Cambridge Medicine Interview (2026): Questions & Tips
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🩺 Cambridge Medicine interviews in a nutshell
Cambridge Medicine interviews are academic, conversation-style assessments run by individual Colleges. They focus on how you think—scientifically, ethically and clinically—rather than rehearsed answers. For 2026 entry, applicants must sit the UCAT and most interviews take place in early to mid-December 2025, with some additional interviews in January 2026 during the winter pool.
How does Cambridge decide who to invite to interview?
Cambridge takes a holistic approach. Colleges consider your academic record, school reference, personal statement, performance in required admissions tests (UCAT for Medicine), contextual data and interview performance (if interviewed). There is no single cut-off used in isolation across the University.
Official note: The University explicitly confirms UCAT is required for Medicine at Cambridge.
How does Cambridge interview for 2026 entry?
Main interview window: 1–19 December 2025
Winter pool interviews: mid–late January 2026
Format: Online or in-person, depending on the College; some Colleges stick to one format, others use both. Most applicants have 1–2 interviews totalling 35–50 minutes; some have more depending on the College/subject.
At many Colleges (e.g., Trinity Hall), candidates typically have two (~25-minute) academic interviews led by subject experts with scientific/problem-solving questions.
What is the interview style?
Academic conversations: explore your understanding, apply knowledge to unfamiliar contexts, and show your reasoning out loud.
Subject-specific focus: expect scientific discussion (data, graphs, mechanisms), with possible general academic questions.
Show your workings: you may be asked to sketch or explain step-by-step reasoning for problem-solving questions.
For Medicine specifically, selectors use the Key Criteria for Medical Admissions (e.g., scientific aptitude, ethical awareness, communication, empathy, teamwork, insight into medicine).
When are Cambridge Medicine interviews held?
Invitations mostly go out in November (some early December).
Interviews: 1–19 December 2025; winter pool: mid–late January 2026.
Mature January-round interviews: 23 March–3 April 2026.
What topics are covered?
Typical domains (linked to Cambridge’s Key Criteria):
Biology/chemistry problem-solving & data interpretation
Applying fundamentals to novel scenarios (enzymes, physiology, epidemiology)
Ethics & professionalism (capacity, consent, resource allocation)
NHS awareness & healthcare context
Communication and reflection on experiences/reading
How many applicants get interviewed, and how many offers are made?
Cambridge publishes overall admissions statistics via its dashboard (course/college filters). While it doesn’t state a universal interview percentage, external round-ups indicate high interview rates compared to most UK universities.
For context, one guide notes 1,754 applicants and 288 offers for A100 (2023 entry), illustrating competitiveness. Always check the official dashboard for the latest cycle-specific figures.
🧪 Example Cambridge-style interview stations & questions (MMI-style practice + panel prompts)
Although Cambridge interviews are panel-style academic conversations (not traditional MMIs), practising with station-style prompts is a powerful way to build structured thinking and timing. Below are realistic examples aligned to Cambridge’s criteria and common College practices.
🧬 Scientific Reasoning & Problem-Solving Questions
You’re shown a graph of enzyme activity against temperature. What conclusions can you draw, and why might the enzyme denature above a certain temperature?
A patient’s haemoglobin–oxygen dissociation curve is shifted to the right. Explain what this means physiologically.
You’re given blood test results: high ALT, normal ALP, and raised bilirubin. What are the possible causes?
A population of bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics after exposure. How does natural selection explain this?
How does the body detect and respond to falling blood glucose levels?
The human body maintains temperature around 37°C even in cold conditions. Describe how this is achieved.
A person moves suddenly from sea level to 3,000m altitude. How would their body adapt over the next few weeks?
A runner drinks a large amount of pure water after a marathon and collapses. What might be happening physiologically?
Why does breathing into a paper bag help relieve hyperventilation?
Why might a patient with liver failure bruise more easily than normal?
🧠 Curveball “Thinking” Questions (Common at Cambridge)
Why are red blood cells biconcave in shape? Could another shape work better?
If all the mitochondria in a human cell stopped working, what would happen next?
Why is blood red, and would a blue pigment (like in some molluscs) be better or worse for humans?
How would human physiology change if water expanded when it froze less than it does currently?
Why do small mammals, like mice, have faster heart rates than larger mammals, like elephants?
If plants can photosynthesise, why haven’t animals evolved a similar ability?
Imagine you could only use one diagnostic test for all patients—what would you choose and why?
Why does oxygen bind less strongly to haemoglobin in the presence of carbon dioxide?
What might be the biological advantage of fever during infection?
How could you prove that a virus is the cause of a disease without using modern molecular tools?
How might the extinction of bees affect human health in the long term?
Why do we have two kidneys instead of one larger one?
If humans evolved to live on Mars, what physiological adaptations might we expect over thousands of years?
⚗️ Application to Novel Scenarios
Scientists create a synthetic red blood cell carrying 50% more oxygen. What could go wrong if we used it in humans?
A new virus spreads faster than the flu but kills fewer people. How would you design a vaccine trial?
You discover a hormone that doubles the rate of cell division. What risks might this pose in medical use?
A new antibiotic kills bacteria instantly but also damages mitochondria. Would you approve it for use?
Why might a drug that works perfectly in animals fail in humans?
Imagine the NHS introduces a “smart hospital bed” that tracks patients’ vital signs 24/7. What ethical or clinical issues could arise?
How would you test the effect of caffeine on reaction time while minimising bias?
⚖️ Ethical & Professional Dilemmas
A patient refuses a life-saving treatment for religious reasons. What would you do?
During a pandemic, you have one ventilator and two patients—one young, one elderly. How do you decide?
A 15-year-old wants contraception but doesn’t want her parents told. How should the doctor handle this?
An AI algorithm decides which patients are eligible for surgery based on predicted success. Should this be allowed?
You accidentally overhear a consultant making a discriminatory remark about a patient. What should you do?
Is it ever acceptable to breach patient confidentiality?
Should parents be allowed to choose the sex of their baby using IVF technology?
💬 Communication & Reflection
Describe a time you found something difficult to explain. How did you make sure the other person understood?
During work experience, you saw a patient who was angry and distressed. How did the healthcare team respond?
You’ve read about “shared decision-making” in medicine. What does this mean in practice?
A friend tells you they don’t trust doctors after seeing conflicting advice on social media. How would you respond?
How would you explain the concept of a vaccine to a 10-year-old?
What have you learned about communication from your volunteering or work experience?
🌍 NHS Awareness & Public Health
Why does the NHS promote prevention rather than cure?
How should the NHS balance limited resources between rare diseases and common conditions?
What are the main causes of health inequality in the UK?
How could AI improve efficiency in the NHS—and what are its limitations?
What lessons did the NHS learn from the COVID-19 pandemic?
What is the role of general practitioners in public health promotion?
How might an ageing population affect healthcare delivery?
Should NHS staff be allowed to strike? Discuss both sides.
📚 Personal Insight & Motivation
Why do you want to study Medicine at Cambridge specifically?
What aspects of the Cambridge course structure (pre-clinical + clinical) most appeal to you?
What have you done to test that Medicine is right for you?
What book, article, or podcast has influenced your view of Medicine the most?
Describe a situation where you showed resilience or perseverance.
What do you think will be the hardest part of being a doctor, and how will you prepare for it?
Tell us about a time you received feedback. How did you respond?
🧩 “Logic & Thought Process” Questions (Classic Cambridge Style)
Why might a giraffe need a very high blood pressure?
What would happen if everyone on Earth stopped sleeping for a week?
How could you determine whether a patient’s heartbeat is irregular using only your hands?
How would you estimate the number of red blood cells in your body without doing any lab tests?
Why can’t humans regrow limbs like some animals?
If all bacteria disappeared overnight, what would happen to humans?
Why is carbon so important to life on Earth? Could life exist based on another element?
How would you design a safer clinical trial for a new cancer drug?
What would happen to human health if the Earth’s gravity suddenly doubled?
Why do humans have an appendix if it’s often seen as useless?
✅ Tip: Cambridge interviewers love questions that make you pause and think. They’re not testing what you know, but how you approach unfamiliar problems, how logically you reason, and how clearly you communicate your thought process.
💡 Boost your performance:
Practise answering these questions aloud with structured reasoning.
Get expert feedback on your answers from real NHS doctors.
📘 Want to practise these questions with NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK medical schools?
👉 Book our Medical School Interview Course
🎯 Join our MMI Mock Circuits for real Cambridge-style scenarios
Student comments (what applicants say)
Applicants commonly describe questions as “rigorous but fair, very science-led”, with interviewers probing your reasoning rather than trivia.
Several notes varied formats by College and advise preparing to talk through problems aloud. (Paraphrased from 2025 A100 applicant discussions on The Student Room.)
Remember: College practices vary. Always check your College’s page once you apply. (Cambridge maintains central interview guidance, and many Colleges outline their subject-specific approach.)
When are offers released?
You’ll receive the outcome of your application in January via UCAS and from Cambridge after interviews/winter pool decisions conclude.
Pro tips to shine at a Cambridge Medicine interview (2026)
1) Think out loud 🗣️
Interviewers value your process. Narrate assumptions, sketch models, and change your mind when shown new evidence. (That’s a strength!)
2) Ground your answers in science 🔬
Revise A-level Biology/Chemistry fundamentals and practise transferring them to new scenarios—typical of Cambridge’s approach.
3) Prepare for graphs/data 📈
Pick random figures (BMJ/Nature news & views) and do 60-second summaries → hypothesis → limitations.
4) Ethics = principles + application ⚖️
Memorise core pillars (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice) and practise structured ethical reasoning using NHS contexts.
5) Show authentic motivation ❤️
Use specific experiences (care home, GP, hospital volunteering) to reflect on what you learned about teamwork, uncertainty, empathy—not just “what you saw”.
6) Expect College variation 🏫
Be ready for online or in-person formats and 1–2 interviews totalling 35–50 minutes. Check College instructions carefully.
7) UCAT still matters 🧠
Cambridge requires UCAT for Medicine; ensure you’ve taken/registered by late September per the official timetable.
Ready to polish delivery, not just content?
✅ Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools
🎯 Join an MMI Mock Circuit for timed, station-style practice
Key dates (2026 entry timeline snapshot)
UCAT: complete by 26 September 2025 (see Cambridge admissions dates).
UCAS deadline: 15 October 2025 (6pm UK).
My Cambridge Application: 22 October 2025 (6pm UK).
Interviews: 1–19 December 2025; winter pool: mid–late January 2026.
Sources (official & authoritative)
University of Cambridge – UCAT for Medicine (University page confirming UCAT requirement). undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk
Application dates & deadlines (UCAT timing, UCAS/My Cambridge Application deadlines). undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk
What to expect at your Cambridge interview (dates, format, number/length of interviews). undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk
Key Criteria for Medical Admissions (what selectors look for in Medicine applicants). undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk
Application statistics dashboard (official stats hub). undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk
College examples (Trinity Hall Medicine—two 25-minute academic interviews with a scientific focus). Trinity Hall Cambridge
Want expert feedback on your Cambridge answers?
Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools→ bluepeanut.com/medical-school-interview
Run through Cambridge-style stations in a timed setting → bluepeanut.com/mmi-courses
