Lincoln Medical School Interview Questions (2026 Entry)
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About Lincoln Medical School
Lincoln Medical School (University of Lincoln) delivers an MBChB with a strong Lincolnshire placement focus. The School is working towards providing medical courses independently from the University of Nottingham from the 2026/27 academic year, subject to GMC approval.
How Lincoln decides who to invite to interview (shortlisting)
Lincoln explicitly sets out its selection-to-interview scoring:
GCSEs: Six highest GCSEs counted (must include Biology and Chemistry or Double Science; Grade 6+ in English & Maths). A points scale per grade contributes up to 30 points.
UCAT & SJT:
SJT scored (Band 1=15, Band 2=10, Band 3=5). Band 4 is not considered.
Cognitive subtests scored per band (e.g., 801–900 = 5 per section), contributing up to 15; combined UCAT components contribute up to 30 overall.
Total “academic” score (GCSE + UCAT) = up to 60.
Contextual/WP uplift: Some applicants can receive additional points (up to 15) for factors like UCAT bursary, MEM2 quintiles, care-experienced status, refugee status, etc.
Lincoln states there is no fixed cut-off; thresholds vary cycle by cycle.
How Lincoln will interview for 2026 entry
Format: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs).
Mode & location: In-person at Brayford Pool Campus, University of Lincoln.
Structure: 7 stations in rotation, each scored across three domains, giving a total interview score of 70.
ID check: Applicants must bring appropriate photo ID.
WP support: Travel/accommodation funding may be available for widening-participation candidates.
UCAS also lists Lincoln’s interview format as in-person MMIs offered based on the selection score.
What is the interview style?
Lincoln’s MMI stations aim to evidence skills and attributes appropriate for a medical career, aligned with Medical Schools Council expectations (e.g., communication, ethics, teamwork, resilience, professionalism, insight into medicine and the NHS).
When are Lincoln’s interviews held?
Lincoln does not publish fixed interview months on its page. UK medical schools typically run medicine MMIs from December through March, with invites sent on a rolling basis—keep a close eye on your email/portal.
Final UCAS decision controls for the 2026 cycle include a reject-by-default deadline of 13 May 2026, and standard reply dates thereafter (e.g., 3 June 2026 if your last decision arrives by 13 May).
What topics are covered?
Expect a mix of:
Motivation & suitability: why medicine, understanding the course and Lincolnshire context.
Communication & empathy: patient-centred interactions; breaking bad news frameworks.
Teamwork & leadership: working with peers and MDTs.
Ethics & law (GMC principles, consent, confidentiality, capacity).
Data/critical thinking: interpreting information or prioritising tasks.
Professionalism: insight into challenges and the realities of training.
These align with what Lincoln says its interviews assess and what UK MMIs commonly evaluate.
How many applicants receive interviews and offers?
Public, cycle-by-cycle figures vary. A 2021/22 snapshot compiled by a third-party site reports 118 interviewed and 103 offers (very high offer rate post-interview that year). Treat this as historic, non-official context only—Lincoln does not publish annual thresholds.
Freedom of Information (FOI) responses to Nottingham/Lincoln requests also exist (with attachments detailing applicant/interview/offer counts and UCAT stats for earlier cycles), but Lincoln/Nottingham do not publish annual cut-offs.
Example MMI stations & questions (practice pack)
Below are Lincoln-style MMI prompts to mirror the School’s emphasis on communication, ethics, data, and professionalism. Each station begins with a statement (context) followed by the question you’d be asked.
🗣️ Communication & Empathy
Statement: A patient has received unexpected test results and looks anxious as you speak with them.
Question: How would you approach this situation to ensure the patient feels heard and supported?
Statement: You’re shadowing a GP who uses a lot of medical jargon. The patient looks confused.
Question: How could you step in or support the situation appropriately without overstepping?
Statement: A patient becomes upset after waiting a long time to be seen.
Question: What steps would you take to de-escalate the situation while maintaining professionalism?
⚖️ Ethics & Professional Judgement
Statement: A classmate confides that they cheated in an online exam during pre-clinical training.
Question: What ethical principles apply here, and what action should you take?
Statement: You overhear a medical student discussing a patient’s case loudly in a public café.
Question: What would you do in this situation and why?
Statement: A patient refuses a life-saving treatment for personal reasons.
Question: How should the healthcare team respond to respect autonomy while ensuring safety?
🧭 Insight into Medicine
Statement: Medicine is both a scientific and a people-centred profession.
Question: What skills and qualities do you think are most important for a medical student to succeed at Lincoln Medical School?
Statement: The NHS faces increasing pressures from an ageing population.
Question: How might this impact the role of doctors in the future?
Statement: You will be studying medicine in a region with rural healthcare needs.
Question: What are some unique challenges and opportunities of working in a rural NHS setting?
🧠 Problem Solving & Prioritisation
Statement: You are given several tasks at once: a patient is in pain, another needs medication, and a visitor is lost in the ward.
Question: How would you prioritise these and why?
Statement: You’re shown a graph of infection rates increasing in a hospital ward.
Question: What possible explanations could there be, and what actions might reduce the rates?
Statement: Your group project deadline clashes with an important volunteering commitment.
Question: How would you manage this conflict responsibly?
🤝 Teamwork & Leadership
Statement: You’re working in a small group and one member consistently contributes less than others.
Question: How would you handle this to maintain teamwork and fairness?
Statement: You notice that your team’s plan is likely to fail due to poor communication.
Question: What would you do to improve collaboration and ensure success?
Statement: You’ve been elected as a team leader for a charity event but encounter last-minute cancellations.
Question: How would you adapt to ensure the event still runs smoothly?
🧬 Empathy & Resilience
Statement: A patient expresses frustration about their chronic illness and lack of progress.
Question: How would you show empathy while helping them stay motivated?
Statement: You receive a disappointing academic result after working very hard.
Question: How would you reflect on this experience and improve next time?
Statement: During a long shift, a colleague becomes visibly distressed.
Question: How might you support them while ensuring patient care continues?
🩺 NHS & Medical Awareness
Statement: A patient asks why they can’t get a same-day GP appointment.
Question: How would you explain current NHS pressures in a clear and compassionate way?
Statement: You’re asked about the NHS Constitution during your interview.
Question: What are the main principles of the NHS, and why are they important?
Statement: The NHS is introducing more digital consultations.
Question: What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of this shift?
💬 Motivation & Reflection
Statement: You’ve just finished a week of work experience in a hospital ward.
Question: What did you learn about the realities of being a doctor?
Statement: You shadowed a GP who had to deliver bad news.
Question: How did that experience shape your understanding of communication in medicine?
Statement: You’re asked why you chose to apply to Lincoln Medical School.
Question: What aspects of the course or values at Lincoln appeal to you the most?
🌍 Ethics & Wider Society
Statement: The government is debating the use of AI in medical diagnosis.
Question: What ethical and practical issues could arise from this?
Statement: A patient requests a treatment that is not available on the NHS.
Question: How would you discuss this issue with them respectfully?
Statement: Some doctors engage in medical volunteering abroad.
Question: What are the ethical considerations around such experiences?
🧩 Abstract Thinking & Reflection
Statement: “A good doctor treats the disease; the great doctor treats the patient who has the disease.”
Question: What does this quote mean to you?
Statement: “Resilience is not about never failing—it’s about recovering quickly.”
Question: How have you demonstrated resilience in your own life?
Statement: “Medicine is both art and science.”
Question: How do you interpret this statement in the context of modern medicine?
✅ Pro Tip for Lincoln Candidates
Lincoln’s MMI stations are short (around 6–8 minutes), and assessors look for clarity, empathy, reflection, and professionalism. Practise structured responses, stay calm, and show awareness of Lincoln’s rural healthcare focus.
🚀 Get Fully Ready
🎓 Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools:
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🎯 Join our MMI Mock Circuits – realistic, timed practice with feedback:
👉 https://bluepeanut.com/mmi-courses
When are offers released?
Lincoln makes offers on a rolling basis after MMIs. Sector-wide UCAS controls for 2026 mean any outstanding decisions for equal-consideration applicants must be made by 13 May 2026 (RBD). If your final decision arrives by 13 May, your reply deadline is 3 June 2026 (UCAS). You may hear earlier.
Student comments (publicly available insights)
Applicants describe Lincoln’s MMI as friendly but focused, with role-play a recurring feature in recent years’ guides and blogs. (Treat as general applicant commentary, not an official statement.)
Top tips to excel at Lincoln’s MMI (2026)
Know the scoring & what “good” looks like 🌟
You’ll rotate through 7 stations scored across domains. Practise concise, structured answers (e.g., SPIKES, ABCDE for prioritisation, 4 pillars for ethics).Build UCAT SJT habits into your answers 🧩
Lincoln scores SJT strongly (Band 1/2 advantageous; Band 4 rejected). Show judgement, empathy, and professionalism in every station.Practise role-play 🎭
Many candidates under-prepare for actors. Rehearse agenda-setting, signposting, chunk-and-check, and closing the loop. (Common across UK MMIs.)Know Lincoln & the local healthcare context 🗺️
Understand the School’s Lincolnshire emphasis and what that means for placements and population health.Reflect deeply on real experiences 🔍
Use a reflection model to turn volunteering/work experience into clear learning outcomes tied to MSC attributes.Stay current on NHS themes 📰
Be ready for service-pressure discussions (primary care access, prevention, digital health, multi-disciplinary working). (General MMI preparation guidance.)Simulate the day ⏱️
Timed practice in rotations builds muscle memory. (MMI mock circuits available.) https://bluepeanut.com/mmi-courses
FAQs (fast answers)
Is there a UCAT cut-off?
No fixed cut-off; scoring combines GCSEs + UCAT (+contextual where applicable). SJT Band 4 not accepted.Is the interview online or in person for 2026?
In-person MMIs at Brayford Pool Campus. 7 stations.Do predicted A levels count toward shortlisting?
No—A levels/predicted are not used for the selection-to-interview score (offers are still conditional on achieving grades).When will I hear back?
Rolling decisions; UCAS requires outstanding decisions by 13 May 2026 for equal-consideration applicants, with reply deadline 3 June 2026 if your last decision arrives by then.
Final checklist ✅
Re-read Lincoln’s official Interviews & Selection Guide (bookmark it).
Practise 7 short stations with authentic timing (6–8 min per station).
Prepare ethics frameworks, communication structure, teamwork language, NHS awareness.
Gather photo ID and plan travel to Brayford Pool.
Get feedback under pressure:
Book our Medical School Interview Course – taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools: https://bluepeanut.com/medical-school-interview
Join our MMI mock circuits: https://bluepeanut.com/mmi-courses
Sources (we’ve prioritised the medical school website where possible)
University of Lincoln – Medicine Admissions: Interviews & Selection Guide (format, scoring, SJT policy, in-person MMIs, 7 stations, totals). lincoln.ac.uk
University of Lincoln – Lincoln Medical School overview (independence project & context). lincoln.ac.uk
UCAS course listing (MBChB Medicine, Lincoln) (in-person MMIs; selection notes). UCAS
UCAS adviser dates for 2026 cycle (RBD 13 May 2026). UCAS
UCAS reply-date page (reply by 3 June 2026 if last decision by 13 May). UCAS
