Imperial College London Medical School Interview Questions (2026 Entry): Format, Timeline, Tips and 50+ Example Stations

Introduction

Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) is one of the UK’s most competitive programmes, typically seeing around 10 applicants per place. For 2026 entry, ICSM continues to shortlist using UCAT and invites a proportion of applicants to Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). This guide compiles Imperial’s official admissions information and adds structured preparation advice and realistic practice stations to help you shine. 

Need structured prep from NHS doctors? Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK medical schools. For realistic circuit practice, try our MMI mock circuits.

How Imperial decides who to invite for an interview

• Admissions test: Imperial uses the UCAT. Applications are first checked against academic minimums; after UCAT scores are released in November, ICSM begins inviting candidates to MMIs. 

• Proportion invited: “Each year, we normally interview the top 1/3 of applicants,” with invitations sent on a rolling basis from December. 

• Places in 2026: 271 Home and 74 Overseas places are listed for the 2026 intake, informing overall selectivity.

Imperial also explains that UCAT thresholds vary by cohort; for 2025 entry, they published example thresholds (e.g., Total 3020 and SJT Band 1–3) as context for how shortlisting worked that year (note the UCAT scale changed for 2026, and thresholds change annually).

How Imperial interviews for 2026 entry

Imperial uses MMIs and signals that invitations will be sent out from December once UCAT results are received. The course page links directly to the interview process and emphasises the skills assessed (see below).

Interview style (format) for Imperial

• MMI format: ICSM’s Admissions page outlines the MMI approach, including key station themes and marking out of 6 for content and 4 for communication. It also advises candidates to practice video-recording skills, and notes you typically have ~5 minutes to answer, both clues that the interview includes recorded responses alongside live assessment.

• Hybrid/online components: External round-ups for recent cycles (2024–2025) describe Imperial’s MMI as two parts: an asynchronous (recorded) section and a live online section; while they can tweak year-to-year, this is a realistic expectation to prepare for in 2026 unless Imperial announces a change. Always defer to the official page linked above for the latest instructions.

Get personalised run-throughs of live MMI stations with feedback from NHS interviewers: Book our Medical School Interview Course or MMI mock circuits.

When are the interviews held?

Imperial says invitations go out from December after UCAT results, with interviews following soon after. Historical advisory pages indicate that asynchronous interviews typically occur in January and live interviews in February. However, exact dates can vary from cycle to cycle—please watch your email and Imperial’s instructions for updates. 

What does Imperial assess at the interview?

Imperial lists the following core themes for MMI stations:

• Teamwork & leadership

• Motivation to study medicine & understanding the role of a doctor

• Empathy & breaking bad news

• Ethics scenarios

• Data interpretation

Scoring is /6 for content and /4 for communication per answer.

How many are interviewed, and how many receive offers?

• Interviewed: Imperial states it normally interviews the top one-third of applicants.

• Offers: Imperial does not publish a fixed number of offers in advance; offers depend on interview performance and cohort. College-wide timelines suggest that undergraduate decisions should be made by late March, although the MBBS timeline may vary; please check your UCAS Hub and email for updates.

(Tip: with ~10:1 applications: places and ~1/3 interviewed, strong interview performance is decisive.)

Station format & likely number of stations

Imperial confirms the MMI format and marking scheme. In 2025, there were seven (7) stations per candidate (from Imperial’s FOI FAQs for A100)—beneficial as a working benchmark while preparing; they can adjust year-to-year.

Example Imperial-style MMI station bank (50+ prompts)

Below are realistic practice prompts aligned to Imperial’s published themes and marking style. (They are examples, not actual Imperial questions.)

Motivation & understanding medicine

1. Why medicine and why Imperial?

2. What attracts you to a research-rich MBBS/BSc like ICSM’s?

3. Doctor vs other healthcare careers—what’s distinct and why does it suit you?

4. A moment that confirmed medicine is right for you.

5. What challenge in the NHS today motivates you to train as a doctor?

Teamwork & leadership

1. Lead a team under pressure—what did you do and learn?

2. A time your team failed. How did you respond?

3. Delegation vs doing it yourself—trade-offs in clinical teams.

4. Handling a difficult colleague in a busy ward scenario.

5. You arrive late to handover—what now?

Empathy & breaking bad news (role-play)

1. Break the news of a clinic delay to an anxious patient.

2. A parent is angry about waiting times—diffuse and move forward.

3. Explain the need for a chaperone sensitively.

4. A patient asks for results you can’t disclose—handle it.

5. Show you can listen and summarise a patient’s concerns.

Ethics & professionalism

1. Confidentiality vs public safety—friend has epilepsy but insists on driving.

2. Consent in a 15-year-old requesting contraception—how would you reason?

3. Resource allocation: who gets the last ITU bed?

4. Junior doctor posts about a patient on social media—professionalism?

5. Genomic testing and incidental findings—what should be disclosed?

Understanding the role of a doctor

1. Explain NHS values and how you’ve demonstrated them.

2. What does fitness to practise mean for students?

3. How does evidence-based medicine shape everyday care?

4. The importance of multi-disciplinary teams in chronic disease.

5. Managing risk and uncertainty in clinical decisions.

Data interpretation & problem-solving

1. Interpret a triage chart: prioritise three patients and justify.

2. Evaluate a study abstract (sample size, bias, endpoints).

3. A graph shows rising readmissions—hypotheses & next steps.

4. Basic drug calculation and safety check scenario.

5. Screening test stats: sensitivity, specificity, PPV—apply to a case.

Reflection & resilience

1. A setback you owned and improved from.

2. How do you maintain wellbeing under workload?

3. Example of constructive feedback you applied.

4. What will be toughest about medical school, and why you’ll cope.

5. Handling ambiguity when information is incomplete.

Communication & insight

1. Translate a jargon-heavy leaflet for a non-medical audience.

2. Teach me (briefly) how a vaccine works.

3. Explain antibiotic resistance to a concerned relative.

4. Share a non-clinical achievement that shaped your approach to learning.

5. What does good patient-centred care look like in a 10-minute consult?

Hot topics & the NHS

1. AI in healthcare—opportunities and risks.

2. Tackling health inequalities—one practical step at GP level.

3. Screening vs case finding—benefits and harms.

4. Strike action in the NHS—competing ethical duties.

5. Planetary health and the NHS Net Zero plan—why it matters.

Imperial-specific angles

1. How will you use the intercalated BSc year?

2. Balancing research and patient care as a student.

3. Leveraging London’s diverse population to learn cultural competence.

4. What would you contribute to ICSM’s student community?

5. A time you collaborated across disciplines (STEM, social, arts).

6. Your approach to independent learning in a research-intensive school.

Would you like a tutor to rehearse these with you, station by station? Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools, or join our MMI mock circuits.

When are offers released?

Imperial aims to issue undergraduate decisions by late March; Medicine can vary slightly due to volume and scheduling. Monitor UCAS Hub and your email after your interview; ICSM communicates decisions on a rolling basis.

Student comments & insider tips

Imperial’s student content highlights practical, low-stress strategies: prepare thoroughly, keep up with current medical news, and pace yourself—you’ll often have ~5 minutes per answer in MMIs. Students also emphasise managing stress during “interview season.”

Top tips to succeed at Imperial’s MMI (aimed at sixth formers)

1. Reverse-engineer the mark scheme. Structure every answer with content (clear reasoning, evidence, example) and communication (signposting, empathy, concision). 

2. Master recorded responses. Practise talking to the camera, microphone checks, and timing to ~4:30–4:50 min, leaving a buffer. 

3. Build an “examples bank.” 6–8 short STAR stories (teamwork, leadership, resilience, empathy, integrity).

4. Read NHS-relevant news weekly. Be prepared to discuss why it matters to patients.

5. Rehearse data & ethics. Do quick-read abstracts and mini-ethical frameworks (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice).

6. Simulate the circuit. Run back-to-back 5-minute stations with a friend or tutor to build stamina.

7. Reflect out loud. If you change your mind mid-answer, say so and explain why—this is viewed positively.

8. Know Imperial’s course. Be ready to explain how you’d use the BSc year and contribute to ICSM.

9. Plan logistics early. Invitations will be rolling out from December; keep your schedule flexible in January–February.

10. Do a realistic mock. Our MMI mock circuits replicate Imperial-style timing and feedback.

FAQ (2026 Entry)

Does Imperial use UCAT now?
Yes. UCAT is used for shortlisting; invitations are sent out after UCAT scores are received in November.

Roughly what proportion gets interviewed?
Imperial says it normally interviews the top 1/3 of applicants.

When do interview invites arrive?
From December on a rolling basis; interviews commonly run from January to February (asynchronous and live, as per recent cycles). Always follow the instructions in your invitation.

How are answers scored?
Typically /6 for content and /4 for communication per station.

How many stations are there?
It can vary by year. For 2025, Imperial stated that seven stations were identified via FOI; prepare for a similar range in 2026, unless updated.

What topics do you think I should revise?
Teamwork/leadership, motivation for medicine, role of a doctor, empathy/breaking bad news, ethics, and data interpretation. 

When are offers released?
Imperial aims to issue undergraduate decisions by late March; MBBS timing can vary—please watch the UCAS Hub and your email.

How many places are there in 2026?
Imperial lists 271 Home and 74 Overseas places for A100 in 2026.

Final prep step

If you want targeted practice on Imperial-style stations, with timing, structure, and feedback that mirror ICSM’s mark scheme:

• Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools.

• Join our MMI mock circuits – realistic circuits with tailored feedback to convert your invite into an offer.