMI interviews have also had these tasks in previous years.
Picture stations
Imagine entering your next MMI station, taking a seat and being shown… a picture of a building, or a landscape, or an old oil painting!
Did you know that you could be given a ‘picture station’ in your medical school interview? KCL medicine interviews have used picture stations in their MMIs for many years.
- • In these stations, you are asked to describe a picture to the interviewer, which could be followed by further questions.
- • These stations, although they may seem abstract at first, are designed to test a multitude of key skills needed for med school! Interviewers will be looking to see your observation skills, and ability to communicate these observations in a clear manner.
- • There may be follow up questions designed to test your critical thinking.
Calculations
Calculation stations can appear as part of some University’s MMI assessments. Keele medical school sends out a pre-admissions maths test, designed to test numerical skills. These stations are to ensure that you have a minimum mathematical ability to be able to successfully train as a doctor, for calculations such as drug dosages.
You do not need to have studied A level/Higher level maths in advance of these tests as higher-level Maths is not a requirement for any UK medical school.
If you have applied to a medical school and are worried about a calculation station or pre-admissions Maths test, you can book a 1-1 tutoring session with us to specifically work on your numerical skills to ensure that you are well-practiced for the day.
Data interpretation
In a data interpretation MMI station, you will be given a piece of data, usually a table, chart or graph, and asked first to interpret it, and then various follow up questions.
- • You are likely to be asked to summarise trends, draw conclusions and may be asked follow-up questions on why these trends may be occurring.
- • These questions are designed to test your ability to interpret data, which is an essential skill for a doctor when interpreting patient symptoms, charts and test results!
- • The follow up questions can be tricky and are looking to test your ability to critically think on the spot.
The best way to prepare for these stations is to practice interpreting different types of data in a realistic mock MMI circuit.
Sciences/Oxbridge questions
Oxbridge medicine interview questions are known to be tricky and are designed to test your critical thinking and problem solving skills. Oxbridge medicine interviews are scientific, but are designed to test your knowledge and abilities beyond the A level and BMAT syllabus to see how you think laterally.
They can be intimidating, but we at the MSAG have a group of successful Oxford and Cambridge medical students to guide you through these interviews. Book a mock Oxbridge panel interview where you will be interviewed by at least one current Oxbridge student and tested on Oxbridge-style critical thinking questions!
BEST RESOURCES
Our most popular interview prep resources
So now that you have great personal insight into the interview process and what it takes to get a good interview score, where do you go from here? At the MSAG, we have been helping applicants with their UK medicine interviews for 13 years. Most interviewees who we work with use the following resources to aid their preparation, and with a high success rate of receiving an offer, it’s a tried and tested method.
Live online Interview Course
Our Live online interview course is where most of our applicants begin their interview prep. The 8 hour long course will teach you how to successfully answer the most common medical school interview questions that can appear in both MMI and panel interviews. These are:
- • Motivation
- • Example-type skills-based questions
- • SJT/Duties of a doctor
- • Ethics
- • NHS and hot topics
- • Role play
- • MMI special stations (picture, data interpretation, calculation and video stations)
You will be taught by a variety of our expert tutors ranging from current first year medical students to senior doctors, who have all once been in your shoes and successfully passed their interviews!
Mock MMI circuit
Once you have learnt how to structure your answers to the most common interview questions, it’s time to put this into practice! Most successful medical students will tell you that practicing for interviews is what makes all the difference in getting that offer.
An MMI is a unique setting for an interview, and with multiple interviewers across multiple stations, it’s very hard to replicate at home with family and friends. This is why, if your chosen medical schools use an Multiple Mini Interview format, it’s important to sit a realistic MMI mock where you can experience multiple stations, different interviewers and moving between them.
In our mock MMI circuits, we use real past interview questions from your chosen Universities to best mirror the style that you can expect on the day. This means that if your chosen medical school has many roleplay stations, you can expect this in your mock MMI. Likewise, if your school has no roleplays, you won’t have one in your circuit! We aim to provide the most realistic tailored MMI mocks through using real-students experiences from recent years.
Mock Panel interview
Panel interviews can be practised more easily with family, friends or teachers. However, it is very difficult to replicate the feeling of being interviewed by strangers in the intense setting of a medical school interview!
We recommend practicing with a realistic mock panel interview, where you will experience being interviewed by assessors who have never met you before, and who have an in-depth understanding of what medical schools look for in successful candidates. The mock setting will be realistic, with both interviewers and the applicant recommended to wear formal dress.
For our mock panel interviews, we also use real past questions from your chosen Universities, collected from successful applicants who were recently in your shoes.
If you have an Oxbridge medicine interview, we run specialist Oxbridge mock interviews where at least one of the panellists is a current Oxford or Cambridge medical student, and are trained in the scientific style of questioning.
1-1 Interview tutoring
In the past, our students have used 1-1 interview tutoring to:
- • Find out their weaknesses when previously they were unaware
- • Work on specific question types that they struggle with, such as roleplay
- • Replicate the interview setting by delivering answers to a trained coach
- • Receive full interview teaching as a private 1-1 course
- • Practice having a mini mock
- • Improve communication skills - both verbal and non verbal
You may have received some feedback from a mock MMI circuit or a mock panel interview that you need to improve in a particular area - it could be structure, content or delivery. Or perhaps you are already aware of a weakness with a certain question type such as roleplay, and find it difficult to practice this realistically with friends and family at home.
For 1-1 tutoring sessions you will be matched with an experienced tutor, either a current medical student, qualified doctor or dentist who have been through a selective recruitment and training process.
Whether you want a couple of sessions before your interview date, or regular, long-term coaching, we will formulate a tutoring plan based on your current strengths and weaknesses that is completely tailored to you.
Best free resources
It is important to us at the MSAG that the barriers to entry into medicine and dentistry to those from widening participation backgrounds are lowered, creating a healthcare workforce that reflects the population that it serves. We offer means-tested reduced rates for all of our interview courses, MMI circuits and mock panel interviews for those applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds. If you qualify and would like to know more, please email hello@themsag.com
We have also drawn up a list of some high-quality free resources that can help you with your interview preparation!
The MSAG Free Online Interview Resource
The MSAG’s online interview course is a free resource for anyone preparing for their medicine or dentistry interviews. It is a blend of interactive video and text learning that covers the most common question types you can expect to see on the day. It is hosted on our state-of-the-art online platform, and was the winner of the 2019 PIEoneer award for Digital Innovation!
It consists of (with no hidden costs):
- • 4.5 hours of interactive video content taught by experienced coaches
- • 8 sections covered - including motivation, duties of a doctor, ethics, the NHS and more
- • 19 lessons in total
- • 8 mock interview questions with sample answers
Medical Schools Council Interview Prep Website
The interview prep website contains various videos and activities that explain what UK medical schools are looking for in candidates. This includes:
- • What candidates can do if they don’t have access to practice sessions
- • Dealing with nerves and anxiety
- • The different types of interview, including the “structured interview” and “multiple-mini interview”
It only requires a quick registration to sign up and is completely free.
Royal College of Surgeons of England - Medical School Interview Questions
This is a great resource by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, which shows examples of over 20 interview questions, categorised by question type. You can click on the questions which will show the recommended points to include for a strong answer. Why not try reading these questions, planning out your answers before clicking and see what the model answer contains? You can then see how similar your answer was and if there’s anything vital that you missed!
School Specific Interview Advice
ABERDEEN MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | • 6 stations of 5 minutes each • 1 interviewer |
| Length | • 1.5 hours • No reading time between stations |
| When are invites sent? | In batches |
| Interview dates | November-March |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Y |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Motivation • Critical thinking and problem solving • Core qualities • Team work • Professionalism • Personal Statement |
| Further information | Aberdeen medical school website |
aNGLIA Ruskin MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online, 'using a suitable platform' |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 6 questions; 6 minutes each. No break between stations - you move straight from one station to the next |
| Length | ~45 minutes |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | MMI interview dates for September 2022 entry: • 6 - 14 December 2021 • 6 - 14 January 2022 |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Not used in the selection process, but candidates should be prepared to discuss or use aspects of it at the MMIs |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Communication skills • Critical thinking • Moral reasoning • Teamwork and leadership • Empathy • Problem solving • Interpersonal skills |
| Further information | Anglia Ruskin medical school website |
ASTON MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online - Microsoft Teams |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | • 8-9 stations of 8 minutes each • 1 interviewer |
| Length | • See above |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | December-March |
| Is the PS used? | When deciding who to interview, the university does not score personal statements - but they do read them with the referees’ comments and take those into consideration. |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Understanding of studying and practising medicine • Motivation • Verbal communication • Listening skills • Understanding of teamwork • Understanding of leadership skills • Understanding of compassion, empathy, respect and dignity • Problem-solving • Some stations may require you to interact with actors, or you may be given a scenario to read and discuss with the assessor |
| Further information | Aston medical school website |
Birmingham MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | "Likely Online" |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | "At each station you will interact with one interviewer but a second interviewer will also be present." |
| Length | • "Maximum 30 Minutes" • "Two 6-minute interview stations" • "2 minutes preparation time" before each station • "a separate online calculation station test which will take 10 minutes" |
| When are invites sent? | Between December and January |
| Interview dates | Interviews take place in January and February. |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • 1 x Dealing with personal and ethical challenges station • 1 x Role Play station • 1 x Calculation Station |
| Further information | University of Birmingham Website |
Brighton and Sussex MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online - Zoom |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | • 5 Stations • 1 interviewer per station |
| Length | ~1 Hour |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | • UK Students - January 2022 • International Students - February 2022 |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Motivation to study medicine and genuine interest in the medical profession • Insight into your own strengths and weaknesses • The ability to reflect on your own work • Personal organisation • Academic ability • Problem solving • Dealing with uncertainty • Manage risk and deal effectively with problems • Statement on the core values and attributes needed to study medicine • Ability to take responsibility for your own actions • Conscientiousness • Insight into your own health • Effective communication, including reading, writing, listening and speaking • Teamwork • Ability to treat people with respect • Resilience and the ability to deal with difficult situations • Empathy and the ability to care for others • Honesty |
| Further information | Brighton and Sussex medical school website |
Bristol MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online - Zoom |
| Format | Structured Interview Format |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Two assessors. Each assessor will ask two questions, and both assessors will assess your response separately. |
| Length | ~30 minutes |
| When are invites sent? | Info not available |
| Interview dates | January and February 2022. |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info not available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Info not available |
| Further information | Bristol medical school website |
Buckingham MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | As of December 2021, details for 2022 Selection Days have not been published. |
| Format | Selection Days - MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | |
| Length | |
| When are invites sent? | |
| Interview dates | |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | |
| Further information | Buckingham medical school website |
Cardiff MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | 2021 online. 2022 info not available. |
| Format | 2021 online. 2022 info not available. |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 2021 online. 2022 info not available. |
| Length | 2021 online. 2022 info not available. |
| When are invites sent? | 2021 online. 2022 info not available. |
| Interview dates | 2021 online. 2022 info not available. |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | 2021 online. 2022 info not available. |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Can think on your feet • Have thought about some of the issues that are important to the profession • Can critically appraise information • Can communicate ideas effectively • Focus on exploring the personal qualities and attributes that are important to your future career development |
| Further information | Cardiff medical school website |
Dundee MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | 2022 entry, online using Blackboard Collaborate |
| Format | Panel |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 5 stations lasting 6 minutes each • 1 minute break between stations to read the briefing material for the next task |
| Length | • Interview to take approximately 60 minutes |
| When are invites sent? | • Released in phases with an aim of giving applicants at least 2 weeks' notice as far as possible |
| Interview dates | • December to February |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Interviewers aim to find out about your ability to: • Think critically • Flexibly think on your feet They will assess your: • Communication skills • Ability to work in a team • Your work experience The interview will also assess your ability to: • Communicate • Critical thinking • Personal values |
| Further information | Dundee medical school website |
East Anglia MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | "We hope to be able to offer interviews on campus, subject to following the latest government guidance." |
| Format | 2022 info not available |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 2022 info not available |
| Length | 2022 info not available |
| When are invites sent? | 2022 info not available |
| Interview dates | Interviews usually take place between November 2021 and February 2022. |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | 2022 info not available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Interviewers are look for applicants to demonstrate: • An acceptable approach to decision making when given incomplete or conflicting information • The ability to learn and work effectively in partnership • A caring and supportive attitude • An empathetic and caring approach • Insight into Medicine as a career and personal suitability for the profession • Honesty, integrity, and personal effectiveness. |
| Further information | East Anglia medical school website |
Edge Hill MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online - Microsoft Teams |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Info unavailable |
| Length | Info unavailable |
| When are invites sent? | Info unavailable |
| Interview dates | Info unavailable |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info unavailable |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Interviews will assess the following: • Understanding and motivation for wanting to join the MBChB programme at Edge Hill University • Verbal communication skills • Integrity/probity • Teamwork/leadership • Empathy and compassion • Awareness of current health challenges • Ethical awareness • Awareness of self and others • Prioritisation/decision making • Interpretation of data |
| Further information | Edge Hill medical school website |
Edinburgh MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | "Ordinarily, the assessment day takes place in person over a half-day at Edinburgh Medical School. However, due to the current disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we are not in a position at present to confirm if we will be running face-to-face sessions or if some/all sessions will be undertaken remotely. Updates will be provided via our web pages." |
| Format | Assessment day |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Four 'stations',scored independently by one selector |
| Length | Half day |
| When are invites sent? | Info not available |
| Interview dates | December - January |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info not available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Info not available |
| Further information | Aberdeen medical school website |
Exeter MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Website is down, no information available at this time. |
| Format | |
| Number of interviewers/stations | |
| Length | |
| When are invites sent? | |
| Interview dates | |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | |
| Further information | Exeter medical school website |
Glasgow MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online - Zoom |
| Format | Panel - Two parts |
| Number of interviewers/stations | No info available |
| Length | 30 minutes |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | No info available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Refer to the undergraduate medical curriculum – gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/admissions(see 'MBChB Programme Information') • Revisit your personal statement (interviewers have no knowledge about you other than your name) • Think of examples of your achievements and skills • Consider your personal characteristics • Reflect on previous interactions or experiences • Be aware of current issues/challenges within the NHS |
| Further information | Glasgow medical school website |
Hull MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | 2022 info not available |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | • Three mini-interviews • Group Work Scenario • Individual Scenario • Student Station |
| Length | Info not available |
| When are invites sent? | 2022 info not available |
| Interview dates | 2022 info not available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | "We do not score your personal statement; however, it is an important part of your application to Hull York Medical School as it allows you to talk about your interests, achievements and ambitions." |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | |
| Further information | Hull medical school website |
Imperial MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Remote |
| Format | Asynchronus MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Info not available |
| Length | Info not available |
| When are invites sent? | Info not available |
| Interview dates | Info not available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | "There are a lot of questions to be familiar with, ranging from questions about your personal statement and why you want to do medicine to questions about your work experiences and ethical scenarios." |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Team work and Leadership • Motivation to study medicine • Understanding the role of a doctor • Empathy and breaking bad news • Ethics scenarios • Imperial and contribution to school of medicine • Resilience |
| Further information | Imperial medical school website |
Keele MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | "For interviews in 2021/22, online interviews consisted of two 15-minute mini-interviews, each with two interviewers." |
| Length | See above |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | December 2021–March 2022 |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • NHS Values • Working together for patients • Respect and Dignity • Everyone Counts • Commitment to Quality of Care • Compassion • Improving Lives • Values Based Recruitment • Caring Nature • Communication Skills • Empathy and Insight • Ethical Awareness • Responsibility • Motivation and awareness of the challenges of being a doctor • Resilience • Video Stations • Role Play Stations |
| Further information |
Keele medical school website Keele official MMI video |
Kent MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 2019-2020 - 6 stations of 7 minutes each, with 2 minute intervals, followed by a 42 minute group station |
| Length | See above. "KMMS does not commit to the same number or type of stations for 2021 entry, although we will likely retain the same time formats." |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | No info available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested |
2019/2020 info:There were 6 stations of 7 minutes each, with 2 minute intervals, followed by a 42 minute group station. The six short stations were labelled as: • Data handling • Problem analysis • Situational judgement • Roleplay • Task station • Values station |
| Further information | Kent and Medway medical school website |
King's MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online |
| Format | No info available |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Interviews for the 2021/22 admissions cycle will be conducted remotely with a panel of two interviewers |
| Length | No info available |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | Interviews are held between November and May. |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | No info available |
| Further information | King's medical school website |
Lancaster MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | "No applicant will be offered a place without being interviewed in person." |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | • 12-15 Stations • Interviewers include members of University staff, NHS clinicians, local GPs, patients and public representatives, and medical students. |
| Length | Most stations five minutes long - an additional 20 minute station will involve group work |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) will usually be held in January and February. |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Short questions about: • Your career choice • Work experience • Suitability for a medical career. • Read a short paragraph or watch a short video clip, take some notes and then discuss at a subsequent station. |
| Further information | Lancaster medical school website |
Leeds MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | A preference for in-person interviews is specified - no update for 2022. |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 8 stations, 6 minutes each with 1 minute to move between stations and read the next task. |
| Length | See above |
| When are invites sent? | Sent in batches starting in December |
| Interview dates | No info available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Discuss information on the UCAS form • May require you to write down some information or to interact with an actor who will be playing a role. The skills that will be assessed will include: • Ethical reasoning • Self-evaluation • Communication skills • Problem solving At one station, applicants are asked to take part in a discussion based around their BMAT Section 3 essay. |
| Further information | Leeds medical school website |
Leicester MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online for 2022 entry |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | |
| Length | |
| When are invites sent? | Late November until the end of February |
| Interview dates | December 2021 and March 2022 Candidates will be invited to book their own interview date using the online electronic booking system |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info not available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Motivation to study medicine and genuine interest in the medical profession • Insight into your own strengths and weaknesses • Ability to reflect on your own work • Personal organisation • Academic ability • Problem solving • Ability to deal with uncertainty • Ability to manage risk and deal effectively with problems • Ability to take responsibility for your own actions • Conscientiousness • Insight into your own health • Communication skills, including reading, writing, listening and speaking • Teamwork abilities • Ability to treat people with compassion, respect and dignity • Resilience and the ability to deal with difficult situations • Empathy and the ability to care for others • Honesty • Emotional intelligence • Ethical judgement Each station will be scored and you will be ranked on the basis of those scores. Where two or more applicants are equally ranked, your UCAS form score may be used as a tie-breaker. |
| Further information | Leicester medical school website |
Lincoln MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | For 2022 entry, interviews may be face to face or online using Microsoft Teams. |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Usually, the interviews are in MMI format consisting of 8 stations. In 2020/21: • Had two interviewers on the panel • Lasted between 30 and 40 minutes • Included questions on four scenarios one of which was a role play. |
| Length | See above |
| When are invites sent? | Info unavailable |
| Interview dates | Info unavailable |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info unavailable |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Good communication and listening skills An understanding of professional issues such as: • Teamwork • Respect for patients • The contribution of those working in professions allied to medicine • Knowledge of the profession and an understanding of the scope of the role |
| Further information | Lincoln medical school website |
Liverpool MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online for entry 2022 |
| Format | Semi-structured for entry 2022 |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Info not available |
| Length | Info not available |
| When are invites sent? | Info not available |
| Interview dates | Interviews are scheduled for the 9th, 10th, 13th,14th and 15th December 2021 and then week commencing 10th January 2022 until the 11th February 2022. |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info not available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Info not available |
| Further information | Liverpool medical school website |
Manchester MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | No info for 2022 |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 2021 entry adopted a four- or five-station multiple mini interview (MMI) format, with each station being marked by a separate interviewer. |
| Length | The interview in each station was seven minutes long and there was a two-minute (or longer) gap between stations. |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | December 2021 and January/February 2022 |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Ability to communicate • Why do you want to be a doctor? • Previous caring experience • Matters of a medical interest • Ethical and other issues |
| Further information | Manchester medical school website |
Newcastle MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 7 stations |
| Length | Each station lasts for seven minutes with an extra two-minute ice breaker question in the first station. |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | No info available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Integrity (honesty and probity) • Communication • Empathy and self-awareness • Motivation and commitment to be a doctor • Compatibility with the MBBS programme • Teamwork (including leadership) • Personal organisation • Persistence and resilience |
| Further information | Newcastle medical school website |
Nottingham MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online - Microsoft Teams. |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | • 4 interviewers • 6, five-minute scenarios • 1 role play scenario with a current medical student |
| Length | ~60 minutes |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | No info available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Six scenarios, with questions • One role play scenario with a current medical student • Briefly talk about one of your interests and teach the interviewer something about your chosen interest. The interview is designed to assess • good communication and listening skills • an understanding of professional issues such as teamwork • respect for patients and the contribution of those working in professions allied to medicine. |
| Further information | Nottingham medical school website |
Oxford MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Interview for 2022-23 entry will take place online using Microsoft Teams. |
| Format | Info unavailable |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Info unavailable |
| Length | Info unavailable |
| When are invites sent? | Info unavailable |
| Interview dates | Info unavailable |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info unavailable |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Sample questions on official website |
| Further information | Oxford school website |
Plymouth MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | 2021 cycle online |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Four single-assessor stations |
| Length | Approx. 50 minutes |
| When are invites sent? | No info available |
| Interview dates | No info available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Integrity • Veracity and honesty • Flexibility • Motivation and commitment • Empathy and being non-judgmental • Communication skills • Potential for leadership • Insight into the roles and responsibilities of a doctor • Ability to be a team player • Ability to deal with stress appropriately • Problem solving skills • Students who know their limitations, their strengths and weaknesses • Reflectiveness • Students who demonstrate a suitable approach to life and people |
| Further information | Plymouth medical school website |
Queen's MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | TBD - For 2021-entry, all interviews were conducted online |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | |
| Length | Info unavailable - You will have 1 minute prior to each station to consider what the scenario entails |
| When are invites sent? | Info unavailable |
| Interview dates | Mid-December to March |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info unavailable |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Empathy • Problem-solving • Moral reasoning • Communication Skills |
| Further information | Queen's Belfast medical school website |
SCOTGEM MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Interviews are usually held at the University of Dundee School of Medicine at Ninewells Hospital |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Info unavailable |
| Length | Each station is 7 minutes long with 30-second break in between |
| When are invites sent? | Info unavailable |
| Interview dates | Info unavailable |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info unavailable |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | You can expect to be asked about your motivation to study medicine, relevant work experience and personal attributes, and why you have applied to ScotGEM in particular. |
| Further information | ScotGEM medical school website |
St Andrews MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online, using Microsoft Teams |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | |
| Length | Info unavailable |
| When are invites sent? | November up to March |
| Interview dates | Late November, early December then January - early March |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info unavailable |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | At the interview, you will be expected to demonstrate that you have an understanding of medicine as a career and that you appreciate the realities of working in a caring profession. Your communication and interpersonal skills will be assessed at each station, and at least one station will involve role-play and interaction with an actor. You may also be assessed on such things such as critical thinking, reflection and your ability to discuss ethical issues. |
| Further information | St Andrews medical school website |
St Georges MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | (Possibly asynchronus for 2022 entry) |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Between six and eight short interviews |
| Length | Each station is 5 minutes each |
| When are invites sent? | Info unavailable |
| Interview dates | Info unavailable |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info unavailable |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Why you want to follow this profession • What skills you have that demonstrate that you will be a good healthcare professional and a good student • Whether you are committed to quality of care • Whether you are up to date with research and aware of government policies on healthcare • Whether you are respectful and treat people with dignity • Whether you are committed to improving the lives of others • How good you are at teamwork. In the past, students have been asked questions such as: • Explain, without gesture or mime, how to tie a shoelace • Explain to someone with a learning disability how to tell the time using an analogue clock • Travelling on the underground in London, one of your friends becomes separated from the group and it is their first time in London. Explain your plan of action. • You were cat-sitting for your neighbour while they were on holidays and the cat ran away. Explain how you would break the news to your neighbour and how you would comfort them. |
| Further information | St Georges medical school website |
Sheffield MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online |
| Format | Panel - usually MMI but moved to panel as a result of the pandemic. |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 8 sections within the panel interview |
| Length | No info available |
| When are invites sent? | November onwards |
| Interview dates | November 2021 - February 2022 |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No info available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Communication skill • Depth and breadth of interests (achievements in specific fields) • Evidence of commitment for caring • Knowledge of and interest in study in Sheffield • Medical work experience/Extended Project Qualification • Motivation for medicine • Information processing skills • Understanding the nature of medicine • Values and attitudes • Outside interests |
| Further information | Sheffield medical school website |
Southampton MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | For 2022, the selection day will be held online. |
| Format | Selection day, which includes an interview and group task |
| Number of interviewers/stations | |
| Length | |
| When are invites sent? | 1-2 weeks prior to the selection day |
| Interview dates | No info available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Yes |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Interviewers will assess if the candidates: • are self-motivated and resilient • have reflected on relevant life experiences (this may include work experience, paid employment and personal experiences both in and outside health and social care settings) • can communicate effectively • can interact successfully with others • understand the values of the NHS constitution |
| Further information | Southampton medical school website |
Sunderland MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online - Microsoft Teams |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Info unavailable |
| Length | "...a series of short interview stations" and "a 30 minute online numeracy test" |
| When are invites sent? | Info unavailable |
| Interview dates | Late December and January |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info unavailable |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Attributes assessed may include: • Motivation/experiences informing your decision to pursue a medical career • Empathy and insight • Responsibilities and challenges of being a doctor • Awareness of ethical issues in health and society • Resilience • Comprehension • Effective communication |
| Further information | Sunderland medical school website |
Swansea MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | International applicants are expected to attend in person. A remote interview will be arranged if candidates are not able to visit in person. |
| Format | For international applicants, they must attend an assessment day. This will include a 30 minute written SJT as well as 2 separate 20-minute interviews. |
| Number of interviewers/stations | No info available |
| Length | No info available |
| When are invites sent? | |
| Interview dates | No info available |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | For international applicants, the Personal Statement is considered. |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Communication Skills • Problem solving skills • Coping with pressure • Insight and Integrity • Passion for medicine/resilience to succeed |
| Further information | Swansea medical school website |
UCL MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | |
| Format | Panel - "We will ask a series of structured questions and provide a score for your responses, according to the values listed on our website. Further detailed information will be provided to candidates when they are invited about the online platform, timings and example questions." |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Each interview will last approximately 20 minutes and will have two interviewers present. |
| Length | Info not available |
| When are invites sent? | Invitations to interview are issued on a rolling basis throughout the season, with candidates normally being given at least one weeks' notice. |
| Interview dates | December - March |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info not available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | |
| Further information | UCL medical school website |
UCLAN MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Online |
| Format | Panel |
| Number of interviewers/stations | 2 assessors present |
| Length | 40 minutes |
| When are invites sent? | Info not available |
| Interview dates | December-April |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Info not available |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | • Motivation for and understanding of a career in medicine • Professional attitudes and values (flexibility,integrity, ethics, empathy, honesty and conscientiousness) • Problem-solving and reasoning ability • Teamwork, leadership, resilience • Communication skills (including verbal ability and ability to interpret information) |
| Further information | UCLAN medical school website |
Ulster MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | Information unavailable. |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | Information unavailable. |
| Length | Information unavailable. |
| When are invites sent? | Information unavailable. |
| Interview dates | Information unavailable. |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | Information unavailable. |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | Information unavailable. |
| Further information | Ulster medical school website |
Warwick MEDICINE INTERVIEW
| Location | No information available |
| Format | MMI |
| Number of interviewers/stations | "You will be observed and scored on the exercises by trained assessors. They come from a range of backgrounds including medical professionals, academics and lay people with an interest in medical education." |
| Length | "Everyone who attends our selection centre will be with us for about two hours" |
| When are invites sent? | No information available |
| Interview dates | Monday 13th - Thursday 16th December |
| Is the PS used? (Y/N) | No |
| Questions to expect/Skills Tested | "The competencies we look for are: • Team working • Insight • Resilience • Communication • Empathy • Probity • Respect and dignity |
| Further information | Warwick medical school website |