Manchester Medical Interview Questions and UCAT Scores

Manchester Medical School Interview Format

Interview Format and Process

You can choose to have your interview either online via Zoom or in person on campus. Just so you know, spaces for each format are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

About the Interview

The pre-interview screening ensures that all candidates called for an interview have sufficient academic potential. The interview aims to evaluate you more broadly.

The interview is formal but friendly, conducted by trained interviewers from both the University and clinical environments, as well as patient/lay representatives, current medical students, and simulated patients. We understand that interviews can be nerve-wracking, so we strive to create a relaxed environment. However, since you must be able to handle the stresses of a medical career, some interview elements will be challenging.

The interview is not an academic test but aims to determine if you meet our non-academic criteria for the values and behaviours expected of a medical student. We encourage you to talk naturally about yourself, your studies, and your experiences to demonstrate your interpersonal skills and show that you are well-rounded.

For more information on the required values and behaviours, please take a look at the GMC documentation on Good Medical Practice and the values enshrined in the NHS constitution.

Possible Interview Areas

Ability to Communicate:

Communication skills are essential in medicine. You should be able to express your ideas clearly and coherently and follow a reasoned argument. Spontaneous, well-thought-out answers are more impressive than obviously rehearsed responses.

Motivation for Studying Medicine:

Please be prepared to talk about why you want to be a doctor, providing specific evidence of experiences that have influenced your decision.

Previous Caring Experience:

Your experiences in a caring role are of great interest, even if they are not in a traditional medical environment. Online work experience can also be discussed. You'll be able to use this opportunity to share the facts, your emotional responses, and what you have learned from them.

Medical Interests:

While detailed medical knowledge is not expected, you should have an informed layperson's view on contemporary aspects of medicine, especially those of current media interest.

Ethical Issues:

You may be asked to discuss ethical issues to see if you can summarise the issues at stake. There are often no correct answers, and interviewers will not be looking for a specific viewpoint.

Diversity and Inclusion:

You will not be asked questions about your gender identity, sexuality, marital or parental status, race, religion, or social background, although you may use personal experiences to inform discussions. You are expected to be tolerant, accepting, and understanding of others.

Interview Format

The interview consists of a five-station Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, each station marked by a separate interviewer. Whether your interview is in person or online, all candidates will be assessed and interviewed the same way—the only difference is the location.

Each station lasts eight minutes, with a two-minute gap between stations. You won't get any information in advance, and interview stations have no reading or writing component. The starting station is allocated randomly, and you will move from station to station until all are completed.

You will receive an email with detailed information explaining the interview procedure and format.