Imperial College London Medical School Interview Questions (2026 Entry): Format, Timeline, Tips and 50+ Example Stations
If you’re applying to Imperial College London Medicine (A100) for 2026 entry, you’ve probably searched “Imperial interview questions” about 37 times already (same). The good news: Imperial is very clear about the qualities they’re looking for — and the interview format is designed to give you multiple chances to show them.
This guide covers how Imperial selects for interview, how the Imperial MMI works, when it happens, what’s assessed, how scoring works, and 40+ Imperial-style practice questions sorted by theme.
Key facts at a glance ✅✨
Course: Medicine MBBS/BSc (A100)
Start date: October 2026
UCAS deadline: 15 October 2025 (18:00 UK time) ⏰
Admissions test: UCAT (sat in the year you apply)
Interview style: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)
Interview period (typical for this cycle): January–February 2026 🗓️
Decision period (typical for this cycle): April 2026 📩
Places for 2026 entry: 271 Home + 74 Overseas
Competitiveness: roughly 10 applicants per place (recent cycle indicator) 🔥
Introduction to Imperial College London Medical School (ICSM) 🌍🔬
Imperial College School of Medicine (often shortened to ICSM) is known for its scientific rigour, research-driven approach, and deep connections to major London teaching hospitals.
A defining feature is the integrated MBBS/BSc structure — you don’t just “do medicine”; you also build strong academic and research foundations, with lots of emphasis on how evidence becomes real clinical care. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys asking “but why does that work?” — Imperial tends to suit you.
Imperial teaches across multiple London sites and partner hospitals, giving you exposure to different communities and clinical environments, which is part of why they care so much about empathy, teamwork, resilience, and NHS values at interview.
How Imperial decides who to invite for interview 🎯
Imperial’s shortlisting is UCAT-led, but not UCAT-only. In plain English, here’s the flow:
1) Minimum academic requirements check 📚
Imperial first checks whether you meet (or are predicted to meet) the minimum academic entry requirements.
2) UCAT is used to shortlist for interview 🧠
Imperial uses UCAT results to help decide who is shortlisted. Key points to know:
UCAT scores help decide interview shortlisting, but aren’t the only factor.
Thresholds vary year-to-year depending on the applicant cohort’s score distribution.
Imperial also considers Situational Judgement Test (SJT) performance (e.g., minimum band requirements can apply).
3) “Top third” rule of thumb 🥇
Imperial typically interviews around the top 1/3 of applicants and sends invitations on a rolling basis from December.
4) Contextual admissions / widening participation 🌱
Imperial applies a contextualised cut-off for eligible widening participation applicants (and sets deadlines for relevant declarations/evidence). If you might be eligible, it’s worth checking early — it can genuinely change what “competitive enough” looks like.
How Imperial interviews (MMI style, structure, timings, delivery) 🎥🧩
Imperial uses Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) — a circuit of short stations, each assessing a particular attribute.
What a typical Imperial MMI feels like
Think of it like a “skills playlist” rather than one long interrogation. You might move through stations on:
motivation and insight
teamwork/leadership
NHS values
ethics
empathy/communication
resilience under pressure
Why Imperial / contribution
Structure and timing ⏱️
Imperial has previously used 7 stations, with short timed stations and reading time between stations. Don’t cling to the exact station count like it’s a prophecy — stations can change — but do expect multiple short stations with a clear focus at each one.
In-person vs online: what to expect
Imperial will tell you the format and delivery details in your invitation. Medical school interviews can change year-to-year, so your best strategy is to prepare for the skills, not the rumours.
When Imperial Medicine interviews are held 🗓️
For 2026 entry, the official application timeline for the cycle points to:
UCAT: July–September 2025
UCAS application: October 2025
MMIs: January–February 2026
Decisions communicated via UCAS: April 2026
What topics are covered in the Imperial Medicine interview 🔍
Imperial’s interview themes commonly include:
Motivation and understanding of medicine ❤️🔥
Not just “why medicine”, but: do you understand the reality — uncertainty, responsibility, teamwork, long training, emotional load?
NHS Constitution values 🏥
Imperial explicitly values evidence of commitment to NHS values — compassion, respect, dignity, improving lives, working together, and fairness.
Empathy and communication 🗣️
This can include emotionally sensitive scenarios, active listening, or explaining clearly under pressure.
Ethics scenarios ⚖️
Expect classic medical ethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice — plus real-world NHS constraints.
Teamwork and leadership 🤝
They want to see how you work with others, handle disagreement, and lead without being “that person” in group work.
Resilience and coping under stress 🧠🛠️
Medicine is demanding. They’re looking for healthy coping strategies and self-awareness — not superhero energy.
Community activities and contribution 🌍
Imperial likes applicants who engage with communities, reflect on inequality, and will contribute to the school beyond exams.
Why Imperial? (Imperial fit) 🧬
Imperial isn’t shy about its research identity. They want to know you actually understand what makes Imperial Imperial.
How is the Imperial interview scored? 🎯
Imperial’s MMI stations have previously been scored using a split between:
Content (what you say)
Communication (how you say it)
Each station gets a score, then station scores are combined into a total interview score. The offer threshold varies each year, and may differ for widening participation applicants.
How many are interviewed and how many receive offers? 📊
Imperial publishes and releases admissions data through official channels and FOI information sheets.
What the published historical figures show (useful for perspective)
In one published set of cycle data (pre-UCAT era), Imperial reported:
Invited to interview (all applicants): 832–1245 across cycles shown
Offers made: around the mid-hundreds across the same cycles
Places confirmed: around the low-to-mid 300s across those cycles
What matters for you in 2026 entry
For your cycle, Imperial states it normally interviews the top third of applicants, and for 2026 entry the stated split includes 271 Home places and 74 Overseas places. So: yes, it’s competitive — but interview performance is heavily emphasised, and the MMI format gives you multiple chances to score well.
How the UCAT is used at Imperial (2026 entry) 🧠✅
Imperial requires the UCAT for A100 Medicine and uses it in shortlisting.
Key takeaways:
UCAT is used to help decide shortlisting for interview, but isn’t the sole factor.
Minimum thresholds can apply and vary by year.
Imperial has previously published example thresholds from the first UCAT-using cycle as guidance (including SJT requirements).
Widening participation applicants may have a contextualised cut-off.
Special circumstances are handled through the UCAT process and reviewed case-by-case.
Imperial-specific interview questions (the ones you really should prep) 🎯🔬
Imperial interviewers love applicants who’ve actually clocked what makes the course distinctive. Prepare to speak confidently about:
The MBBS/BSc structure
Why does an integrated BSc appeal to you?
How will you handle switching between clinical learning and academic research thinking?
Research and innovation culture
What have you read recently in medicine/science that interested you — and why?
How might research improve patient care in the next decade?
London placements and diversity
What excites you (and worries you) about training in a busy, diverse city with huge health inequality gaps?
Your contribution to Imperial
What would you bring to the community beyond grades — societies, outreach, peer support, widening participation, sport, music, teaching?
40+ Imperial MMI practice questions (sorted by assessed topic) 🧩🩺
Use these like a gym session: timed answers, reflection after, repeat.
1) Motivation & understanding of medicine 💡
Statement: You’re asked why you want medicine rather than biomedical science. Question: How do you answer without sounding rehearsed?
Statement: A friend says “doctors just diagnose and prescribe.” Question: How would you explain what the role really involves?
Statement: You’ve had limited formal work experience. Question: What experiences still prove you understand the realities of medicine?
Statement: You enjoyed volunteering but found it emotionally heavy. Question: What did it teach you about yourself and the job?
Statement: You’re asked what you think will be hardest about medical school. Question: What do you say — and what’s your plan?
Statement: You’ve seen medicine glamorised online. Question: What’s your realistic view of the career?
Statement: You’re asked about a time you changed your mind. Question: How does that relate to clinical thinking?
2) NHS Constitution values 🏥💙
Statement: A patient feels judged during an appointment. Question: Which NHS values matter here and what would you do differently?
Statement: You witness a teammate making a disrespectful joke. Question: How do you respond in a way that’s professional and safe?
Statement: A clinic is running late and patients are frustrated. Question: How do you balance compassion with service pressure?
Statement: Someone says the NHS should prioritise “people who look after themselves”. Question: How would you challenge that view?
Statement: You’re asked what “putting patients first” means in practice. Question: Give an example.
Statement: You notice unequal outcomes in different communities. Question: What should the NHS do, and what can a doctor do?
3) Teamwork & leadership 🤝👥
Statement: In a group project, one person dominates and another goes quiet. Question: What do you do?
Statement: You disagree with a team decision you think is risky. Question: How do you raise it without derailing the team?
Statement: A teammate is struggling but won’t admit it. Question: How do you support them while meeting the task deadline?
Statement: You’re asked to describe leadership. Question: What’s your definition — and your evidence?
Statement: You failed as a leader once. Question: What did you learn and what would you do differently now?
Statement: You’re paired with someone you don’t get on with. Question: How do you make the working relationship effective?
4) Communication & empathy (including difficult conversations) 🗣️❤️
Statement: A patient is anxious and keeps interrupting. Question: How do you respond while still gathering key information?
Statement: Someone receives upsetting news and goes quiet. Question: What do you do in the first 30 seconds?
Statement: A parent is angry about a wait time. Question: How do you de-escalate and keep boundaries?
Statement: You need to explain a complex idea to a younger sibling. Question: How does that translate to explaining to patients?
Statement: A patient refuses treatment you believe is best. Question: How do you handle it respectfully?
Statement: You’ve made a communication mistake before. Question: What happened and what did it teach you?
Statement: An interviewer asks you to show empathy without being “over the top.” Question: What does genuine empathy look like?
5) Ethics & decision-making ⚖️🧠
Statement: A teenager asks for contraception without parental involvement. Question: What factors matter and how do you approach it?
Statement: There’s one ICU bed and two patients need it. Question: How should decisions be made fairly?
Statement: A patient doesn’t want to know their diagnosis, but their family insists. Question: What do you do?
Statement: A doctor makes a small error that probably won’t cause harm. Question: Should it be reported — and why?
Statement: A friend asks you for medical advice because “you’re basically a medic now”. Question: How do you respond?
Statement: A patient’s cultural belief conflicts with recommended care. Question: How do you balance respect and safety?
Statement: A colleague posts about patients on social media (no names, but identifiable). Question: What’s the issue and what action do you take?
6) Resilience & coping under pressure 🧠🛡️
Statement: You’ve hit burnout during exams before. Question: What did you change, and what would you do in medicine?
Statement: You fail an important assessment. Question: How do you respond in the next 48 hours?
Statement: You’re overwhelmed by multiple deadlines. Question: How do you prioritise realistically?
Statement: You’re asked what “resilience” means. Question: How do you show it without pretending you never struggle?
Statement: A situation triggers strong emotions in you. Question: How do you stay professional and look after yourself?
Statement: You’re criticised unfairly by a senior. Question: How do you handle it safely and constructively?
7) Community involvement & contribution 🌍✨
Statement: Your volunteering felt small compared to others’. Question: How do you show impact through reflection?
Statement: You’re asked what you’d contribute to Imperial beyond studying. Question: What do you say (specifically)?
Statement: You’ve worked part-time alongside school. Question: What skills does that prove that matter in medicine?
Statement: You care about health inequality. Question: What have you done so far, and what would you like to do next?
Statement: You’re asked about a hobby that seems unrelated to medicine. Question: How do you link it to being a better doctor?
8) Why Imperial? Research mindset & course fit 🔬🏙️
Statement: Imperial is known for science and innovation. Question: How would you show you’ll thrive in that environment?
Statement: You must pick one BSc pathway area that interests you. Question: What would you choose and why?
Statement: You read about a new medical technology (AI, genomics, devices). Question: What excites you and what worries you?
Statement: Training in London exposes you to wide diversity and pressure. Question: Why does that appeal to you — and how will you cope?
Student comments (anecdotal) 💬✨
These are the kinds of things Imperial medics commonly say in official student stories and blogs:
The MMI format can feel intense, but students often describe it as fairer than one long interview because each station is a fresh start.
It’s very “Imperial” to value clear thinking — being able to explain your reasoning calmly matters as much as the conclusion.
Students highlight the variety of clinical environments — from major hospitals to community settings — and how quickly you start building a real-world perspective.
People are often pleasantly surprised by how social the course can be, with strong peer support and societies (including the classic “older students looking out for you” vibe).
Top tips to succeed at the Imperial Medicine interview 🏆🩺
Prep smart (not robotic)
Practise timed answers. Imperial-style stations reward clear structure under pressure.
Don’t memorise scripts. Build flexible frameworks (e.g., STAR for experiences, 4 pillars for ethics).
Make your answers “Imperial-proof” 🔬
Add a sentence that shows curiosity: what you read, noticed, questioned, or learned.
Where possible, show you can think in evidence + people (both matter).
Master the MMI rhythm ⏱️
Start with a clear opening line, then: point → explain → example → reflect.
If you stumble, reset. New station = new chance.
Know your NHS values properly 💙
Don’t just name them. Show what they look like in everyday behaviour (respect, dignity, honesty, teamwork, fairness).
Be specific about Imperial
Mention the integrated MBBS/BSc, research culture, and London clinical exposure — but only if it genuinely fits you.
