Medical School Interviews 2026: UK Guide to MMI & Panel
Applying to medical school in the UK is one of the most competitive processes you’ll ever face — and the interview is the final, decisive stage. Once you’ve made it through UCAS, admissions tests and shortlisting, your performance at interview is what usually determines whether you receive an offer.
This guide brings together every UK medical school and explains how their interview process works. You’ll find the type of interview used, when invitations are sent, the qualities they are looking for, and when offers are released. Along the way, we’ll also answer common questions students ask before their first interview.
Medical School Interviews Explained
A medical school interview is your opportunity to show admissions tutors that you’re more than just grades and a UCAT score. Schools want to see whether you have the communication skills, values and motivation to thrive in medicine. Interviews are designed to explore your thought process, how you respond to challenges, and whether you can handle the responsibility of being a doctor.
Unlike exams, there are no “right” answers. Instead, the interview is about how you reason, reflect and respond. This is why structured practice, like our Medical School Interview Course, can make a real difference.
When Do Medical School Interviews Start?
Most medical school interviews take place between December and March, though some Scottish universities begin in late November. Invitations are usually sent out from November onwards, giving you just a few weeks to prepare.
For example:
Aberdeen begins interviews in mid-December.
Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham run theirs in January–February.
Some schools like St Andrews and Glasgow interview through to March.
This means you should start preparing before Christmas, even if you haven’t yet received an invite.
When Will I Know the Outcome?
Offers are rarely given on the spot. Instead, medical schools wait until all interviews are completed before releasing final decisions. This typically happens between March and April.
A few schools (like Kent & Medway or Queen’s Belfast) release offers in batches, meaning top candidates may hear earlier in January or February. But most students find themselves waiting until spring.
What Are the Types of Medical School Interviews?
There are three main formats used in the UK:
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) – a series of short “stations”, each testing a different skill or value. These are now the most common formats and are used at places like Birmingham, Cardiff, and Imperial.
Panel Interviews – a more extended conversation with two or more interviewers. Oxford, UCL and Barts still use this format for some applicants.
Group Interviews/Tasks – less common, but used at Dundee, KMMS and Southampton, where teamwork and discussion are assessed.
Each format has its own challenges, but they all test your ability to think clearly under pressure. Practising with realistic stations, such as in our MMI Mock Circuits, can help you get comfortable with the format before the real thing.
Remote Medical School Interviews
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many UK medical schools have shifted to online or remote interviews, either permanently or as an alternative option for international applicants. This means you may be interviewed over Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or a university’s dedicated platform rather than travelling to campus.
How do remote interviews work?
You’ll be sent a link or meeting invitation in advance.
Identification checks are usually done at the start.
MMIs may run as a series of breakout rooms or timed online stations.
Panel interviews are usually one continuous video call with two or more interviewers.
What do I need to prepare for remote interviews?
Technology check – ensure your camera, microphone, and internet connection are reliable.
Quiet environment – find a well-lit, quiet space with no distractions.
Professional setting – dress as you would for an in-person interview and use a neutral background.
Practice online – speaking into a camera can feel different from in person; practise with mock sessions like our MMI Mock Circuits to build confidence.
Are remote interviews harder than in-person?
Not necessarily — the questions and scoring are exactly the same. Some students actually perform better at home, while others miss the energy of face-to-face interaction. The key is preparation and familiarity with the online format.
👉 Whether online or in person, the goal remains the same: to show interviewers that you have the values, communication skills, and motivation needed for medicine.
Example Medical School Interview Questions
While every interview is different, many themes come up again and again. Here are some typical examples you should be ready for:
Why do you want to be a doctor rather than another healthcare professional?
Tell us about a time you worked in a team. What went well and what didn’t?
How would you explain a diagnosis to a patient with limited medical knowledge?
What are the main challenges facing the NHS right now?
You witness a fellow medical student cheating on an exam. What do you do?
How Hard Are Medical School Interviews?
Medical school interviews are challenging because they go beyond academic knowledge. Instead, they test qualities like resilience, empathy, and ethical judgement — areas you can’t revise from a textbook.
That said, they are not designed to “catch you out.” Interviewers want to see how you think and behave, not perfection. With practice and structured preparation, most students find the interviews manageable.
How Do I Prepare for a Medical School Interview?
Preparation should be structured and consistent. Here are the essentials:
Know the NHS Core Values – respect, compassion, teamwork, professionalism.
Revise common themes – motivation, teamwork, ethics, communication.
Practise aloud – speaking under pressure feels very different from thinking silently.
Use timed practice – especially for MMIs, where you only have 5–8 minutes per station.
Get feedback – from teachers, peers, or structured sessions like our Interview Course.
What Skills Do Medical Schools Want to See?
Across all universities, admissions tutors are looking for:
Communication skills (listening, explaining clearly).
Empathy and compassion.
Ethical reasoning and integrity.
Teamwork and leadership potential.
Resilience under pressure.
Motivation and commitment to medicine.
These “soft skills” are just as important as your grades.
Do Medical Schools Re-Check My Personal Statement?
Some schools, like Birmingham and Sheffield, don’t score the personal statement at all once you’ve reached the interview. Others, like Keele, use it as part of their shortlisting process. However, interviewers may still ask questions based on what you wrote, such as “Tell us more about your work experience.”
So please make sure you re-read your personal statement before the interview, and be prepared to expand on any examples you mentioned.
Do I Need to Know Medical Science for the Interview?
You don't need any advanced medical or scientific knowledge. You will not be asked to diagnose rare diseases. Instead, interviewers want to test reasoning, problem-solving and judgement.
For example, you may be given an ethical scenario or a communication task. At Oxford and Cambridge, some academic questions are asked, but they are about how you think, not recalling memorised facts.
How Important Is the Interview?
In most medical schools, the interview is the decisive factor. Once you’re invited, your grades and UCAT usually stop mattering — the offer is made purely on your interview score.
This is why focused preparation is so valuable. Even a student with average UCAT and GCSEs can secure an offer if they perform strongly at interview.
👉 With the essentials, FAQs and remote interview tips covered, let’s now go through each UK medical school one by one, so you know exactly what to expect.
📌 Secure Your Place at Medical School
Medical school interviews are highly competitive. Our comprehensive interview course provides expert-led training, proven strategies, and personalised feedback designed to help you perform at your best. Take control of your future in medicine.
UK Medical School Interview Guide
Preparing for medical school interviews is a key step in your application. Each UK medical school has its own format and timeline, but most interviews assess your personal qualities, communication, and understanding of medicine. Common formats include Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) – a series of short stations – or traditional panel interviews. Broadly, schools look for communication skills, empathy, teamwork, ethical reasoning and insight into the medical profession. You should prepare examples from your experience and be ready to discuss NHS values. Many schools now conduct interviews online. To practice effectively, consider resources like BluePeanut’s Medical School Interview Course and its MMI mock circuits, which offer tailored guidance and mock stations. Below we list each UK medical school and summarise (1) interview type, (2) invitation process, (3) interview dates, (4) what they seek, (5) topics, (6) offer timing, and (7) selection for interview.
University of Aberdeen
Interview Type: In-person Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) at the Suttie Centre. Each station tests communication and non-academic skills.
Invitations: Candidates meeting academic and UCAT criteria receive an email inviting them to book a slot
Interview Dates: Interviews run December through March (e.g. mid-December onwards for 2024 entry).
What They Look For: Communication and interpersonal skills are heavily weighted. Aberdeen scores applicants 30% on academics, 20% on UCAT, 50% on interview. Empathy, problem-solving and commitment to medicine are key attributes.
Topics Assessed: MMI stations typically include ethical scenarios, teamwork exercises, problem-solving and questions about motivation and the role of a doctor.
Offer Timing: No offers are released until all interviews finish; final decisions (via UCAS Track) come in late March or early April.
Selection for Interview: Applications are ranked on academic record (GCSE/A-levels), UCAT, and contextual data. The top-scoring applicants are invited to interview.
✅ Anglia Ruskin University (Cambridge)
Interview Type: MMI format with ~6 stations, each around 6–8 minutes. Stations involve actors, role-plays and scenarios.
Invitations: A “rigorous shortlisting” is applied after screening. Shortlisted applicants are emailed via their applicant portal with details to schedule interviews.
Interview Dates: Held over two weeks in early January (e.g. Jan 6–16, 2025). Applicants choose from available slots and confirm within 14 days.
What They Look For: Personal qualities like calmness under pressure, adaptability, communication and teamwork. They explicitly want candidates who can “communicate effectively, listen, adapt, and work with others”.
Topics Assessed: Stations cover core values (empathy, resilience, integrity) and cognitive skills. Examples include ethical decision-making, teamwork tasks and discussing motivation.
Offer Timing: Decisions are made solely on MMI performance. Offers are communicated by late February via UCAS Track.
Selection for Interview: Academically strong applicants are shortlisted. ARU stated “all academically able applicants are invited” to interview and offers “based solely on MMI ranking”. In practice, predicted grades and UCAT likely filter who is shortlisted.
✅ Aston University (Birmingham)
Interview Type: Online MMI (via Microsoft Teams), with stations assessing communication, empathy and problem-solving.
Invitations: Applicants who rank high enough in their initial screening are emailed an invitation to choose an interview date from published slots.
Interview Dates: Interviews take place between December and March (e.g. from January for 2025 entry). International applicants are also interviewed online.
What They Look For: Personal attributes including empathy, resilience, teamwork, listening and initiative. Aston does not directly use the personal statement; instead, they focus on core qualities in stations.
Topics Assessed: Scenario questions (no advanced medical knowledge expected), ethical dilemmas, role-play tasks with actors, and data interpretation tasks.
Offer Timing: Offers are made after all interviews are complete. High-scoring interviewees receive offers in the spring.
Selection for Interview: An initial shortlist is created (likely on predicted A-levels and UCAT), and those applicants “who rank high enough” are called to interview. Only the top few hundred out of all applicants progress.
✅ Brighton and Sussex (BSMS)
Interview Type: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI), conducted either in-person or online, depending on the year. Two examiners score each station.
Invitations: Shortlisted candidates are emailed to activate their applicant portal and arrange interviews.
Interview Dates: Held January–February (e.g. UK interviews Dec 2025–Feb 2026). Applicants can choose early (December or January) or later (January or February) sessions.
What They Look For: Core values and attributes per Medical Schools Council guidelines. BSMS explicitly does not score personal statements or references in selection. Instead, they seek professionalism, empathy, integrity and communication in MMI stations.
Topics Assessed: Stations cover NHS/doctor values, ethical scenarios, communication and role understanding. One page of the official guide highlights the “skills and values in doctors” during an interview.
Offer Timing: Interview results are reviewed in January–April. Successful candidates usually receive offers by March–April.
Selection for Interview: Initial screening uses academic grades and UCAT to shortlist applicants. Only those meeting requirements (e.g. predicted A*AA and high UCAT) are invited. Around 15% of applicants progress to an interview.
✅ University of Birmingham
Interview Type: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). Home applicants interview in-person on campus, international applicants via video.
Invitations: Shortlist is prepared based on academic, UCAT and contextual scores. Offers to interview (“invitations”) are emailed typically in December–January.
Interview Dates: Held in January–February.
What They Look For: The NHS values (respect, compassion, resilience, quality) form the basis. MMI stations test commitment, ethical reasoning, empathy, communication, numeracy, data interpretation and personal insight.
Topics Assessed: Examples include discussing an ethical dilemma, interpreting a graph or data, demonstrating teamwork, calculation tasks, and reflecting on your experiences.
Offer Timing: Offers are based 100% on interview and UCAT SJT performance (academic grades are not reconsidered at this stage). Decisions are communicated via UCAS Track by mid-March.
Selection for Interview: Applications are scored (45% contextual-academic, 45% UCAT, 10% contextual factors) and ~1,100–1,300 top candidates are invited. The UCAS personal statement isn’t directly scored, but evidence of motivation is expected.
✅ Queen Mary University of London (Barts & The London)
Interview Type: Online panel interviews (video call). Traditionally, two academics interview each candidate.
Invitations: Candidates are selected for an interview based on a weighted score of UCAT and qualifications. UCAT minimums apply (overall score within the top 4 deciles, SJT band 1–3).
Interview Dates: Interviews are held in January–February (usually early in the year).
What They Look For: Interviewers probe motivation, insight, resilience, teamwork and communication. Barts explicitly assesses “motivation to study medicine, resilience, teamwork, organisation and communication skills”.
Topics Assessed: Stations include ethical scenarios, medical current affairs, communication tasks and questions about your experience and motivations.
Offer Timing: Early offers are sent around mid-March after initial interview rounds, with most decisions by mid-April.
Selection for Interview: Applicants must meet UCAT cutoffs. Shortlisting uses a “weighted score” (UCAT + grades). The personal statement is not scored at any stage. Those with the highest total scores are invited to interview.
✅ University of Buckingham
Interview Type: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) focusing on GMC’s Good Medical Practice domains.
Invitations: Applicants who pass the academic screening are invited to the MMI days.
Interview Dates: Typically in January–February (exact dates vary); invites go out around December.
What They Look For: The MMI stations explicitly test attributes from Good Medical Practice: integrity, honesty, compassion, teamwork and professionalism.
Topics Assessed: Stations often include scenarios on communication, ethics, professionalism and reflection on your experiences (no advanced science).
Offer Timing: Offers are made after all interview stages; high-scoring candidates may receive offers immediately after the MMI.
Selection for Interview: Buckingham’s process includes academic screening, a written assessment (MMA) and then the MMI. Only those who meet strict entry grades progress. (Buckingham is small; traditionally, around 6 interview stations plus writing.)
✅ Cardiff University
Interview Type: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs), often 8–10 stations (recently online, previously in-person).
Invitations: Applicants who meet the GCSE/A-level criteria are initially shortlisted (~1,100 invited). Invites are emailed with at least two weeks’ notice.
Interview Dates: Held January–February (for 2025 entry, interviews ran Jan/Feb 2025).
What They Look For: Cardiff seeks attributes aligned with GMC’s Good Medical Practice – communication, integrity, teamwork, compassion and self-awareness. The Personal Statement is used for shortlisting context but is not scored; interviews explore commitment and fit.
Topics Assessed: Candidates may face ethical scenarios, a discussion of their understanding of Cardiff’s course, a numerical/written task, and personal questions. (One student blog noted stations on maths and descriptive tasks).
Offer Timing: Out of ~1,100 interviewed, ~600 receive conditional offers. Offers are usually released via UCAS by March after interviews.
Selection for Interview: Initial shortlisting is by academic points (and contextual factors for widening participation). Cardiff then applies a UCAT cutoff to limit interviews to ~1,100. Top applicants by combined score are invited (no fixed UCAT score announced).
✅ University of Dundee
Interview Type: Group structured interview. Candidates first take part in a 30-minute group discussion (facilitated by clinicians) followed by a one-on-one assessment with an interviewer.
Invitations: Applicants meeting the entry criteria are emailed (to their UCAS email) with at least two weeks’ notice to schedule the interview.
Interview Dates: UK applicants interview in person in December; international applicants interview online in January.
What They Look For: Communication, teamwork, empathy, and understanding of medicine. Evaluators watch how you contribute to the group and then assess you individually.
Topics Assessed: Group tasks test teamwork and communication. In the one-to-one part, expect questions on motivation, understanding of a doctor’s role, ethical reasoning, and scenarios.
Offer Timing: Offers are sent after all interviews; Dundee typically notifies successful applicants by UCAS Track around March.
Selection for Interview: Dundee does an academic screen (guaranteeing interviews for top students and WP candidates). If oversubscribed, a preliminary UCAT/qualifications cut-off is applied. Ultimately, only those with sufficient preliminary scores are invited to the group interview.
✅ University of Edinburgh
Interview Type: Half-day Assessment Centre with multiple short interviews (each ~8 minutes), typically in MMI style.
Invitations: Applicants meeting the academic requirements are invited to the assessment days by November.
Interview Dates: Mostly December (with some January dates).
What They Look For: Based on GMC/Medschools Council values. Edinburgh’s guidance says candidates should demonstrate empathy, teamwork, responsibility and insight.
Topics Assessed: Interview stations cover topics from the core values document, including ethics, communication, and understanding of medicine. Questions may explore applicants’ experiences, awareness of the doctor’s role, and ethical scenarios.
Offer Timing: Final rankings combine all scores, and decisions are made by March. Edinburgh aims to send offers on UCAS Track by the end of March for all invitees.
Selection for Interview: After academic screening, Edinburgh compares contextualised attainment, UCAT and predicted grades. There is no simple score threshold – they use a composite ranking. Essentially, all academically qualified candidates are considered, and a subset is selected based on the number of candidates.
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✅ University of Exeter
Interview Type: 4-station MMI (online for most recent cycle).
Invitations: Shortlisted candidates are emailed and asked to choose an interview date. (Invitations are usually sent in November.)
Interview Dates: Interviews run December–February (e.g. winter 2024/25 for 2025 entry).
What They Look For: Core values as per MSC (compassion, teamwork, etc.) and commitment to rural/GP track if applying to Exeter Peninsula MBBS. Personal statements are not scored.
Topics Assessed: Usual MMI scenarios: ethical dilemmas, communication tasks, problem solving, healthcare issues. (Exeter stations often include NHS-themed questions and an ethical scenario.)
Offer Timing: Offers (conditional on grades) are typically sent by mid-May via UCAS Track.
Selection for Interview: Applicants must achieve high predicted grades. Exeter uses UCAT and grades to shortlist, but specifics aren’t public. Only those with strong scores are called to interview.
✅ University of Glasgow
Interview Type: Online panel interview (Zoom) divided into two parts. Panel A explores “what being a doctor means”; Panel B discusses an ethical scenario chosen by the applicant.
Invitations: Candidates selected for interview are emailed (to the UCAS address) with ~2 weeks’ notice
Interview Dates: Conducted online between late November and March.
What They Look For: Understanding of the medical profession, ethical reasoning, communication and values. The conversational panels test insight into the doctor’s role and personal suitability.
Topics Assessed: Panel A questions about doctors’ responsibilities; Panel B focuses on an ethical scenario (applicant reads two brief scenarios and discusses one)
Offer Timing: Interview decisions are processed by the end of March (sometimes extending into April) and posted on UCAS Track.
Selection for Interview: Applicants meeting minimum requirements are considered. Glasgow interviews “a considerable number of applicants,” suggesting most qualified candidates are invited. There is no published UCAT cut-off – decisions are holistic. All offers require passing the interview.
✅ Imperial College London
Interview Type: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) – a series of short stations (and since 2021 includes an asynchronous video component).
Invitations: Shortlisted by academic record and UCAT. Applicants receive email invitations (usually in December) to an online portal where they book slots.
Interview Dates: The process typically spans January–February. (For example, a video task is given in January, followed by live MMI stations in February.)
What They Look For: Teamwork, leadership, motivation for medicine, empathy, ethics and data interpretation.
Topics Assessed: Stations cover your motivation, role of a doctor, communication, breaking bad news/empathy, ethics scenarios, and interpreting data.
Offer Timing: Offers are made after all interviews, generally in March via UCAS.
Selection for Interview: Imperial requires a strong UCAT (and does not use BMAT). High academic achievers and UCAT scorers are invited. The exact thresholds aren’t published, but usually, top applicants are screened to interview.
✅ Keele University
Interview Type: Panel interviews (online) – two 15-minute face-to-face interviews on Microsoft Teams.
Invitations: About 620–650 applicants are invited in total. Shortlisted candidates get a Microsoft Teams invite (check spam!) no later than 24 hours before their slot.
Interview Dates: Interviews are held between December and April (spread over many dates).
What They Look For: NHS values and personal qualities. Keele’s person specification emphasises understanding doctors’ roles, communication, balance of responsibilities, and professional insight.
Topics Assessed: The two interviews include ethical issues, healthcare scenarios, career motivation and insight into medical practice. Applicants get short case notes or GMC professionalism guidance in advance.
Offer Timing: Offers are made by late February (about two months after interviews), conditional on achieving the conditions.
Selection for Interview: Keele uses a points system (UCAT score/quintile, personal statement, extra points for contextual factors). Applicants above a cutoff (traditionally ~14/25) are called to interview. Widening Participation candidates may be guaranteed an interview.
✅ Kent & Medway Medical School (KMMS)
Interview Type: MMI with six short stations plus a 40-minute group task. Stations include data handling, situational judgement, role-play, etc.
Invitations: Applicants who pass academic and UCAT thresholds book an MMI slot via the KentVision portal
Interview Dates: Typically held in December/January. (For example, first offers are sent in January, implying interviews occur by late autumn.)
What They Look For: KMMS seeks “resilient, committed, compassionate” applicants who communicate and work well in teams. All stations test qualities like empathy, responsibility, academic potential and respect.
Topics Assessed: Stations are explicitly designed around teamwork, problem-solving, ethics, situational judgement, and a large group PBL exercise.
Offer Timing: Offers are released in batches from January through May (applicants must accept quickly so the next batch can go out). Top-ranked candidates get offers first.
Selection for Interview: There is an academic screen (Stage 1 and UCAT). KMMS historically required UCAT ≥2500 and SJT band≥3. After UCAT, applications are “contextualised” by school performance, but selection to interview is based on meeting entry criteria.
✅ Lancaster Medical School (University of Central Lancashire)
Interview Type: MMI (6 stations of ~10 minutes each)
Invitations: Applicants meeting the AAA/AAA predicted requirement and UCAT criteria are emailed to choose an interview date.
Interview Dates: Interviews run until mid-February (for 2025 entry)
What They Look For: Non-academic qualities such as communication, empathy, analytical thinking, and teamwork are assessed. Each station tests a different attribute (e.g. problem solving, personal insight).
Topics Assessed: Stations involve scenarios, ethics, role-plays and data tasks. (For example, one recent station is a writing exercise on a medical issue.)
Offer Timing: No offers are made until the whole interview cycle is complete. Final outcomes are released via UCAS at the end of March/early April.
Selection for Interview: All applicants with A*AA (or AAB for contextual) and meeting UCAT/GAMSAT thresholds are invited. In practice, scores on those academic criteria yield a ranked shortlist of ~700 invited candidates.
✅ University of Leeds
Interview Type: MMI with 6 stations (30 minutes total).
Invitations: Candidates are shortlisted by a combined application score. Each invited applicant receives a Teams meeting invite.
Interview Dates: For 2026 entry, Leeds held interviews on 5–7 January 2026.
What They Look For: Personal attributes and suitability for medicine (communication, empathy, motivation, resilience). Leeds emphasises that offers depend only on interview performance.
Topics Assessed: Non-academic scenarios: ethical dilemmas, healthcare issues, personal experiences and motivations. (Leeds does not re-check grades or UCAT at the offer stage.)
Offer Timing: Offers are made purely on interview score; no further grade checks are done. Decisions go out by UCAS track shortly after interviews.
Selection for Interview: Applicants are ranked by academic/UCAT (an “overall ranking” is used for shortlisting). Typically, about 600–700 are interviewed for ~250 places. Predicted AAA and a high UCAT rank are needed.
✅ University of Leicester
Interview Type: Combined MMI and Numeracy. Candidates sit an online numeracy test followed by an MMI (5–10 stations, ~1 hour).
Invitations: Shortlisting uses a 50:50 combination of academic grades and UCAT. The top ~650–700 applicants are emailed to book a slot.
Interview Dates: Interviews are held December through early February (for example, Jan–Feb interviews in recent years).
What They Look For: Each MMI station evaluates attributes: communication, motivation, empathy, ethical reasoning and critical thinking.
Topics Assessed: Questions include personal motivation, healthcare knowledge, ethical scenarios, and one group discussion. (The numeracy test checks basic calculation.)
Offer Timing: Leicester makes offers strictly based on the interview score. After all interviews, top scorers receive offers in March.
Selection for Interview: Final shortlist ranking is purely on academics (GCSE/A-level) and UCAT (no personal statement score). Only those in the top tier are called.
✅ University of Liverpool
Interview Type: Face-to-face MMI for home/EU students (on campus); equivalent online MMI for international students.
Invitations: Admissions selects “the most competitive” applicants to interview. Emails are sent, allowing candidates to book.
Interview Dates: Interviews run throughout January–February.
What They Look For: Liverpool uses a Values-Based Recruitment (VBR) approach. MMI stations test communication, empathy, resilience, and commitment. (The SJT is also considered in the final ranking.)
Topics Assessed: Stations cover ethical scenarios, communication skills, NHS knowledge and personal motivation. All interviews include multiple examiners scoring from the VBR criteria.
Offer Timing: Applicants are ranked by interview score (plus SJT); the top candidates are offered places. Results are communicated by 31 March.
Selection for Interview: Liverpool screens out applicants lacking GCSE minimums. Remaining candidates are ranked on academic record, UCAT and personal statement/context, and the highest scorers (around 1,000) are invited to interview.
✅ University of Manchester
Interview Type: Online MMI – five stations, ~8 minutes each.
Invitations: Emails are sent (to UCAS email) inviting shortlisted applicants to schedule, usually with one-month notice.
Interview Dates: December through early March.
What They Look For: A broad set of personal qualities (MSC core values). Manchester explicitly seeks “non-academic criteria in terms of values and behaviours” – e.g. communication, maturity, teamwork.
Topics Assessed: MMI scenarios include healthcare ethics, current medical issues, personal experiences, and motivation questions.
Offer Timing: Manchester states no offer is made without an interview. After interviews, they combine interview scores to rank and offer to the highest.
Selection for Interview: A pre-interview academic screen “ensures academic potential”. Applicants meeting grade/UCAT thresholds are ranked and ~1,100 are invited.
✅ Newcastle University
Interview Type: On-campus MMI (for UK) or panel (for international via video). Home applicants face multiple stations; overseas applicants do a panel interview.
Invitations: Candidates are emailed to book an interview slot (with about two weeks’ notice).
Interview Dates: December–February (e.g. Jan–Feb interviews for 2025 entry).
What They Look For: Newcastle looks for empathy, motivation and “fit” with medicine. They explicitly mention examining empathy, problem-solving and insight during the interview.
Topics Assessed: Questions about empathy, ethical issues, career motivation and the applicant’s understanding of the programme.
Offer Timing: After interviews, applicants get a combined score (50% academics, 50% interview). Offers go to those with the highest total scores (meeting a minimum score).
Selection for Interview: Applicants meeting grade requirements and UCAT are screened. Newcastle uses both academics and UCAT (and contextual data) to rank and decide interviews. International applicants are scored separately.
✅ Nottingham University
Interview Type: Online interview (Teams) comprising 6 scenarios (each ~5 minutes) and one role-play.
Invitations: After screening, applicants scoring high enough (using GCSE and UCAT combined) are emailed to schedule.
Interview Dates: January–March.
What They Look For: Nottingham states offers are based solely on interview performance, so they assess communication, empathy, resilience and judgment. Interviewers mark candidates on personal qualities needed for medicine.
Topics Assessed: Scenarios include current medical issues, ethical dilemmas, personal motivation and a role-play. One station is a written task; others are questions testing insight and professionalism.
Offer Timing: Offers are given to the top interview scorers (and confirmed grades), usually by March.
Selection for Interview: Nottingham does not publish a UCAT cutoff. Instead, they add up GCSE scores and UCAT to rank applicants. The highest-scoring students are invited; there is no fixed score.
✅ University of Oxford
Interview Type: Two one-to-one academic interviews (one with each college) – conversational interviews of ~20 minutes each.
Invitations: Interviews are by college invitation. Typically, only the very top applicants (AAA at A-level plus high BMAT) are invited around mid-November.
Interview Dates: Interviews take place in mid-December (e.g. Dec 16–17, 2025).
What They Look For: Purely academic potential and critical thinking. Oxford interviews focus on problem-solving and how candidates think about scientific/medical topics.
Topics Assessed: Academic conversation about biology/chemistry and general thinking problems. Sometimes a medical ethics question may arise.
Offer Timing: All interview results are decided in early January, with offers released shortly after.
Selection for Interview: Selection is highly competitive. Oxford considers predicted grades (AAA/A*AA), BMAT scores, and past academic record to shortlist. Only a small number (a few hundred out of thousands) are called.
✅ Queen’s University Belfast
Interview Type: MMI format (usually 6–8 stations), in-person for locals and online for international applicants.
Invitations: Candidates meeting the academic and UCAT criteria are invited by email.
Interview Dates: Spread over December to March (e.g. Dec 2024, Jan and Mar 2025).
What They Look For: Non-cognitive skills such as empathy, problem-solving, ethics and communication.
Topics Assessed: Stations cover moral reasoning, healthcare scenarios, data interpretation and personal qualities.
Offer Timing: Early offers are sent mid-March after the first round of interviews, and most decisions by mid-April.
Selection for Interview: Applicants are scored using a structured admissions system. The top-ranked candidates (across academic and UCAT) are invited. Belfast uses contextual data for WP admissions and runs scoring guidelines in stages.
✅ University of Sheffield
Interview Type: MMI with 8 stations (~6 minutes each).
Invitations: Applicants who meet Sheffield’s grade and UCAT requirements are emailed to book. Over 1,100 home and 100 international candidates attend.
Interview Dates: Held December–January for home students; international candidates interview online in January
What They Look For: NHS values and university vision. Stations assess caring values, respect, resilience and problem-solving.
Topics Assessed: Sheffield explicitly lists station themes: knowledge of Sheffield/medicine, General Medical Council values, personal qualities, communication, ethical scenarios, and data interpretation.
Offer Timing: Interviews are scored (total 45 points). All applicants scoring ≥3 in each station are ranked; the highest scorers receive offers (once conditions are met) after interviews finish.
Selection for Interview: A minimum grade (and UCAT/BMAT) threshold is applied for home/international. Around 1,200 are interviewed. 50% of the interview score comes from UCAT SJT (the SJT is factored as one station).
✅ University of Southampton
Interview Type: Panel-style interviews (often with two staff interviewing one candidate) plus a group task.
Invitations: Shortlisted by grades and UCAT. Home applicants get ~2–3 weeks notice, international 5–6 weeks, via email.
Interview Dates: Generally January–March (the exact schedule varies each cycle).
What They Look For: Teamwork and communication (via group task), plus ethics, motivation and professionalism in the panel interview.
Topics Assessed: The group task observes how you collaborate. The panel interview will include medical ethics, current issues in healthcare, and personal motivation questions.
Offer Timing: After all interviews, offers are sent by late March.
Selection for Interview: Applicants must meet minimum scores. Typically, Southampton interviews ~1200 for ~300 places. The exact cut-off isn’t public; they rank applicants by UCAS tariff and UCAT.
✅ St Andrews University (Scotland)
Interview Type: Multiple mini-interviews (usually online). Interviews are individual, not group.
Invitations: Invites are emailed from November through April (in practice, most go out by January).
Interview Dates: Late November–December and January–March for postponed interviews.
What They Look For: St Andrews places emphasis on academic curiosity and personal qualities. Interviewers assess motivation, communication and ethical reasoning.
Topics Assessed: Questions often revolve around thinking skills and why St Andrews (e.g. some interviewers will ask about the university’s research), plus ethics/policy issues.
Offer Timing: Offers are sent mainly through early February (after each round), with final replies by March.
Selection for Interview: Uses academic grades (AAA) and GCSEs to shortlist; meeting minimums typically means an interview invite. High-achieving candidates are all interviewed.
✅ St George’s, University of London
Interview Type: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) – in-person stations with various examiners (before COVID, now primarily online).
Invitations: Typically sent in November for interviews in December.
Interview Dates: Generally November–December.
What They Look For: Communication, empathy and reasoning under pressure. SGUL explicitly values evidence of caring behaviour and teamwork.
Topics Assessed: Scenario-based questions, data interpretation, current medical issues, and personal motivation. They may also test numeracy.
Offer Timing: Offers are given after interviews, usually by late January.
Selection for Interview: Applicants meeting entry requirements (AAA at A-level, high UCAT) and ranking top (based on UCAS score + UCAT) are invited.
✅ Swansea University
Interview Type: Online panel interviews.
Invitations: Sent by early January (often via email) to those meeting criteria.
Interview Dates: January–March.
What They Look For: Similar core values: communication, empathy, teamwork and problem-solving.
Topics Assessed: Questions on motivation, ethical issues, healthcare knowledge and personal experiences.
Offer Timing: Offers are made after all interviews (typically by April).
Selection for Interview: Shortlisting is competitive (Swansea is oversubscribed). UCAT/GAMSAT and grades are used; the highest scorers are invited.
✅ University College London (UCL)
Interview Type: Panel interviews (usually two interviewers) or MMI (recent years have moved to group-based MMIs).
Invitations: Shortlisted candidates are emailed; some need an ID check step first.
Interview Dates: January–February.
What They Look For: Communication, compassion and reasoning. UCL interviews often include neuroanatomy or data stations.
Topics Assessed: Mix of empathy scenarios, medical ethics, science reasoning and calculations.
Offer Timing: Offers are sent in March, once all interviews are complete.
Selection for Interview: UCL requires high A-levels + UCAT. They rank applicants by UCAS points and UCAT (no personal statement points); the top ~800 of ~5000 applicants are usually invited.
✅ University of Warwick
Interview Type: MMI (6 stations, ~2 hours total).
Invitations: In early December, about 500 applicants (out of ~4,000) are emailed to choose an MMI session.
Interview Dates: Sessions are scheduled through December and January.
What They Look For: A set of competencies: teamwork, insight, resilience, communication, empathy, probity, respect and dignity.
Topics Assessed: Stations test your values and thinking. They align with NHS core values (NHS Constitution and MSC guidelines) – for example, one station may examine empathy or ethics.
Offer Timing: Warwick sends offers about two months after the MMI (usually late February).
Selection for Interview: Warwick shortlists based on a combination of grades and UCAT. Only those with top scores (~12% of applicants) are invited.
Final Thoughts: Preparing for Success in Your Medical School Interview
Reaching the interview stage is already a huge achievement — it means the admissions team believes you have the academic ability and potential to become a doctor. Now, your task is to show them your communication, empathy, resilience and motivation.
Interviews can feel daunting, but remember: they are not designed to catch you out. Instead, they are an opportunity to show the person behind the grades and to prove that you are ready for the challenges of medical training.
With the right preparation, you can walk into your interview with confidence, clarity and calmness. Every candidate has the ability to improve through practice — and it’s often the students who prepare methodically that stand out on the day.
👉 To help you perform at your very best, we’ve created dedicated resources:
Our comprehensive Medical School Interview Course will teach you proven strategies to handle panel, MMI and group interviews with confidence.
Our realistic MMI Mock Circuits give you hands-on practice under timed conditions — the closest thing to the real interview experience.
Stay focused, practise regularly, and keep reminding yourself of why you want to study medicine. With determination and preparation, your interview can be the moment you turn your dream of becoming a doctor into reality.
