Preparing for the St George's University of London interview

Harbouring ambitions to join St George’s, University of London? It's not enough to be zealous for medicine—you must be fluent in the language of the NHS, the pulse of UK health policy, and the pressing social issues from the banks of the Thames to the global frontlines. 

Here’s your hyper-local, deeply-researched blueprint for standing out—artfully blending policy savvy, London context, and values that align with one of England’s most historic and socially engaged medical schools.

1. The St George’s Interview: Format, Flow, and Key Themes

St George’s employs a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) circuit—typically 6 to 8 stations, each lasting about 5–7 minutes. These stations span the spectrum from ethics and roleplay to data interpretation, teamwork, and traditional “get to know you” questions. You’ll move from one scenario to another, each manned by a different assessor (faculty, clinicians, or even trained laypersons). Group interviews are rare; focus is on individual performance.

Station Styles:

• Roleplay: Simulated patient, peer, or public health interactions

• Ethical Dilemmas: Confidentiality, resource allocation, professional conduct

• Work Experience & Motivation: Genuine understanding of medical and non-medical settings

• Numeracy/Data: Basic analysis of graphs, charts, patient scenarios

• NHS Hot Topics: Current events, policies, and scenario-based judgment

Key Themes:

• Social accountability—serving diverse and deprived communities

• Teamwork, leadership, and resilience

• Integrity, empathy, and insight (especially under pressure)

• Adaptability for the future NHS: digital, multicultural, rapidly evolving

Insider Tip: St George’s values process over perfection. They want you to think aloud, justify your approach, and show you can learn as well as lead. Practice articulating the steps of your logic, especially in data and ethical scenarios—confidence and clarity matter.

2. UK Healthcare Policy: NHS Under Pressure and Progressive Reforms

The NHS, the UK’s crown jewel, faces existential challenges. Key policies to weave into answers:

1. Health and Care Act 2022

   • Established Integrated Care Systems (ICS) to streamline local health/social care. In South London, Southwest London ICS tackles childhood obesity (30% in Wandsworth) via school-nurse partnerships.

   • St George’s Link: The university’s Population Health Research Institute maps deprivation-linked diseases in Tooting (life expectancy gap: 12 years between richest/poorest).

2. Workforce Crisis

   • 112,000 NHS vacancies in England; junior doctors’ strikes (2023–24) over 26% pay cuts since 2008.

   • Tip: Cite St George’s Clinical Placement Expansion in Sutton, training students in understaffed specialties like geriatrics.

3. COVID-19 Backlog

   • 7.6 million on NHS waiting lists (Feb 2024). St George’s partners with St Helier Hospital to pilot AI triage for elective surgeries.

Tip: Name-drop St George’s Institute for Medical and Biomedical Education when discussing NHS innovation.

3. Current Events & Social Issues: The London Lens

Local Flashpoints

• Air Pollution: London’s ULEZ expansion reduced NO2 by 46%, but Tower Hamlets still exceeds WHO limits. St George’s researchers link this to asthma admissions at St George’s Hospital (1,200+ pediatric cases/year).

• TB Resurgence: Newham has the UK’s highest TB rate (45/100,000 vs. 7.3 nationally). The university’s TB Centre leads migrant screening programs.

• Mental Health in Schools: 1 in 5 London teens have self-harmed. St George’s students staff Tooting Community Café, a safe space for youth counseling.

National Issues with London Stakes

• Health Inequalities: The richest 10% live 9+ years longer than the poorest. Reference St George’s GRACE Initiative tackling cardiovascular disparities in South Asian communities.

• Migrant Health: 35% of Londoners are foreign-born. The university’s Legal Protection Clinic aids undocumented patients denied NHS care.

US Parallels to Highlight

• Abortion Access: Contrast NHS-funded terminations with US post-Dobbs restrictions. St George’s OB-GYN teams train in “simulation labs” for complex cases.

• Opioid Crisis: UK prescriptions rose 34% since 2020. Compare to US harm reduction models; note St George’s addiction research at Springfield Hospital.

Tip: Mention Health Education England’s London Office partnerships to show policy fluency.

4. The 5 Questions St George's University of London is most likely to ask during your medical school interview

1. “Why St George’s, and how does our focus on community health align with your goals?”

2. “A patient with limited English insists on a female doctor. How do you respond?”

3. “London has the UK’s highest TB rates. Design a public health intervention.”

4. “Describe a time you advocated for someone. How does this relate to NHS values?”

5. “How should the NHS address the inverse care law?”