Sunderland Medical School Interview Questions (2026 Entry): UCAT Cut-Offs, Format, Dates, Example MMI Stations & Expert Tips
Introduction
The University of Sunderland’s School of Medicine uses a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) to assess values and attributes aligned to NHS practice. Interviews are typically held on campus (Murray Health building) in December and early January, with offers issued after the interview cycle is complete.
Want structured practice with real examiners? Book our Medical School Interview Course — taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK medical schools — and add an MMI mock circuit to rehearse common Sunderland scenarios.
How Sunderland decides who to invite to interview (2026 entry)
Sunderland’s shortlisting combines:
Academic screening (e.g., A-level/GCSE profile).
UCAT: applicants must score within the “top 8 deciles” of the test cohort and hold SJT Band 1–3.
Interview Selection Tool (IST): a work/caregiving experience survey focused on the past two years, used in shortlisting for interviews.
Personal statements are not scored in selection.
The university confirms top 8 deciles + SJT 1–3 on its MBChB Entry Requirements page, and that shortlisting is based on IST + academics + UCAT.
The university’s IST page explains what counts as “work experience,” limits (up to 4 entries), and that reflection on values/attributes is assessed.
FOI data further confirms SJT Band 4 is an automatic rejection and that personal statements are not assessed.
Widening Participation note: Sunderland’s MedStart programme advertises a guaranteed MMI for eligible students (subject to academic and UCAT requirements).
About UCAT deciles and the 2025 scoring update (relevant to 2026 entry)
For 2026 entry, most applicants will sit the UCAT 2025. UCAT has withdrawn Abstract Reasoning from the total score and publishes deciles on a 3-subtest scale (VR + DM + QR). The UCAT site explains that 2025 deciles are published in mid-September and provides retro-calculated deciles for 2019–2024 without AR (e.g., in 2024, the 3rd decile ≈ is 1740, the 8th decile ≈ is 2060). Sunderland’s “top 8 deciles” means you must be above the bottom two deciles (i.e., at or above approximately the 30th percentile once the official 2025 deciles are confirmed). Always check the latest UCAT statistics.
Historical data: interviews, offers & UCAT cut-offs (FOI)
A recent FOI release provides robust multi-year figures for home applicants:
Applications: 380 (2020/21) → 1,044 (2024/25)
Invited to interview: 288 → 477
Offers post-interview: 267 → 142
Lowest UCAT invited (non-contextual): typically ~2240–2290 on the old 4-subtest scale
Average UCAT (invited): ~2552–2559
Policy notes: SJT Band 4 = automatic rejection; Personal statements not assessed.
Most recent cycle snapshot (2024/25):
1,044 applications, 477 interview invites (~45.7%), 142 offers post-interview (~29.8% of those interviewed). (FOI table.)
⚠️ Comparing scores across years: The FOI UCAT numbers before 2025 used a 4-subtest total (out of 3600). From 2025, UCAT totals reflect 3 subtests (max 2700). Sunderland’s “top 8 deciles” policy avoids setting a fixed raw cut-off and updates with each year’s deciles.
How Sunderland will interview for 2026 entry
Format: MMI — a circuit of short stations assessing motivation, empathy, insight, ethical awareness, resilience, comprehension and communication. Stations may include traditional one-on-one discussions, role-playing, and data analysis.
Where & when: On-campus (Murray Health building), typically December and early January.
After the interview: Once all interviews finish, candidates are ranked and offers are made by rank.
Train exactly for what Sunderland assesses. Book our Medical School Interview Course and add an MMI mock circuit to rehearse role-plays, ethics and data analysis stations.
What topics are covered at Sunderland MMIs?
From the university’s own description, expect stations that probe: motivation for a Career in Medicine; insight and empathy; responsibilities and challenges of being a doctor; ethics in health and society; resilience; comprehension (e.g., reading/data tasks); and communication.
How many applicants receive interviews and offers?
Interview invite volume (home): recent cycles ~367–486 invites; 477 for 2024/25.
Offer volume (home, post-interview): recent cycles 118–267; 142 for 2024/25.
Percentages vary from year to year, depending on application pressure and capacity. (FOI.)
When are offers released?
The university states that offers are issued after the interview cycle, once candidates are ranked. Historically, third-party guides note that offers typically begin to land from February, but rely on the official portal/email for exact timings each year.
Example Sunderland-style MMI stations & questions
Below are examples tailored to Sunderland’s stated attributes. They are illustrative, not exact past stations:
Motivation & Insight (discussion)
“What experiences have most informed your decision to study Medicine — and what did you learn about yourself from them?”
“How does studying at Sunderland align with your goals for clinical training in the North East?”
Empathy & Communication (role-play)
You’re a healthcare volunteer; a patient is frustrated about a long wait. Demonstrate how you would acknowledge feelings, gather key facts, and agree on next steps.
Responsibilities & Teamworking (scenario)
“Describe a time you took responsibility when things went wrong. What was the impact on the team, and what would you change next time?”
Ethics in Health & Society (discussion)
“Should certain lifestyle-related conditions be deprioritised when resources are scarce? Justify your view with ethical principles and the GMC’s Good Medical Practice themes.”
Resilience & Reflection (discussion)
“Tell us about a setback. How did you manage stress, and what did you put in place to avoid similar issues?”
Comprehension / Data Analysis (task)
Interpret a short clinic activity graph and explain key trends, implications for staffing, and limitations of the data.
Health Inequalities & Professionalism (discussion)
“What practical steps can local services take to reduce barriers to screening uptake in deprived communities?”
NHS Hot Topics (discussion)
“What are the pros and cons of physician associates within NHS teams?”
“How should the NHS balance innovation with equitable access?”
Build fluent, structured answers using ethical frameworks, SPIKES/Calgary-Cambridge communication, and STAR reflections. Practise with MMI mock circuits for timed, station-by-station feedback.
Student insights (anecdotal)
Student forums consistently describe Sunderland’s process as MMI-based , with a focus on work/caregiving experience reflection through the shortlisting tool. Applicants also discuss the R&R/IST-style emphasis on genuine, self-organised experience and reflective writing. Treat forum posts as anecdotal, not official policy.
Top tips to succeed at a Sunderland interview
Clear evidence of commitment: Use the IST criteria to select 1–4 experiences where you had sustained, hands-on responsibility; practise concise reflections on values gained.
Know the attributes: Sunderland explicitly lists the areas it assesses — practice answers that show motivation, empathy, ethics, resilience, comprehension and communication.
Structure every answer: Use STAR (Situation–Task–Action–Result) for experiences, Four Principles or GMC Good Medical Practice for ethics/professionalism.
Role-play fundamentals: Listen actively, signpost, show empathy, summarise, and safety-net.
Data literacy: Be comfortable extracting 2–3 trends and 2–3 implications from basic tables/graphs (capacity, flow, safety).
Know Sunderland: Be ready to discuss why Sunderland, placements in the region, and your fit for the course.
Admin & logistics: Block out December–early January for interviews; read your invite carefully and bring required ID/documents.
Ready to turn prep into offers? Book our Medical School Interview Course — taught by NHS doctors who teach at 3 UK Medical Schools: Book the course · Add an MMI mock circuit
FAQ (Sunderland Medicine — 2026 Entry)
Does Sunderland have a fixed UCAT cut-off?
They do not publish a single raw score. Instead, applicants must be in the top 8 deciles and have an SJT score of Band 1–3. The IST and academics are also involved in the shortlisting process.
Is SJT Band 4 acceptable?
No. Band 4 = automatic rejection (FOI).
Do they score the personal statement?
No. Personal statements are not assessed in selection (FOI).
Could you let me know when the interviews are held?
Typically, in December and early January, on campus at the Murray Health building.
How many stations are there?
The university doesn’t publish a fixed number; expect a series of short MMI stations including discussion, role-play, and data analysis.
When are offers released?
After interviews conclude and candidates are ranked, many applicants report that offers start from February, but please rely on your official communications.
International applicants?
Sunderland currently does not accept international applicants for the A100 program.
