Cambridge Medicine Interview (2026): Questions & Tips
Introduction
Cambridge interviews are academic conversations designed to see how you think, not how much you’ve memorised. You’ll discuss scientific ideas, solve problems from first principles, and reflect on your motivation for Medicine with experienced academics and clinicians. The exact setup varies by College, but the core expectations are consistent and transparent on the University’s website.
How Cambridge decides who to call for a Medicine interview
For 2026 entry, Cambridge requires the UCAT for Medicine (A100). Your overall cognitive UCAT score is considered as part of shortlisting and again at the offer stage; the SJT band is not used for 2026 entry. Academic track record (e.g., A-level predictions/achieved grades, relevant subjects), contextual information and your overall application are also reviewed. Personal statements are usually read but not scored.
Some Colleges may set a College-registered assessment after shortlisting; the interviewing College sends details. For Medicine, this is College-specific (for example, Queens’ notes a pre-registration assessment).
How Cambridge interviews for 2026 entry
Number of interviews: All Colleges conduct at least two interviews per medical applicant, each led by academics and including a practising clinician.
Style: Traditional panel discussions (not an MMI), either in-person or online, focused on problem-solving and scientific reasoning.
Typical duration: Colleges commonly run two interviews of ~20–30 minutes (some list ~30 minutes). Examples: St John’s (two ~20-minute interviews), Magdalene (~30 minutes each), Sidney Sussex (~25–30 minutes), with formats varying slightly by College.
What it feels like: Cambridge emphasises that interviews are “more like a conversation” than an interrogation and test how you approach unfamiliar problems.
When are Cambridge Medicine interviews held?
For the 2026 cycle, most interviews are in the first three weeks of December. The core interview period , as published by Cambridge, is 1–19 December 2025. Colleges will confirm your exact schedule.
What topics are covered in a Cambridge Medicine interview?
The Colleges publish Key Criteria for Medical Admissions—the framework interviewers use. Expect probing across three broad areas:
Scientific & related competencies – strong sixth-form Chemistry (and relevant Biology/Maths/Physics), applying knowledge to new scenarios, quantitative/data thinking, observation, hypothesis-building.
Personal qualities & communication – maturity, empathy, teamwork, clarity of explanation, handling ambiguity, reflective insight from experiences (e.g., shadowing).
Professional & career understanding – realistic insight into Medicine, ethics & law, NHS issues, fitness to practise, self-awareness and motivation.
Cambridge’s interviews frequently involve discussing unseen material (e.g., a graph, paper extract, or problem) and explaining your reasoning aloud.
How many applicants receive an interview, and how many get offers?
Cambridge states Colleges interview the vast majority of applicants across subjects; individual Colleges cite figures like “more than 70%” and “~75–80%” overall (varies by course/College and year).
The Medical Schools Council lists competition ratios for Cambridge Medicine at roughly 6 home applicants per place (and ~20 per place internationally). Offer rates, therefore, fluctuate by College and year but sit in a highly competitive range.
Note: Third-party collations based on Cambridge’s statistics often estimate Medicine offer rates around the mid-teens (%). Treat non-official dashboards and blogs cautiously and always prioritise the University’s own statistics pages.
When are offers released?
Decisions are typically issued in late January, following the Winter Pool process. For the 2026 cycle, Lucy Cavendish College confirms 28 January 2026 as the coordinated decision date agreed across Colleges. The University guidance also states that the College will notify you by the end of January.
Extensive example Cambridge interview questions (panel-style)
Cambridge does not use an MMI for A100; think of these as panel prompts that mirror the University’s published criteria and common College formats.
Scientific reasoning from first principles
“Explain how oxygen delivery adapts during exercise. What variables would you measure and why?”
“You’re given a graph of enzyme rate vs. temperature with an anomaly at 42°C—generate hypotheses and design one experiment to test each.”
“A patient’s arterial blood gas shows low PaO₂ and low PaCO₂. What mechanisms could explain this pattern?”
“How would you estimate cardiac output non-invasively? What assumptions does your method rely on?”
Data interpretation & experimental design
“Here is a short abstract/figure from a paper on antibiotic resistance—what does the data not show?”
“Propose a simple study to test whether a new screening test improves outcomes. Discuss bias and ethics.”
Ethics, law, and NHS awareness
“A competent 13-year-old requests contraception without parental knowledge—outline the key legal/ethical considerations.”
“A single ICU bed is available. Walk through a fair prioritisation framework.”
“Should gene editing for monogenic disease be regulated differently from enhancement? Justify.”
Communication & reflection
“Tell us about something from your reading that changed how you think about Medicine.”
“What surprised you most about work experience or patient volunteering? How did it shape your understanding of being a doctor?”
Thinking under uncertainty
“You can only carry out one lab test for suspected sepsis—what do you choose and why? How would your answer change with different resource settings?”
“Given this simplified nephron diagram, predict how blocking transporter X alters plasma potassium.”
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Top tips for a Cambridge Medicine interview
Think out loud. Interviewers care how you think—state assumptions, build a model, revise it when given new information.
Be fluent with A-level science. Cambridge expects you to apply sixth-form Chemistry (and relevant Biology/Maths/Physics) to novel problems.
Practise with unfamiliar material. Work through short abstracts/graphs for 5–8 minutes, then explain them clearly and concisely.
Know the UCAT’s role. For 2026 entry, Cambridge considers your overall cognitive score and doesn’t use the SJT; use this information to plan your application strategy.
Expect variability by College. Formats are similar (two academic interviews), but exact timing, online vs in-person, and any College assessment differ—read your College’s instructions carefully.
Show mature motivation and NHS insight. Be specific, realistic and reflective about the profession.
Keep ethics practical. Anchor answers in patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and the UK context (capacity/consent).
Rehearse communication. Try a mock with someone who pushes you on clarity, structure and handling challenges.
Logistics matter. December interviews come fast—sort tech/travel early and read your College emails carefully.
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Student comments & insights
Cambridge provides sample interview films (including Medicine) showing the academic, problem-solving tone and pacing. Applicants often say the discussions feel challenging but fair.
University webinars include current students talking through how they approached interviews—useful for mindset and preparation ideas.
From public forums, recent Medicine applicants mention that getting corrected on a few facts isn’t fatal if your reasoning is strong—interviewers value how you adapt your thinking. (Anecdotal; experiences vary.)
FAQ (2026 entry)
Does Cambridge use the UCAT?
Yes. UCAT is compulsory for Medicine at Cambridge.
Do they use my SJT band?
For 2026 entry, Cambridge states that it will not use the SJT and will instead consider your overall cognitive UCAT score.
Is the interview an MMI?
No—Cambridge Medicine uses traditional panel interviews (usually two), either in-person or online, college-dependent.
When are interviews?
Early to mid-December; the core period is 1–19 December 2025 for the 2026 cycle.
When are offers released?
After the Winter Pool, late January, for 2026, Colleges have agreed 28 January 2026 as the decision date.
Who gets interviewed?
Cambridge interviews most applicants; colleges often cite a rate of over 70% (overall across subjects), but Medicine is highly competitive and practices vary by College and year.
Will I have to take extra tests during the interview?
Some Colleges run College-registered assessments for shortlisted applicants. Your interviewing College will tell you if that applies.
How many places are available, and how competitive is the process?
The Medical Schools Council reports a ~6:1 home applicants-to-place competition ratio and a ~20:1 ratio for international applicants; offer rates vary annually and by College.
Ready to practise the Cambridge way?
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MMI Mock Circuits (with live feedback):https://bluepeanut.com/mmi-courses
