Brighton & Sussex (BSMS) Medical School Interview Questions – 2026 Entry
About BSMS (Brighton & Sussex Medical School)
BSMS is a joint medical school of the Universities of Brighton and Sussex. For 2026 entry, BSMS expects 197 UK places and 10 international places. Personal statements are not used at any stage of selection.
📌 Need structured prep? Book our doctor-led Medical School Interview Course and add a live MMI mock circuit to practise BSMS-style stations under timed conditions.
1) How BSMS selects and interviews for 2026 entry
Admissions test: UCAT required in Summer 2025. For 2026, BSMS requires SJT Band 1–3.
How UCAT is scored (2026): BSMS states it will score UCAT out of 2700 (900 each from VR, DM, QR) and rank applicants by this total to fill interview places. UCAT may also be used as a tiebreaker after an interview.
Contextual / adjusted consideration: BSMS aims to offer 30% of interviews to applicants flagged for contextual/adjusted offers; these applicants are ranked separately.
No personal statement use: PS is not read or used in the process.
2) BSMS interview style (MMI)
Format: Multiple Mini Interviews.
Structure: Five discussions/stations, 10 minutes each, with a short break; about one hour in total.
Scoring: Each station is graded (e.g., Excellent → Poor) and marked /20; combined into a global score /100 to rank candidates for offers.
Delivery mode (2025/26): Hybrid – in-person or Zoom; same questions and mark schemes for both. Photo ID check at the start.
🎯 Train exactly to format: Our MMI mock circuits mirror BSMS timing and scoring, so you build speed and structure without losing empathy.
3) When are BSMS medicine interviews held?
For the 2026 entry cycle, BSMS states interviews run from December 2025 → February 2026.
In-person: early December or early January
Online (Zoom): late January or early February.
4) What topics are covered at BSMS MMIs?
BSMS explicitly encourages reflection on work experience using the Medical Schools Council Core Values & Attributes (teamwork, communication, empathy, resilience, professionalism). Expect ethical reasoning and NHS awareness.
Also highlight typical BSMS areas, including motivation for medicine & why BSMS, ethics, NHS hot topics, role-play/communication, personal qualities, and local health issues.
5) How many applicants get an interview, and how many receive offers?
BSMS publishes recent cycle figures:
2025 entry (published by BSMS):
Applicants: 1,284 (Home 1,042; Overseas 242)
Interviews: 809 (Home 737; Overseas 72) → ≈ 63% of applicants invited
Offers: 421 (Home 394; Overseas 27) → ≈ 52% offer rate from interview; ≈ 33% overall offer rate
(calculated from BSMS data)
BSMS also notes on its Admissions/VOD page: “We interview around 600 candidates and roughly half receive an offer,” with high scorers notified earlier. (Useful as a rule-of-thumb year-to-year.)
Historical FOI data (context): for 2021–2024 cycles, BSMS reported interview and offer volumes of a similar order of magnitude (e.g., 2024: 756 interviewed, 406 offers).
6) Example BSMS MMI stations & questions
Below are examples in the BSMS style, aligned with published guidance and common station themes. (If a specific station set isn’t published for your date, use these to rehearse structure, frameworks, and empathy.)
A. Motivation & “Why BSMS?”
Why medicine—and why BSMS specifically?
What aspects of the BSMS curriculum (e.g., early clinical exposure, small-group teaching) appeal to you most and why?
B. Work experience & reflection
Tell us about a time you communicated with someone anxious or distressed. What did you do and what would you improve?
From your experiences (clinical or non-clinical), what skills have you developed that map to the MSC Core Values & Attributes? (e.g., teamwork, empathy, integrity)
C. NHS values & professionalism
Describe the NHS values and a situation where you upheld one under pressure.
A friend posts an unprofessional patient-related story on social media. How do you respond, and why?
D. Medical ethics (4-pillar reasoning)
A competent 16-year-old refuses a recommended treatment. Discuss autonomy vs beneficence, consent/competence, and safeguarding.
Limited ICU beds during a winter surge: what fair allocation principles might apply?
E. Role-play/communication
Break bad news: a relative is angry about a delayed clinic letter. De-escalate and agree on next steps (acknowledge, apologise appropriately, action).
Explain a standard test (e.g., chest X-ray) to a non-medical person, check understanding, and address concerns.
F. Data interpretation / public health
Interpret a simple admissions or vaccination chart; identify trends, confounders, and implications for Brighton & Hove.
A vignette shows rising alcohol-related admissions locally—propose upstream interventions.
G. Teamwork & leadership
Describe a time you led or followed effectively. How did you handle conflict and ensure inclusion?
H. Resilience & Well-being
You underperform on a primary assessment. How do you reflect, seek feedback, and recover while protecting patient safety?
I. Ethical prescribing/safety
SP presents with a viral illness, insisting on antibiotics. Communicate risks/benefits, antimicrobial stewardship, and safety-netting.
(Themes and emphasis align with BSMS guidance to reflect on experiences and NHS/MSC values.)
Want to practise these under exam pressure? Join our MMI mock circuits—live role-plays, data-analysis tasks, and ethics drills with personalised feedback.
7) When are offers released?
BSMS states that offers are made from January to April each cycle. High-scoring interviewees may hear earlier, with remaining offers typically finalised after the Admissions Board meets in March.
(You’ll also find the same Jan–Apr window echoed in external round-ups.)
8) Top tips for succeeding at the BSMS interview
Answer the question, not your script. Use a clear structure (e.g., Signpost → Example → Reflect).
Show, don’t tell. Map your experiences directly to the MSC Core Values; make the connection explicit.
Ethics = structure + compassion. Use the four principles (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice), then apply them to the scenario and patient context.
Role-play like a future clinician. Build rapport, explore concerns, check understanding, and provide a safety net.
Know BSMS. Be ready to explain why the BSMS curriculum and clinical environment suit you.
Expect hybrid logistics. Bring a valid photo ID. If you're online, please have a quiet space and a working camera/mic.
NHS awareness. Read current NHS priorities and local health issues; be ready to discuss practical implications for patients.
Practise timed circuits. Five 10-minute stations pass fast—rehearse pacing.
🎓 Make the leap from “good” to “offer-ready.” Our Interview Course + MMI mock circuit trains you in the exact BSMS timing, scoring, and feedback style.
Student comments & insights (what applicants & students say)
BSMS student features share calming, practical prep tips and reflections on MMI experience.
Multiple 2025-entry candidates reported quick offers for top-ranked interviewees(sometimes within days), with the rest updated January–April—consistent with BSMS statements. (Anecdotal but practical signal.)
Quick facts (at a glance)
Format: MMI – 5×10-minute discussions; /100 global score.
Dates (2026 entry): Dec 2025 – Feb 2026 (in-person early Dec/Jan; online late Jan/early Feb).
Offers: January–April (high scorers may hear sooner; many finalised after the March board).
Volumes (2025): 1,284 apps → 809 interviews → 421 offers (≈63% invited; ≈52% offer from interview).
Contextual policy: 30% of interview places reserved for adjusted/flagged applicants; separate ranking.
Personal statement: Not used.
FAQs
Is the BSMS interview MMI or panel?
MMI: five 10-minute stations, scored and combined to a /100 ranking.
Do you know if interviews are online or in person?
BSMS runs a hybrid model. For 2026 entry, you can choose between in-person (early December/January) and online (late January/early February) options, with identical questions/mark schemes.
When can I expect to hear back after my interview?
Decisions are typically made from January to April; high scorers may receive earlier notification. Many final decisions are made following the March Admissions Board meeting.
Do you know if BSMS read my personal statement?
No—PS is not used in selection at any point.
How heavily is UCAT weighted?
For 2026, BSMS ranks out of 2,700 (VR, DM, QR) to select for interview; SJT Band 1–3 is required. UCAT can be a factor that differentiates candidates after the interview.
Rough competitiveness?
In 2025, BSMS reports 809 interviews / 1,284 apps and 421 offers—about 63% invited and ~52% offers from interview (approx.).
What should I prepare topic-wise?
Reflect on work experience against the MSC Core Values, practise ethics, communication/role-play, NHS topics, and why BSMS.
