Edinburgh Medical School Interview Questions (2026 Entry): Format, Dates, Examples & Top Tips
Introduction
Edinburgh calls interviews “Assessment Days”—a structured, station-based half-day that assesses the core values and attributes needed to study Medicine. For 2026 entry, the School has published key updates to the format, timelines and UCAT use. (Source: Edinburgh Medical School website.)
How Edinburgh decides who to invite
UCAS deadline: 15 October 2025 for 2026 entry.
Scoring to shortlist: Your academic grades (achieved & predicted) and UCAT total are scored; SJT is scored separately. Applicants are ranked by UCAT decile, and the SJT band is added; top-ranked candidates are then invited to an Assessment Day. SJT Band 4 is not accepted.
Minimum UCAT for 2026 entry: 1650 (UCAT now totals 2700 because Abstract Reasoning was removed for testing in 2025).
Edinburgh explicitly states: academic score + UCAT decile + SJT → shortlist; those meeting the UCAT cut-off and ranking highest are invited. (Official brochure: “Applying for Medicine 2026”.)
How the Medical School interviews for 2026 entry
Interview name & style: Assessment Day (interviews)—a series of short, station-based interviews (MMI-style) within a half-day.
2026 format updates: Edinburgh plans two longer individual stations and a slightly shorter group station(previously three individual stations).
Attendance mode: In person for Scottish & RUK/RoI fee statuses; virtual sessions are provided in January for overseas applicants.
What they assess: Attributes drawn from the Medical Schools Council (communication, teamwork, professionalism, ethics, etc.).
When are Edinburgh interviews held?
For the 2026 cycle, Edinburgh indicates Assessment Days will run in November–December 2025 and January 2026, with virtual dates in January. (Dates are set out for selectors and reflect the admissions schedule.)
What topics are covered?
Edinburgh maps interviews to the MSC core values and attributes and GMC Outcomes for Graduates—so expect:
Communication & Teamwork, Ethical Reasoning, Empathy & Compassion, Professionalism & Integrity, Insight & Reflection, Safety & Quality, Motivation for Medicine, Health-care Awareness & NHS understanding.
How many are interviewed, and how many receive offers?
Latest published cycle-wide figures (2024 entry) show:
Applications: 1,760
Invited to Assessment Day: 767
Offers: 629
Placed: 288
(With further breakdowns by fee status.)
Note: Numbers vary each year. Edinburgh publishes a three-year view annually in October, including UCAT boundaries.
When are offers released?
Edinburgh advises applicants invited to Assessment Day should receive the outcome by the end of March following the October UCAS deadline (so March 2026 for 2026 entry).
Example Edinburgh stations & questions (aligned to 2026 format)
Edinburgh does not publish live station content. The examples below reflect the two longer individual stations + shorter group station structure, mapped to MSC attributes.
Individual station (Communication & Empathy)
A parent is upset about delays in clinic—how do you handle their concerns?
Explain a complex test result (e.g., sensitivity vs specificity) to a layperson.
Break down how you’d apologise after a mistake as a volunteer.
Individual station (Ethics & Professionalism)
Should a patient’s 16-year-old child consent to treatment? Apply Gillick competence and best interests.
A classmate shares exam answers in a group chat—what do you do and why?
Debate organ donation opt-out: autonomy vs beneficence vs justice.
Group station (Teamwork & Leadership)
You and 3–4 applicants must prioritise limited vaccines for a rural practice. Collaborate to produce a plan, then present it in 60 seconds. Assessors focus on: listening, turn-taking, time-keeping, and constructive challenge.
Motivation & Insight
Why Edinburgh specifically (curriculum, intercalation in Year 3, clinical exposure in Edinburgh BioQuarter)?
What recent NHS initiative should medical students understand, and why?
Data/Scenario analysis
You receive an A&E triage flowchart: identify one safety risk and propose one measurable improvement.
Interpret a brief prescribing chart and spot a near-miss.
Wider healthcare awareness
How should the NHS balance sustainability with patient care?
Discuss one strategy to reduce health inequities in Scotland.
These are illustrative and not from the University; they reflect MSC-aligned domains the School says it assesses.
Top tips for the Edinburgh interview
Target the scoring model. Half of your final ranking comes after the interview (50% Assessment Day; 25%academics; 17.5% UCAT decile; 7.5% SJT). Practise to maximise the most significant lever.
Know the format change. Prepare for two longer individual stations and a shorter group station (2026 update). Rehearse concise, structured answers (e.g., SPIES/ABCDE/ETHICS frameworks) and group skills (listening, summarising, inviting views).
Bring it back to MSC attributes. Demonstrate how your actions showcase teamwork, professionalism, empathy, and reflection.
Practise aloud under time. Simulate 6–8 minute stations with a 30–60s summary at the end.
Calibrate to UCAT changes. With UCAT out of 2700 and a 1650 minimum for 2026, strong interview performance can decisively lift your rank.
💡 Want structured coaching that mirrors Edinburgh’s stations? Book our Medical School Interview Course (live, physician-led) and MMI mock circuits:
Student comments (what applicants report)
Applicants describe a half-day with multiple short interviews and a group element, with teamwork heavily emphasised. (Paraphrased from student discussions.)
Community threads note that outcomes typically arrive around March, consistent with Edinburgh’s official guidance.
Forum posts are anecdotal—always rely on the Medical School’s pages for definitive details.
Key facts at a glance
UCAS deadline: 15 Oct 2025 (2026 entry)
UCAT (2026): total 2700; cut-off 1650; SJT Band 4 not accepted
Shortlisting → Interview: academics + UCAT decile + SJT; top-scorers invited
Interview style: station-based Assessment Day; two longer individual + shorter group (2026 update)
Interview window: Nov–Dec 2025 & Jan 2026; virtual in Jan for overseas
Recent cycle stats (2024): 1,760 apps → 767 interviewed → 629 offers → 288 placed
Offer timing: by the end of March (for those interviewed)
FAQs
Is Edinburgh’s interview an MMI?
It’s branded as an Assessment Day with multiple short interviews—MMI-style—and a group task component.
What UCAT do I need for 2026 entry?
The brochure states a minimum cut-off of 1650 (out of 2700). SJT Band 4 is not accepted.
How is my final ranking calculated?
50% interview, 25% academic score, 17.5% UCAT decile, 7.5% SJT.
Will I interview in person or online?
Scottish and RUK/RoI candidates attend in person; virtual options are used in January for overseas. Edinburgh confirms both modalities.
When will I hear back?
Edinburgh indicates outcomes by the end of March after Assessment Days.
How many places are available?
The total number of places varies by fee status and year; for 2025 entry, Edinburgh listed ~266 places (illustrative of the scale). Check the current year’s pages for any adjustments.
Ready to practise like it’s the real thing?
Build fluency for two longer individual and shorter group stations, calibrated to MSC attributes.
Get detailed feedback on communication, ethics, and teamwork—the areas Edinburgh emphasises.
👉 Book our Medical School Interview Course
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