Lancaster Medical School Interview Questions (2026 Entry)
Introduction
Lancaster Medical School (A100) conducts Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) and shortlists candidates primarily using the UCAT. Interviews are usually held in January–February, with invites mostly sent in December and offers made after all MMIs conclude. The details below are taken directly from Lancaster Medical School’s website and admissions policy; we’ve cited them so you can double-check any critical information.
Ready to practise realistic Lancaster-style circuits? Book our Medical School Interview Course — taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK medical schools. Want a full mock MMI? Join our MMI mock circuits.
How Lancaster decides who to invite to interview
Minimum academics are checked first, then UCAT is used to rank applicants for interview.
The Admissions Policy (2025 entry) states applicants are ranked by overall UCAT score, with selection anticipated from the top ~7 deciles and SJT bands 1–3; contextual factors may be considered for borderline cases. (Policy updates happen periodically, but this is the latest published thresholding detail.)
Applicants who complete Lancaster’s specified widening participation programmes may receive guaranteed interviews (subject to eligibility).
Practical implication: For 2026 entry, you should aim for a strong UCAT overall and SJT ≤3, while noting that Lancaster may update thresholds each cycle—always re-check the LMS pages before applying.
Interview format for 2026 entry
Lancaster runs an MMI made up of short stations, assessed against explicit criteria by trained interviewers (academics, clinicians, medical students, and patient/public representatives).
Recent official pages describe:
Two parts to the process, with an assessed group task and prep activities in Part 1, followed by an MMI circuit of eight assessed stations (plus a form check), 5 minutes per station with 2-minute gaps. (Page currently labelled 2024–25 MMIs.)
The Admissions Policy also describes up to 10 assessed stations and confirms trained interviewers run MMIs; in 2025 the school confirmed delivery online via Microsoft Teams. (Delivery mode can change; check the site when invitations go out.)
Interview style (MMI): what it’s like
Lancaster explicitly lists examples such as:
Ethical analysis (read a short paragraph/video, make notes, then discuss).
Insight into medicine & reflection on experiences.
Communication with a patient/public representative (rapport and responsiveness assessed).
Interviewers score each station; the total MMI score determines offers.
When are interviews held?
Lancaster’s timeline shows:
Invites: majority sent in December
MMIs: January–February
Decisions: Ranking by MMI score; offers are then issued to top-scoring candidates.
What topics are covered?
Expect breadth across:
Motivation & insight into medicine and Lancaster’s programme (e.g., problem-based learning).
Situational judgement & ethics (autonomy, consent, confidentiality, capacity, justice).
Communication & empathy (including patient/public interactions).
Teamwork/PBL suitability (often tested via group work).
How many applicants get interviews and offers?
Lancaster publishes admissions data. For A100 (UK) applicants:
2024 entry: 1,004 applications → 587 interview places → 261 offers
(≈58.5% interviewed; ≈26.0% offered)Earlier cycles: 2020–2023 figures are also listed to show year-to-year variation.
Lancaster also notes UCAT cut-offs (by domicile/context) for 2025 entry, as well as guaranteed interviews for specific widening participation routes.
Example Lancaster-style stations & questions
Lancaster publishes three example station types (ethics, reflection on experience, patient/public interaction). We’ve expanded with realistic, Lancaster-aligned practice prompts to cover the full spread you’re likely to meet.
Ethics & situational judgement
You read a short briefing on AI triage in an overstretched ED. In the discussion, weigh autonomy, beneficence, bias, transparency, and accountability.
A parent refuses a blood transfusion for a minor on religious grounds. Outline your approach and relevant legal/ethical principles.
A peer posts a patient photo on social media (de-identified). What concerns arise, and what would you do?
Communication with patient/public
Build rapport with a community representative who is anxious about a clinic delay. Explore feelings, apologise appropriately, and summarise next steps.
Explain “consent” and “capacity” in simple terms to a patient who’s worried about a procedure.
Insight & reflection
“Which part of your work/volunteering most challenged you—and what did you learn about your suitability for medicine?” (Lancaster explicitly explores this.)
“Why Lancaster?” Link to small-group PBL, early clinical exposure, and the region’s rural/urban health needs.
Teamwork/PBL suitability (group task)
Prioritise five actions for a GP practice facing a childhood immunisation drop. Demonstrate listening, turn-taking, and reasoned consensus.
Data interpretation & problem-solving
Interpret a measles outbreak chart and advise a school on immediate and medium-term steps.
A vignette with drug-dose calculation and safe checking steps (non-advanced maths).
Professionalism & resilience
“Describe when you handled feedback badly—what changed your approach?”
Respond to a scenario about raising concerns over an unsafe colleague (duty of candour).
Want structured practice with feedback on stations just like these? Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools, and book an MMI mock circuit.
When are offers released?
Lancaster states that applicants are ranked by MMI score and offers are made to the highest scorers after interviews (interviews run from January to February; decisions follow in the December to March window). Exact send dates vary each year.
Top tips for Lancaster’s MMI
Match the format. Practise 5-minute stations and a time-pressured group task so the pace feels normal.
Show PBL suitability. In group work, lift others: invite quieter voices, summarise, and justify trade-offs.
Get the fundamentals right. Refresh ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice), consent, capacity, confidentiality, and SJT-style reasoning.
Communicate like a clinician. With patient/public representatives, prioritise rapport, empathy, signposting, and clear, plain English explanations.
Know Lancaster. Read the LMS pages (PBL, placements, community focus) and be ready to explain why Lancaster specifically.
Plan the admin. You’ll get an Initial Applicant Survey and sometimes a Supplementary Information Form—students on forums often mention these steps. Watch your inbox and deadlines.
Student comments (anecdotal)
Recent applicant threads mention receiving the Initial Applicant Survey soon after the UCAS deadline, consistent with Lancaster’s own process page.
Forum posts from past cycles describe Lancaster’s MMIs as short, timed stations with group elements, echoing the official description. Treat these as anecdotal, but they align with LMS guidance.
(As always, student forums are informal and may be outdated—rely on Lancaster’s site for decisions.)
Key facts at a glance (official sources)
Shortlisting: UCAT-ranked; aim top deciles; SJT 1–3 preferred; contextual considerations for borderline cases.
Format: MMI with multiple 5-minute stations; includes group task; trained interviewers (staff, clinicians, students, public).
Timing: Invites mainly December; MMIs Jan–Feb; offers issued after interviews.
Volumes (A100 UK 2024): 1,004 apps → 587 interview places → 261 offers (≈58.5% interviewed; ≈26.0% offered).
FAQ (Lancaster-specific, 2026 entry)
Do I need UCAT for Lancaster now?
Yes. All applicants must sit the UCAT in the year of application; UCAT scores are used to rank for interview.
Is the interview online or in person?
Lancaster has recently run MMIs online via Microsoft Teams; the format/delivery is confirmed in each cycle via your invitation. Check the LMS site and your email.
How many stations are there?
Lancaster describes eight assessed stations in the current “Medicine Applicants” page (plus checking); the policy allows up to 10 assessed stations—expect a compact circuit.
When can I expect to hear back after the interview?
After the January–February MMI, applicants are ranked by total MMI score, and offers are sent thereafter.
What does the group task assess?
Your communication, listening, prioritisation and teamwork, and—uniquely for Lancaster—suitability for PBL.
Final prep checklist
Aim for a competitive UCAT and practise SJT-style reasoning, then pivot to timed, 5-minute MMI answers.
Rehearse ethics, communication, and PBL/teamwork—Lancaster’s signature focus.
Build endurance for a complete circuit (8–10 stations) plus a group task.
Read Lancaster’s How to Apply and Medicine Applicants pages again the week you interview.
Get examiners’ feedback from NHS doctors and practise Lancaster-style circuits: Book our Medical School Interview Course or our MMI mock circuits.
