Newcastle Medical School Interview Questions (2026 Entry): Format, Dates, Topics, Example Stations and Tips
Introduction
Newcastle runs a large, well-regarded MBBS with a long-standing MMI process for home applicants and panel interviews for international applicants. Selection is competitive and driven by a transparent scoring system that combines academic performance and UCAT results.
How Newcastle decides who to invite to interview
Stage 1: Academic screen + UCAT (A100 Home)
Newcastle scores your most recent achieved academic grades (best 8 GCSEs or best 3 A-levels/Level 3 equivalents, or degree performance for graduates) and your UCAT total (up to 60 points), then ranks applicants; top-ranked are invited. UCAT SJT Band 4 is not considered. Standard and contextual applicants are ranked in separate streams.
The UCAT points matrix (Appendix) awards up to 60 points for total UCAT and also applies extra points for SJT band during interview selection (Band 1 = 5; Band 2 = 3; Band 3 = 1).
International A100 and A101 (Accelerated) applicants
After confirming academics meet the minimum, the UCAT score alone determines interview ranking for international and A101 applicants.
For context, Newcastle also publishes an official UCAT thresholds & applications summary across recent cycles. (See “UCAT & application numbers” below.)
How the medical school interviews for 2026 entry
Format: Home A100/A101 interviews may be MMI; international candidates have a two-interviewer panel (on campus or via video). The same competencies are assessed in both.
Timing: Interviews generally run from December to February. Invites arrive by email with a booking deadline. Don’t miss it—unbooked slots lapse.
Scoring: Your final ranking for offers is 50% Academic Screen + 50% Interview. The SJT band also contributes to the final interview score (weighted the same as one station).
Personal statement/reference: Selectors do not see them before or during the interview.
What is the interview style?
For Home/EU applicants, Newcastle states that the interview is usually an in-person MMI consisting of seven stations, each lasting 7 minutes, with a 2-minute icebreaker at the first station; one station involves a role-play. International applicants sit a panel interview covering the same domains.
In some past cycles, third-party guides also described 7×7 minute MMIs with a role-play station—useful context, but always follow the official invite for your year.
When are the interviews held?
December to February across multiple dates. Newcastle emails selected applicants to book specific slots (watch spam folders).
What topics are covered at Newcastle interviews?
You’ll be assessed on the following competency domains (MMI or panel):
Integrity (honesty & probity)
Communication
Empathy & self-awareness
Motivation & commitment to be a doctor
Compatibility with the MBBS programme
Teamwork (including leadership)
Personal organisation
Persistence & resilience
Newcastle explicitly notes there’s no specific work-experience requirement, but selectors will expect evidence of a “commitment to caring.”
On student forums, candidates commonly describe the MMI as friendly but fast-paced, with a realistic role-play among stations—consistent with the official outline above.
How many applicants receive an interview, and how many receive an offer?
Interviews: Newcastle notes that for 2024 entry, they interviewed ~1,100 applicants (Dec–Feb) and expect similar numbers in future.
Recent home-applicant FOI data (2024 cycle): 1,129 home applications, 948 home interviews, 513 home offers; home standard UCAT threshold 2490 (Bands 1–3 accepted). (International not included in these figures.)
Newcastle publishes annual places on its official page: ~342 A100 places and ~25 A101 places each year. Competition varies annually.
UCAT & application numbers (recent official data)
Newcastle’s published overview shows A100 application volumes and interview thresholds by year (Home vs International). This is a helpful benchmark when deciding where to apply:
A100 applications (entry years 2020–2024): peaked ~2,435 (2021) and ~1,514 (2024).
Home interview thresholds have fluctuated (e.g., 2820 in 2021; 2490 in 2024).
International thresholds are typically higher than at home in some cycles.
Remember: for 2026 entry, Newcastle ranks, rather than using a fixed cut-off published in advance, thresholds vary with the cohort.
Example Newcastle-style MMI/panel stations & questions
Below is an extensive, realistic practice set aligned to Newcastle’s domains and style. Use them as timed stations (7 minutes each) with 1–2 minutes of reading where appropriate.
Role-play (angry relative)
Scenario: A relative is upset about waiting times. Demonstrate empathy, de-escalation, and problem-solving.
Prompts: “What matters most to you right now?” “How can we agree on the next steps?”
Ethics & professionalism
“A friend asks you to prescribe antibiotics for a sore throat—discuss the issues.”
“Should junior doctors strike? Balance patient care, autonomy, and systemic pressures.”
Communication with a vulnerable person
Explain a simple test (e.g., blood pressure) to a patient with limited English; use teach-back.
Teamwork & leadership
You’re leading a student quality-improvement project. How do you delegate and handle conflict?
Motivation for Medicine & ‘commitment to caring’
Evidence of caring beyond formal clinical work (e.g., sustained volunteering). Why Newcastle? (Curriculum features, placements, region.)
Prioritisation under pressure
Four tasks arrive at once on a busy ward—prioritise and justify, demonstrating safety and escalation.
Data interpretation & numeracy
Interpret a small audit table; calculate a simple drug dose or risk reduction. Explain the limits of the data.
Resilience & self-awareness
Talk about a setback, your reflection, and the changes you made afterwards.
GMC & professionalism scenarios
A peer posts unprofessional content online; how do you respond in line with Good Medical Practice?
Patient-centred care & equality, diversity, inclusion
Address potential bias in history-taking and make reasonable adjustments for disabilities.
Academic integrity & PS authenticity
How would you evidence claims from your application if asked, given selectors won’t have read your PS beforehand?
Public-health & NHS awareness
Pick a current NHS issue (e.g., waiting lists, prevention). Offer practical, evidence-aware ideas at student level.
Practise with timed circuits and structured feedback.
Book our Medical School Interview Course — taught by NHS doctors who teach at three UK Medical Schools — to rehearse these stations under authentic pressure: https://bluepeanut.com/medical-school-interview. For full mock circuits, see https://bluepeanut.com/mmi-courses.
When are offers released?
After all interviews finish, Newcastle ranks candidates and makes offers via UCAS. Decisions are made in line with UCAS deadlines (Newcastle notes that feedback for unsuccessful applicants is available from April at the earliest, which implies most outcomes land before then). Offers are typically conditional (e.g., AAA; ABB contextual; BBB via supported routes). Always check your UCAS portal/email.
Top tips for Newcastle’s interview
Know the assessed domains and tailor your examples to them (see list above).
Show a genuine “commitment to caring.” Newcastle values this widely (not just hospitals).
Practise 7-minute stations with a clear structure (setup → analysis → decision → reflection).
Role-play = empathy + boundaries. Use open questions, signpost, and summarise.
Be SJT-aware. Your SJT band is used in selection and counts like a station in final scoring—aim for Band 1–2.
Expect numeracy/data tasks. Show safety (check dose/units), clarity, and limits of data.
Don’t over-rehearse answers. Prepare examples, not scripts—selectors want authentic reasoning.
Know Newcastle. Be prepared to discuss curriculum style and regional placements.
Plan logistics. Interviews are scheduled from December to February; please respond promptly to booking emails.
Get objective feedback. Run a complete MMI circuit with trained assessors:
Book our Medical School Interview Course — taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools→ https://bluepeanut.com/medical-school-interview
MMI Mock Circuits → https://bluepeanut.com/mmi-courses
Student comments (what applicants say)
Newcastle’s official reps and applicants describe interviews as friendly yet time-pressured, and reiterate the assessment categories used at MMIs/panel—matching Newcastle’s published domains. Use these threads as an informal reference, but base your preparation on the official policy.
FAQs (Newcastle Medicine Interview — 2026 Entry)
Is the interview MMI or panel?
Home/EU applicants typically participate in an MMI (7-minute role-play). International applicants do a two-interviewer panel (on campus or online). Always follow your invite.
When are interviews held?
December–February. Invitations and booking deadlines are sent via email.
Do selectors read my personal statement?
No, not before or during the interview. They assess your performance at stations against set domains.
How is the final decision made?
Your Academic Screen score (50%) + Interview score (50%) determines ranking for offers; SJT band counts like one station in the interview score. Offers go out via UCAS.
What UCAT do I need?
Newcastle ranks applicants; thresholds vary each year. Official data shows that recent home interview thresholds have ranged roughly from ~2820 (2021) to ~2490 (2024). For 2024 (home), an FOI shows 2490 as the home standard threshold. Use this as context, not a guarantee.
How many interviews/offers are there?
Newcastle reports ~1,100 interviews in recent cycles. 2024 home FOI: 1,129 applications → 948 interviews → 513 offers (home only).
How many places are there?
Approx. 342 A100 places and 25 A101 places per year at Newcastle.
Is work experience required?
No specific requirement, but you must evidence a commitment to caring (e.g., sustained volunteering, caring responsibilities).
Quick prep checklist
Rehearse 7 x 7-minute stations with a timer.
Prepare 2–3 strong examples for each assessed domain.
Practise one role-play and one data/numeracy station daily.
Read GMC Good Medical Practice summaries and think aloud ethically.
Draft a 60-second “Why Newcastle?” grounded in the official course page.
Book a full mock MMI with detailed feedback.
Book our Medical School Interview Course — taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools→ https://bluepeanut.com/medical-school-interview
Run through MMI circuits → https://bluepeanut.com/mmi-courses
