Aberdeen Medical School Interview Questions (2026 Entry): Complete Guide
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🏫 Quick introduction to Aberdeen Medical School
Aberdeen’s 5-year MBChB is delivered on the Foresterhill Health Campus—one of Europe’s largest clinical sites—offering early clinical exposure and an integrated, systems-based curriculum. Official guidance for admissions and interviews is published centrally by the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition (SMMSN).
🔎 How does Aberdeen decide who to invite to interview?
Aberdeen ranks applications using a pre-interview score that combines:
Academic attainment/predictions – 30%
UCAT – 20%
(Post-interview, your MMI performance counts for 50% of the overall score used for offers.)
This weighting is stated on the University’s interview page.
Additionally, Aberdeen requires UCAT for all applicants (including re-applicants each cycle).
📌 Strategy note: Your academic profile and UCAT open the door; the MMI result decides the outcome.
🗓️ How Aberdeen interviews for 2026 entry
For 2026 entry, Medicine (MBChB) interviews are in-person at the Suttie Centre, Foresterhill , from 15–19 December 2025. Aberdeen runs a modified Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) between December and March each year. (Dates also published for Dentistry and Gateway2Medicine.) Source: University of Aberdeen interview page.
🧭 What’s the interview style?
MMI (modified):
Candidates rotate through question stations; two selectors assess a single domain for ~5 minutes at each station.
Communication & interpersonal skills are scored at every station.
The overall experience lasts ~1 hour per candidate.
(Aberdeen specifies these details.)
Aberdeen also publishes the MBChB station domains up-front to help you prepare (no reading time required):
Motivation to study medicine
Core qualities
Critical thinking & problem-solving
Teamwork
Professionalism
📅 When are interviews held?
Aberdeen states interviews are conducted between December and March, with specific 2026-entry dates 15–19 December 2025 for Medicine (in-person).
🧠 What topics are covered?
Aberdeen’s published MMI domains (Motivation, Core Qualities, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Teamwork, Professionalism) guide preparation.
Expect discussion of your preparation for medicine, insight into training/career realities, reflection on experiences, and balanced reasoning. The school emphasises that they’re not testing factual science knowledge; they’re assessing how you think, communicate and reflect.
📊 How many get interviewed? How many receive offers?
Aberdeen publishes annual admissions data (applications, interviews, offers, entrants) by domicile and pathway. For 2025 entry, the page shows, for example:
Scottish School Leavers: 737 applications, 727 interviews, 622 offers, 204 entrants
Rest of UK School Leavers: 137 applications, 61 interviews, 20 offers
International School Leavers: 413 applications, 132 interviews, 96 offers, 37 entrants
(See the University’s Admissions Data page for the full breakdown and context notes.)
⚠️ Numbers vary year-to-year and by applicant category; always check Aberdeen’s latest Admissions Data page before concluding.
📨 When are offers released?
Aberdeen states: Offers are issued once the interview cycle is complete—by the end of March—with decisions sent to UCAS. Aberdeen does not use Clearing for Medicine; if further places arise, they contact candidates already on the waiting list. (Official Aberdeen “Offers” page.)
🧪 Example Aberdeen-style MMI stations & questions (practice set)
These sample stations mirror Aberdeen’s published domains and the one-hour MMI experience. They’re not real past stations; they’re designed to train the exact skills Aberdeen describes.
💡 1️⃣ Motivation & Insight into Medicine
Aberdeen’s selectors look for realistic motivation, insight into the career, and understanding of training.
Example Questions:
Why do you want to study medicine, and why specifically at Aberdeen?
What inspired your interest in medicine, and how has this interest developed?
How do you know that medicine is the right career for you?
How does Aberdeen’s integrated, early-clinical-exposure course suit your learning style?
What do you think are the main challenges facing doctors in the NHS today?
What qualities make a good doctor, and how have you demonstrated these?
What did you learn from your work experience or volunteering that confirmed your decision to study medicine?
What have you done to prepare yourself for the emotional challenges of medical training?
What do you understand by “patient-centred care”?
How do you keep up with current issues in healthcare?
What appeals to you most about studying in Aberdeen or practising in Scotland?
Follow-up probes (used by interviewers):
“Can you give me an example of when you showed that quality?”
“What surprised you about what you saw on placement?”
“How might your motivation be tested during training?”
🌱 2️⃣ Core Qualities & Professionalism
Aberdeen explicitly scores professionalism and reflection at every station. Expect situational judgment and self-awareness questions.
Example Questions:
Describe a time you made a mistake. What did you learn from it?
How do you manage stress and maintain balance?
Tell us about a situation where you had to act with integrity even when it was difficult.
How do you demonstrate empathy in your daily life?
How would you respond if you saw a peer posting an inappropriate image from a hospital placement on social media?
What does professionalism mean to you?
How would you deal with a situation where you strongly disagreed with a senior colleague’s decision?
What are your views on confidentiality and its limits?
How do you handle feedback—especially when you disagree with it?
What would you do if a friend in medical school asked to copy your notes or coursework?
Follow-up probes:
“What might the GMC say about that situation?”
“How do you balance being honest with being diplomatic?”
🧩 3️⃣ Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
These stations assess your ability to think logically, weigh evidence, and reach balanced conclusions under time pressure.
Example Questions:
A local hospital is struggling to reduce waiting times in A&E. What factors could be contributing to this, and how might they be addressed?
The NHS has limited resources. Should age influence who receives expensive treatments?
A new policy mandates longer GP appointments, but this means fewer patients are seen each day. Discuss pros and cons.
You are told about a patient safety incident on your ward. What steps should be taken next?
What are the ethical and practical implications of introducing AI triage in hospitals?
Should doctors be involved in assisted dying if it becomes legal in the UK?
What’s your opinion on the use of private healthcare alongside the NHS?
If you could make one major change to improve the NHS, what would it be and why?
What are the benefits and risks of remote consultations in medicine?
How would you prioritise patients if you were the only doctor in a resource-limited setting?
Follow-up probes:
“What principle of medical ethics underpins your decision?”
“Could there be unintended consequences?”
🤝 4️⃣ Teamwork & Communication
Teamwork is a distinct Aberdeen MMI domain. Scenarios may be role-played or reflective.
Example Questions:
Tell us about a time you worked in a team to achieve a common goal.
What role do you usually take in a team?
Describe a time you had to work with someone you found challenging.
What makes a healthcare team effective?
You’re the team leader on a group project, but one member is uncooperative. What do you do?
How would you explain a complex medical concept to a patient with low health literacy?
How would you handle a situation where two colleagues were arguing in front of patients?
What’s the importance of delegation and trust in medical teams?
What skills are essential for clear communication in healthcare?
Describe a time you had to persuade others to support your viewpoint.
Follow-up probes:
“What did you learn about your own teamwork style?”
“How could you improve your communication next time?”
⚖️ 5️⃣ Professionalism, Ethics & Values
Aberdeen values strong moral reasoning and an understanding of GMC guidance and NHS values.
Example Questions:
What would you do if you suspected a colleague of coming to work intoxicated?
A patient refuses a life-saving treatment on religious grounds. How should the doctor respond?
Should doctors ever strike?
What does ‘duty of candour’ mean in the NHS?
How would you handle a breach of confidentiality by a peer?
What ethical issues arise from using patient data for research?
Should medical students be required to receive all vaccinations?
If a patient asks for your personal opinion on euthanasia, how should you respond?
What are the four pillars of medical ethics, and can you apply them to a real case?
What steps should be taken if you accidentally disclose private patient information?
Follow-up probes:
“Which ethical principle do you think is most important here, and why?”
“What professional body provides guidance on this?”
🌟 6️⃣ Reflection & Resilience
Aberdeen’s assessors score how you reflect, adapt and grow — crucial for long-term success in medicine.
Example Questions:
Tell us about a setback you faced and how you overcame it.
Describe a time you received critical feedback and how you used it to improve.
What strategies do you use to cope with stress and prevent burnout?
How do you ensure a healthy work–life balance while pursuing demanding goals?
What does resilience mean to you in a medical context?
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from a difficult experience?
How do you deal with uncertainty or lack of control?
Describe a time you had to adapt quickly to a new situation.
What would you do if you failed an exam or assessment at medical school?
What motivates you to keep going when things get tough?
Follow-up probes:
“What did you learn about yourself through that experience?”
“How will that influence how you behave as a medical student?”
🔗 Practice like the real thing
To build speed and confidence for 5-minute Aberdeen-style MMIs, try:
Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools 🩺
Join our MMI mock circuits – live role-play stations with detailed feedback on reflection, reasoning, and communication.
🗣️ Student comments (what recent applicants say)
In the 2025 cycle discussion, a student noted receiving an acknowledgement email in late October, and another reported an interview invite around mid-November the previous year; the official Aberdeen rep confirmed invites go out in the weeks after UCAT scores are received. (Paraphrased from The Student Room thread with Aberdeen official rep posts.)
(Remember: student forums are anecdotal; rely on Aberdeen’s pages for definitive policy and dates.)
🎯 Top tips tailored to Aberdeen
Align prep to the five domains. Build concise, reflective answers mapped to Motivation, Core Qualities, Critical Thinking, Teamwork, and Professionalism. Keep signposting tight and finish with a clear “so what?”.
Practice 5-minute stations - train timing. Aim for ~90 seconds per major point with a brief recap at the end—mirrors Aberdeen’s 5-minute, two-assessor rhythm.
Know Aberdeen. Understand the integrated curriculum and early clinical exposure; be ready to explain your fit with Foresterhill’s clinical environment.
Demonstrate reflective growth. Aberdeen explicitly scores your ability to reflect, weigh pros/cons, and reason to a position—don’t just narrate; analyse.
UCAT + academics opened the door—now win the MMI. Remember the 50% post-interview weighting in the final score that determines offers.
Professionalism matters. Dress appropriately, arrive prepared, and be courteous to every staff member—you’re assessed on communication and interpersonal skills at every station.
Plan logistics early. The 2026 entry Medicine dates are 15–19 Dec 2025 in Aberdeen; don’t risk travel issues over peak season.
Review common NHS themes. Winter pressures, access, prevention, rural health, MDT working, patient safety, consent & capacity. Ground arguments in principles (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice).
Simulate with feedback. Timed MMI run-throughs with structured, criteria-based scoring mimic Aberdeen’s setup and improve consistency.
📈 How offers are decided (after interview)
Aberdeen makes offers to those with the highest combined post-interview scores (MMI 50% + pre-interview 50% split 30% academics/20% UCAT). Offers are released by the end of March after all interviews finish. (University pages.)
🔗 Useful official links (we’ve cited Aberdeen’s website)
Interview overview & 2026 dates, format, scoring – University of Aberdeen: Interview page. The University of Aberdeen
Coming to Interview (domains, logistics) – University of Aberdeen. The University of Aberdeen
Offers timeline – University of Aberdeen. The University of Aberdeen
Admissions Data (applications, interviews, offers) – University of Aberdeen. The University of Aberdeen
UCAT requirement – University of Aberdeen. The University of Aberdeen
🚀 Next steps
🎓 Need structured practice with real NHS doctors? Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools
🧩 Want timed MMI circuits that feel like Aberdeen’s? Join our MMI mock circuits
