Medical School Interviews

Medical School Interviews Explained

If you pass the first stage of the admissions process – when the academic screening takes place – you’ll get an invite to a Medicine interview. This is your chance to showcase your personal qualities that are aligned with those of a good Doctor, and to demonstrate your skills.

When Do Medical School Interviews Start?

The Medicine interview season can start as early as November and usually runs to March. The timeframe between receiving your invite and having your interview can be quite short, so it’s best to prepare in advance – instead of leaving prep until you’ve actually received an invite.

After you’ve submitted your UCAS application for Medicine, some candidates might be invited to interview relatively quickly in November or December. Don’t worry if you don’t though, because lots of invites will be sent in the new year. Remember that different universities work to different timescales and some won’t start running interviews until after the Christmas period.

When Will I Know the Outcome?

Some Medical Schools will let you know if you’ve been successful within a couple of weeks of your interview, while others will hold off until the deadline in March.

Two Types of Medicine Interviews

There are two types of interviews:

• Multiple Mini Interviews
• Traditional/panel interviews

The main difference is that MMIs require you to work your way around a series of stations, where you’ll face a different question or task with a different examiner at each station – whereas traditional interviews involve one panel asking you questions over a longer period of time.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, most Medical Schools switched from in-person to online interviews, and some are still conducting their interviews online now. Make sure you check the details when you get your invitation to interview.

School-by-School Interview Details

We’ve reviewed each Medical School to bring you the latest information about their interviews for 2021 entry.

While we do our best to regularly review and update this page, details can change quickly. So please check with your chosen university before making any application decisions.

University of Aberdeen Interview

Your interview accounts for 50% of the selection process at the University of Aberdeen. The other half is a combination of your academic performance (30%) and UCAT score (20%). Make sure you read the latest info on their website about their online MMIs for 2022 entry.

Anglia Ruskin Interview

Anglia Ruskin University shortlists candidates for interview by ranking UCAT scores. If invited to interview, you’ll face six MMI stations that last six minutes each. You should be prepared to talk about your Personal Statement during your Medicine interview.

Their website doesn’t make it clear whether they’re interviewing online or in-person, but it talks about ‘accessing your MMI’, suggesting it will be remote again this year.

Aston Medical School Interview

Medicine interviews at Aston University take the MMI format. Each station will last six to eight minutes and you’ll tackle between seven and 10 of these. They’ll hold online MMIs this year and haven’t released further details of their plans for 2022 interviews.

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry Interview

BARTS (Queen Mary University of London) shortlists candidates for interview by scoring you based on your UCAS tariff and UCAT score. From over 2,500 applicants, they shortlist 800 for interview and make roughly 440 offers. Panel interviews will be online this year.

University of Birmingham Interview

The University of Birmingham scores your application (the weighting is: 45% academic, 30% UCAT and 25% contextual) and then invites around 1,300 candidates to interview. They’ll make offers to around 850 students.

This year, the interviews will take no more than 30 minutes and will be conducted online via Zoom. It involves two stages: the first interview is broken down into two six-minute stations, one of which will involve a role-play scenario. You’ll get two minutes to prepare for each station. The second stage is an online calculation station that takes 10 minutes and will be done on a different day.

Brighton and Sussex Medical School Interview

Brighton & Sussex Medical School ranks applicants by their BMAT score and the top ones are invited to interview. The BSMS interview usually includes five MMI circuits of 10 minutes each, with the whole thing lasting an hour.

For 2022 entry, they have confirmed MMIs will take place online via Zoom. Take a look at their online interviewing process here.

University of Bristol Interview

The University of Bristol ranks candidates by UCAT score and invites the top ones to interview. For 2022 entry they’ll have since updated their website to say interviews will happen remotely via Zoom and follow a Structured Interview Format, with two assessors. Each assessor will ask two questions, and both assessors will assess your response separately. If you sat UCATSEN, you’ll get invited to a separate interview day to allow you extra prep time for each station.

The highest-scoring interviewees will be given an offer of a place, with UCAT scores used as a tie-breaker when necessary.

University of Buckingham Interview

The University of Buckingham‘s MB ChB Medicine 4.5-year degree programme doesn’t require BMAT or UCAT, and instead uses MMI selection days for their admissions process. They’re holding digital interviews this year.

Brunel University London Interview

Your Brunel University interview will include six stations, held remotely on Zoom. The call them vMMIs and warn that you should practice being interviewed online because the approach is different with this method of delivery.

University of Cambridge Interview

The University of Cambridge uses traditional interviews for its selection process, but there isn’t much information on their website about the process. For 2022 entry they’re interviewing online, with Zoom or Whereby.

Cardiff University Interview

Medicine interviews at Cardiff University take the MMI format and are designed to assess whether you have the personal qualities and attributes of a good Doctor. Their website doesn’t say whether interviews will be online or in-person, but the admissions team confirmed over email that their 2022 interviews will be held remotely.

University of Central Lancashire Interview

For this academic entry cycle, Medicine interviews at the University of Central Lancashire will take the format of a panel interview, and interviews will be conducted online (remotely).

University College London Interview

It’s not clear if UCL will hold online or in-person interviews. Last year, each interview was around 20 minutes, with two interviewers present. Roughly 950 candidates will be interviewed for 334 places. You’ll get at least one week’s notice if you’re invited to interview.

University of Dundee Interview

Your University of Dundee interview will be held remotely, on Blackboard Collaborate. There will be five stations that last around six minutes each. You’ll get one-minute breaks in between stations in order to prepare for the next task.

Edge Hill University Interview

Edge Hill University ranks candidates by their UCAT score and invites everyone who meets the threshold to interview. For 2022 entry, this will be done online via Microsoft Teams.

The University of Edinburgh Interview

Details of Medicine interviews at the University of Edinburgh are still being finalised. There was no change when we checked again at mid-November.

University of Exeter Interview

The University of Exeter interviews a set number of candidates every year and makes this shortlist by ranking in order of UCAT score. To be successful, you need to get a yes in at least five of the seven stations. If there are too many people for places, your UCAT score will be used as the tie-breaker.

University of Glasgow Interview

For 2022 entry, your University of Glasgow interview will take place online, via Zoom. Like last year, it’ll last roughly 30 minutes, and involve two panel interviews. The first interview will explore what being a Doctor means, the second will discuss one of two ethical scenarios, which you can choose from. When you’re invited, you’ll be allocated a date and time for your interview and this cannot be changed – if you don’t attend the interview, your application won’t progress.

Hull York Medical School Interview

Medicine interviews at Hull York Medical School take the MMI format and involve three mini-interviews, a group and individual scenario, and a student station exploring why you want to be a Doctor. You get five minutes, plus two minutes of preparation time, for each station. Last year 830 people were interviewed and 566 offers were made.

Imperial College London Interview

Imperial College London has a unique approach to interviews for 2022 entry. It will be split into two parts: the first, in January, involves one online-asynchronous interview that you’ll record yourself and upload. You’ll get training in the form of an online module that will explain what is required. The second part will be face-to-face MMIs in March, taking place online or in-person.

Keele University Interview

Keele University shortlists for interview based on a roles and responsibilities form that is marked, with the top-scoring applicants invited to interview. Around 700 applicants will be interviewed, with 400 offers made. Interviews usually comprise of two 15-minute MMIs and a standalone numeracy test – but details for 2022 entry still haven’t been made public yet, even when we checked in mid-November.

Kent and Medway Medical School Interview

Kent and Medway Medical School says they use ‘multi-station interviews’ comprising of 6 stations of 7 minutes each, with 2 minute intervals. This is followed by a unique 42-minute group station, in which applicants are individually assessed. Last year the stations covered data handling, problem analysis, situational judgement, roleplay, task and values-based stations – but they say the content could be different for 2022 entry. This year they’re hoping to do MMIs in-person in Canterbury.

King's College London Interview

Medicine interviews at King’s College London take place between November and May, which is one of the longest interview periods of all Medical Schools. When drawing up their shortlist, King’s looks at everything: your GCSEs and A-Levels, your UCAT score, and your Personal Statement. Interviews will consist of a panel with two interviewers who complete assessment score sheets about candidates and will be done remotely in 2021/22.

Lancaster University Interview

Your Lancaster Medical School interview may be held remotely, but details for 2022 entry haven’t been confirmed yet. Usually you’ll get 12-15 stations to work through, each lasting roughly five minutes long. You’ll get an invite at least two weeks before the date of your interview that gives more detail.

University of Leeds Interview

The University of Leeds takes into account your BMAT score, academic record, and Personal Statement when shortlisting – and usually invites 1,000 applicants to interview. They typically have eight six-minute MMI stations and haven’t specified if interviews will be online or in-person for 2021/22.

Leicester Medical School Interview

If you apply to Leicester Medical School, you’ll be ranked by UCAT score and academic record and the highest-ranked candidates will get an invite to interview. Around 1,000 people are interviewed and roughly 850 offers are made for the 290 places available. The interviews will be held online again this year.

University of Liverpool Interview

The University of Liverpool ranks you by academic performance and UCAT score then invites the top candidates to interview. For 2021/22, interviews will be held online and take the form of a semi-structured interview.

The University of Manchester Interview

The University of Manchester will put you through four or five MMI stations, lasting roughly seven minutes each with a two-minute gap between each. Details for 2022 entry still haven’t been shared yet, but we checked again in mid-November.

Newcastle University Interview

Newcastle University ranks candidates by UCAT score and invites everyone above a set threshold to interview. Last year they interviewed around 1,130 students and expect the number to be similar this year. They’re reverting to MMIs for 2021/22 interviews, and international students will be asked similar questions by a panel during an online interview.

Norwich Medical School Interview

If you meet the academic requirements, you’ll get an invite to a Norwich (UEA) interview. This will be a MMI, and you won’t get any clues about the questions in advance. You will be ranked by interview performance (including SJT score) and UCAT score, and offers will go to the top-ranking candidates. 2021/22 interviews will be in-person if possible.

University of Nottingham Interview

If you’re invited to interview at the University of Nottingham, you should expect online MMIs this year via Microsoft Teams – but they haven’t updated their website with details of Medicine interviews for 2022 entry yet. You’ll start the MMI with an unmarked ice-breaker, then you’ll face eight six-minute stations.

University of Oxford Interview

The University of Oxford uses the Traditional interview format, and you’ll be asked questions by academic tutors. Roughly 25% of applicants will be shortlisted for a Medicine interview. Shortlisting is done by ranking your GCSE performance and BMAT score, with the top candidates getting an invite.

You’ll have two interviews: one will be with your college of preference (or allocation if you made an open application), and the other with a randomly-allocated college. The website states that interviews in 2021 will be done online with Microsoft Teams, but it’s not clear if that means all interviews for 2022 entry.

University of Plymouth Interview

Your University of Plymouth interview was remote last year, but there are still no details available for the 2022 interview format yet. If it’s the same as last year, you may face five stations that vary in format – one station may focus on role play while another is a short practical task. Last year, interviews took roughly 55 minutes in total, with 15 minutes at the start for registration and questions.

Queen's University Belfast School of Medicine

Whilst your Queen’s University Belfast interview will take an MMI format and your Personal Statement will also be considered within the interview. They haven’t declared whether interviews will be online or in-person yet.

The University of Sheffield Interview

Around 1,200 – 1,300 students will be interviewed by The University of Sheffield. They usually use MMIs, but for 2021 and 2022 entry the traditional panel format is used to allow for online interviews. You’ll get the eight questions ahead of time, so you can prepare your responses.

University of Southampton Interview

The University of Southampton‘s selection day process this year will be online and consist of an interview and a group task. If you are invited to attend a selection day, you will be emailed two weeks prior with full event details.

University of St Andrews Interview

St. Andrews interviews around 400 candidates and will be doing this on Microsoft Teams for 2021/22. They rank you by your UCAT score and invite the top performers. The process usually includes an interview and group task but you’ll get more details with your invitation.

St George's University of London Interview

St. George’s, University of London interviews between 800 and 1,000 candidates each year using MMIs. You’ll be invited if you meet their UCAT cut-off score. You’ll face eight five-minute stations but it’s not clear if this will be online or in-person for 2022 entry.

University of Sunderland Interview

Your University of Sunderland MMI will take place on Microsoft Teams, and you can expect a variety of formats. You’ll also have to do a 30-minute maths test.

Swansea University Medical School

Swansea University Medical School‘s interview process isn’t clear for 2021/22 – there doesn’t seem to be any details yet.

Warwick Medical School Interview

If you’re invited to interview at Warwick Medical School, you’ll be put through six MMI stations. They have a short window of just one week of interviews, but there’s a reserve day for anyone that faces technical issues.

How to Prepare For Medicine Interviews

These tips will help you to prepare for your Medical School interview:

• Make sure you know how to prepare for interviews
• Practise lots of common Medicine interview questions
• Revise the hot NHS topics – and science topics – that you’re expected to know about
• Keep up-to-date with current news in Medicine
• Look at the MSC’s info sheet about what makes a good Doctor
• Review the course information and research the Medical School
• Book your place on our MMI Circuits, Interview Course, or Interview Bootcamp
• Work with a Medicine Interview Tutor to refine your performance