Notes on interview formats at UK medical schools

Our data table summarises interview formats across UK medical schools, and helps you make comparisons

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Important notes

For a general overview of three main interview formats used by UK medical schools, see our statistics on interview formats at UK medical schools.

In our data table below, we include some links to UK medical school websites — follow these for more details on interviewing at your target medical schools.

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Displaying 1 - 39 of 39 UK medical schools

Medical school	Interview format	Interview notes
Aberdeen	MMI	According to this medical school's website: "Interviews are conducted between November until the end of March using the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. For 2021 entry, interviews will be conducted online. Candidates rotate around a number of different question stations each in turn. At each station, a selector will explore one question area/domain for 7 minutes and score the candidate's performance against pre-determined criteria. Communication and interpersonal skills are also scored at each station. The MMI experience will last approximately 1 hour for each candidate." For more details, see Aberdeen medical school's guidance on preparation, example questions, and MMI scoring.
Anglia Ruskin	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: communication skills, critical thinking, moral reasoning, teamwork & leadership, empathy, problem solving, and interpersonal skills. For the 2021 cycle, Anglia Ruskin is running interviews remotely, but still following the MMI format. Candidates are invited to a 'preparation session' in the week prior to interview, ensuring that they are comfortable with the technology.
Aston	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Oral and written communication skills, listening skills, empathy, compassion, respect and dignity, emotional intelligence, problem solving, motivation, team working, leadership, and understanding of limitations & when to ask for help.
Barts	Traditional interview	Candidates are assessed on: Motivation for a career in Medicine, initiative, resilience and maturity, teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills. Candidates are assessed by a panel interview, lasting fifteen to twenty minutes.
Birmingham	MMI	Candidates are assessed on dealing with personal and ethical challenges, role play, calculations, critical thinking, and motivation and insight into Medicine. As explained on this medical school’s website: "for the 2021/22 application cycle we are likely to interview all candidates online. We modified our Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format to accommodate this change in the 2020/21 application cycle. Details can be found below in our 'Interview Format and Stations' section."
Brighton and Sussex	MMI	According to the medical school’s website: “Multiple mini interviews (MMIs) will be held remotely using Zoom video conferencing software. We are aiming to hold these in January 2021”.
Bristol	MMI	MMI assesses each candidate’s skills and professionalism. The entire process will last around 60 minutes. Candidates are given 1 minute to read instructions, and 5 minutes to complete each station.
Buckingham	MMI	"We hold numerous selection events during each admissions cycle. Selection Day is when we interview candidates using Multiple Mini Interviews. Our decision to make an offer is based on how well the candidates do at Selection." See this medical school's website for details on its usage of multiple stations, using Objective Structured Selection Examination (OSSE) format.
Cambridge	Traditional interview	Candidates are assessed on: understanding of the scientific basis of medicine & recent innovation, personal qualities showing aptitude to medical practice, communication skills, understanding of ethical and legal issues related to medicine, teamwork, teaching, and the ability to evaluate & research. Candidates have ususally two panel interviews, each lasting from 20 to 30 minutes. Interviewers are usually admissions tutors and practising clinicians.
Cardiff	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: ability to think on their feet, critical appraisal of information, communication skills, insight and commitment to Medicine.
Dundee	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication skills, work experience, and role play tasks. Candidates rotate through ten interview stations, with candidates spending seven minutes at each station. Some tasks may be extremely difficult, so candidates may be measured on their reaction at being unable to complete them.
Edge Hill	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Motivation for applying to Edge Hill University, communication skills, integrity/probity, teamwork/leadership, empathy & compassion, awareness of current health challenges, ethical awareness, awareness of self and others, prioritisation / decision making, and data interpretation. Offers will be made to candidates who have the highest combined scores.
Edinburgh	Assessment day	Top-scoring applicants are invited to assessment half-days. Interviewees should learn core attributes needed to study medicine + outcomes for medical school graduates. Applicants are assessed on the core attributes of medical doctors, as outlined by the Medical Schools’ Council.
Exeter	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Communication skills, reflection, empathy, and general qualities required to become a successful doctor. Seven stations are offered, lasting 3 minutes each.
Glasgow	Traditional interview	Candidates are assessed on: Motivation to study at Glasgow, appreciation of Glasgow’s medical curriculum, personal characteristics relating to a career in Medicine, reflection into previous experiences, and understanding of broad medical themes. Candidates are interviewed by two separate panels, lasting thirty minutes altogether.
Hull York	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Insight into a medical career, understanding of the values in the NHS Constitution, motivation for a medical career, awareness and understanding of current medical issues, communication skills, motivation to study at Hull York Medical School, empathy, tolerance of ambiguity, resilience, and your ability to think critically. Interview consists of two five minute mini-interviews (15 points each), one five minute role play station (10 points), and a twenty minute group exercise (20 points). The UCAT SJT is also given up to 15 points, with a further 15 points available for contextual data.
Imperial	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Motivation and realistic approach to medicine as a career, capacity to deal with stressful situations, evidence of commitment to the values of the NHS constitution, evidence of working as a leader and a team member, ability to multitask, likely contribution to university life, communication skills, and maturity of character. Candidates rotate through seven five minute stations, with one minute allocated for reading of each station’s brief.
Keele	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Understanding of NHS values, communication skills, numeracy, empathy, ethical reasoning, insight into a career in Medicine, awareness of challenges associated with a career in Medicine, and resilience.
Kent and Medway	MMI	Candidates rotate through six seven minute stations, with a short break before a forty minute group station.
King's College	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Communication skills, ethical reasoning, motivation to study Medicine at King’s College London, potential contribution to university life. Candidates rotate through six five minute stations.
Lancaster	MMI	The MMI consists of three circuits. “Circuit A consists of stations where you will be given a different task or questions to answer. You will have exactly 5 minutes at each station and then you will be asked to move to the next station. You will have 5 minutes between each station.” “Circuit B consists of stations where you will have 5 minutes to read and think about some information, followed by 5 minutes to discuss with an interviewer. You will have 5 minutes between each station.” “Circuit C consists of 10 minutes to read a problem-based learning scenario and make some notes followed by 5 minutes to discuss it with an interviewer. You will have 5 minutes between your preparation and discussion stations.” Interviews will be conducted via Zoom for the 2021 admission cycle.
Leeds	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Ethical reasoning, thinking on their feet, leadership qualities, motivation to study Medicine at Leeds, reflection on personal strengths & weaknesses, and attainment from volunteering and work experience.
Leicester	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Motivation to study medicine & genuine interest in the medical profession, insight into personal strengths and weaknesses, self-reflection, personal organisation, academic ability, problem solving, coping with uncertainty, ability to take responsibility for their own actions, conscientiousness, insight into their own health, communication skills,teamwork abilities, ability to treat people with compassion, respect and dignity, resilience and the ability to deal with difficult situations, empathy and the ability to care for others, honesty, emotional intelligence, and ethical judgement. Candidates rotate through eight stations.
Lincoln	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Communication and listening skills, understanding of professional issues such as teamwork, and an understanding of allied health professions. Candidates rotate through eight stations.
Liverpool	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Communication skills, teamwork, ethical reasoning, learning from work experience, and numeracy. Candidates rotate between seven six minute stations, with a one minute break in between. Note: Interviewing to be done on-line, but format to be confirmed for 2022
Manchester	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Communication skills, motivation to study Medicine, caring experience, knowledge of contemporary medical affairs, and ethical reasoning. Candidates rotate through four or five seven minute stations, with a two minute gap between each station. Interviews for the 2021 admissions cycle will be held online.
Newcastle	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: honesty & probity, communication, empathy & self-awareness, motivation & commitment to be a doctor, compatibility with Newcastle’s medical programme, teamwork, personal organisation, and persistence & resilience. Candidates rotate through seven-minute stations, with an extra two-minute ice breaker question in the first station. One station involves a role play scenario. Note: Whereas Home applicants have Multiple mini-interviews, panel interviews are used for International applicants (who can opt to have a virtual interview in their home country or attend a panel interview on campus in Newcastle).
Norwich (UEA)	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Teamwork, empathy, probity, insight into a career in Medicine, and data interpretation. Candidates rotate through seven five minute stations, with one and a half minutes between each station.
Nottingham	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: communication skills, understanding of professional issues such as teamwork, and an understanding of allied health professions. Candidates normally rotate through eight stations. Note: for 2021 entry, an online four-station interview was used.
Oxford	Traditional interview	Candidates are assessed on their ability to interpret data, with some knowledge of basic science necessary. Panel interviews at two colleges. Each shortlisted candidate typically receives a total of four interviews.
Plymouth	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Integrity, honesty, flexibility, motivation and commitment to Medicine, empathy & non-judgmental attitude, communication skills, potential for leadership, insight into the roles and responsibilities of a doctor, ability to be a team player, ability to deal with stress appropriately, problem solving skills, knowledge of their own limitations, knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses, and reflectiveness. Candidates rotate through seven stations, lasting approximately 50 minutes overall.
Queen’s Belfast	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Empathy, problem-solving, moral reasoning, and communication skills. Candidates rotate through nine five minute stations, with a one minute break between each station.
Sheffield	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Communication skills, depth and breadth of interests, evidence of commitment for caring, knowledge study in at Sheffield Medical School, medical work experience/Extended Project Qualification, motivation for medicine, understanding the nature of medicine, values & attitudes, and outside interests Candidates rotate through eight stations, lasting eight minutes each. Note: Due to Covid-19 pandemic, online panel-based interviews were used for 2020-21 admissions cycle.
Southampton	Assessment day	Candidates are assessed on: resilience, reflection on life experience, communication skills, interpersonal interaction, and understanding of the values of the NHS constitution. Candidates are assessed with one twenty-minute group interview, followed by a twenty-minute panel interview. The personal statement is explored in detail in the panel interview.
St Andrews	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: understanding of the realities of a career in Medicine, communication and interpersonal skills, role-play and interaction with an actor, critical thinking, reflection, and ethical reasoning. Candidates rotate through six stations, lasting six minutes each. SJT is considered in the interview, incorporated into the overall interview score. According to the medical school’s website: “For 2021 entry, all interviews will be conducted online using Microsoft Teams. Further information will be provided to applicants who are invited to interview”.
St George's London	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Motivation for a career in Medicine, commitment to quality patient care, awareness of research & government policies on healthcare, empathy, integrity, and teamwork. Candidates rotate between six to eight stations, lasting five minutes each.
Sunderland	MMI	Candidates are assessed on: Motivation for a career in Medicine, empathy and insight, awareness responsibilities and challenges of being a doctor, awareness of ethical issues in health and society, resilience, effective communication, and numeracy.
UCL	MMI	UCL historically used a panel interview, intending to implement MMIs for the first time in the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. Note: Interview process is currently under review. "We anticipate using Multiple Mini Interviews for applicants in 2021-22."
UCLan	MMI	Candidates rotate through eight stations, lasting five minutes each with an additional two minutes of reading. The transferable skills statement is discussed at the interview.