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UK Medicine Interviews: Formats, Dates and Questions (2027 Entry)

Every UK medical school's interview in one place, with the dates for 2027 entry and what interviewers look for.

Most UK medical schools shortlist on UCAT and grades, then interview between late November and March. Many use multiple mini interviews (MMIs) with short stations. Glasgow uses a 30-minute panel, Dundee a group interview, and Oxford and Cambridge hold academic interviews run by colleges. Universities aim to send decisions on on-time applications by 31 March 2027.

Start 3 free mocksHow UK medicine practice works

Dates for 2027 entry

  1. 13 July to 24 September 2026

    UCAT testing window. The test is required by most UK medical schools and booking closed on 16 September.

  2. 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS deadline for most medicine courses and for any course at Oxford or Cambridge.

  3. Early November 2026

    UCAT results are delivered to universities, which use them to choose who to interview.

  4. Late November 2026 to March 2027

    Main interview season. Glasgow interviews from late November to March, Imperial sends invitations from December, and Dundee interviews in January.

  5. December 2026

    Oxford's online interviews, expected in December, and Cambridge's main interview period from 7 to 18 December. Cambridge sends October applicants their outcome in January.

  6. 31 March 2027

    Universities should aim to have sent all decisions on applications received by 13 January, which includes October medicine applications.

  7. 5 May 2027

    Reply deadline for applicants who had all their decisions by 31 March. Applicants who do not reply are declined by default.

  8. 12 May 2027

    Final date for university decisions on applications submitted by 13 January. Any choice still waiting is rejected by default.

School-by-school guides

Each guide covers the school's interview format, how it picks who to interview, how the interview counts toward offers, and practice questions, with links to the school's own pages.

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

Interview formats: MMI, panel and Oxbridge-style

There is no single UK medicine interview. Each school runs its own, so check the format before you practice.

Multiple mini interviews (MMIs)

MMIs are a series of short stations, each with its own interviewer and scenario. Imperial, for example, invites its shortlisted applicants to MMIs run by academic staff and experienced healthcare professionals.

Panel and group interviews

Panel and group formats still exist.

  • Glasgow. The 2027 interview is 30 minutes with two interviewers. It is split into a part on motivation and teamwork and a part on communication with an ethical scenario.
  • Dundee. Assessors observe a group of six applicants discussing a scenario for about 30 minutes. Then a second assessor leads a conversation with the group.
  • Southampton. The selection day combines an interview with a group task.

Oxford and Cambridge

  • Cambridge. Most applicants have one or two college interviews, 35 minutes to an hour in total, usually with two or three interviewers. Medicine applicants may be asked about their understanding of the vocational side of the course.
  • Oxford. Only around 425 medicine applicants are shortlisted each year. In the 2025 round each was interviewed by two colleges, every candidate saw at least one practicing clinician, and interviewers did not see the UCAT score.

How schools pick who to interview

Most schools shortlist on the UCAT, often alongside GCSEs or other academic results.

How the UCAT is used

The UCAT has three scored sections with a total of 900 to 2700, plus a Situational Judgement section reported as Band 1 to Band 4.

  • Minimum scores. Some universities set a minimum score.
  • Weighted with grades. Some weight the UCAT with academic results.
  • Situational Judgement band. A growing number use it, some to screen out lower bands.

How much it counts at different schools

The weighting differs a lot from school to school.

  • Bristol. Ranks applicants who meet its academic minimums 100% on the UCAT and no longer weights the personal statement.
  • UCL. Ranks eligible applicants on their total UCAT score and uses the Situational Judgement section only to break ties. It does not score GCSEs, A levels or personal statements.
  • Cambridge. Uses the overall cognitive score with no minimum, and will not use the Situational Judgement score for 2027 entry.

Cut-offs move each year

  • Imperial. For 2026 entry, it needed a UCAT total of 2320 and at least Band 3 from home applicants. It normally interviews about the top third.
  • Oxford. The 2025 round shortlisted on a combined UCAT and GCSE score. It then reviewed applicants who missed the cut and added 80 more to the shortlist.

What interviewers assess

Interviewers look for the values and behaviors of a future doctor, not medical knowledge.

  • Example: UCL. It scores academic curiosity, motivation and understanding of a medical career, problem solving, professional attitudes and values, teamwork and resilience, and communication.

Two documents that come up often

  • GMC's Good medical practice. In effect since 30 January 2024, it sets out the principles, values and standards of professional behavior expected of all doctors registered with the GMC.
  • NHS Constitution for England. It lists six values: working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, improving lives, and everyone counts.

Work experience

Work experience matters for what you learned from it.

  • It does not have to be clinical. Many medical schools no longer require clinical or patient-facing experience, so caring roles, volunteering, customer-facing jobs and virtual programs can all count.
  • Expect to reflect on it. Bristol says applicants may be asked to reflect on their work experience at interview.

Online or in person

It depends on the school, and sometimes on where you live or your fee status.

  • Online. Oxford, Glasgow and Bristol interview online for this cycle, with Oxford using Microsoft Teams.
  • In person. Dundee interviews in person at its Ninewells campus, with remote interviews offered to some international applicants.
  • Cambridge: each college decides. Clare holds all medicine interviews in person, and Jesus interviews UK-based medicine applicants in person and others online.

Check your invitation. It will say which format you have, and you usually cannot choose.

Graduate entry interviews

Graduate-entry courses are shorter and often have their own test and rules.

  • Cambridge. Its four-year graduate course is open to home fee applicants with a 2.1 or above and uses the UCAT.
  • Liverpool. Its four-year graduate-entry course uses GAMSAT instead.
  • Deadline. Both have the 15 October deadline.

Expect to explain the switch. Expect questions about why you are switching to medicine now and what your degree or career taught you. Interviewers will want reflection on any healthcare work you have done, not a list of hours.

How to prepare

  • Start with the school's own page. Learn its format, how long each part lasts and what it says it assesses.
  • Practice in that shape. Short timed stations for an MMI, a longer conversation for a panel, or thinking aloud about science for Oxford and Cambridge.
  • Prepare a few honest stories. Teamwork, a mistake, caring for someone and why you want medicine, with what you learned from each.
  • Read and follow the news. Read Good medical practice once and follow a few current NHS issues.
  • Weigh both sides on ethics. Practice answering ethics scenarios by weighing both sides before giving a view.

Practice out loud with a timer. Do it with someone who will ask follow-up questions. Many applicants know their material but run short of time or sound scripted.

  • The MMI explained: How UK medical school MMIs work for 2027 entry: stations, reading time, scoring, online vs in person, and which schools use panels or college interviews.
  • Interview preparation: How to prepare for a UK medicine interview in order: find your school's format, know your statement, learn GMC and NHS values, follow NHS news and practice out loud.
  • Oxbridge medicine interview: Oxford vs Cambridge medicine interviews for 2027 entry: format, online or in person, dates, UCAT use and shortlisting, plus practice questions and how to answer.
  • NHS hot topics: The NHS issues UK medicine interviewers ask about in 2026-27: waiting lists, A&E, the 10 Year Health Plan, strikes, physician assistants, assisted dying and more.

Practice questions

42 UK medicine interview questions by type, each with what it tests and how a strong answer is built: Medicine interview questions (UK).

Frequently asked questions

When are UK medicine interviews for 2027 entry?

Most run from late November 2026 to March 2027. Oxford interviews online in December and Cambridge's main interview period is 7 to 18 December 2026, Glasgow interviews from late November to March, and Dundee interviews in January.

Do all UK medical schools use MMIs?

No. Many do, but Glasgow uses a 30-minute panel interview, Dundee a group interview, and Oxford and Cambridge academic interviews run by colleges.

What UCAT score do I need to get a medicine interview?

It depends on the school and changes each year. Imperial needed 2320 from home applicants for 2026 entry. Cambridge says it has no minimum UCAT score, and Bristol says it has no fixed cut-off because its interview threshold changes each year.

Do I need clinical work experience for a UK medicine interview?

Not always. Many medical schools say clinical or patient-facing experience is not required, but you should be ready to reflect on what any experience taught you.

How many medical schools can I apply to through UCAS?

Up to four medicine courses, within a total of five UCAS choices. You can use the remaining choice for a course in another subject.

When will I hear back after my medicine interview?

Universities should aim to send decisions by 31 March 2027, and the final date for decisions on on-time applications is 12 May 2027. Cambridge sends October applicants their outcome in January.

Sources

Official pages only, read on the date shown. Schools change their process every year, so check the school's own page before you apply.

  1. UCAS: Dates and deadlines for uni applications · read October 23, 2026
  2. UCAS: 2027 entry deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine courses · read October 23, 2026
  3. UCAS: 2027 key dates timeline · read October 23, 2026
  4. UCAS: Filling in your UCAS application · read October 23, 2026
  5. UCAS: Supporting medicine applicants with work experience · read October 23, 2026
  6. UCAT: UCAT test cycle · read October 23, 2026
  7. UCAT: Test format and scoring · read October 23, 2026
  8. UCAT: UCAT universities · read October 23, 2026
  9. UCAT: How universities use the UCAT · read October 23, 2026
  10. GMC: Good medical practice · read October 24, 2026
  11. GOV.UK: The NHS Constitution for England · read October 23, 2026
  12. University of Cambridge: Cambridge interviews · read October 23, 2026
  13. University of Cambridge: Medicine · read October 23, 2026
  14. University of Cambridge: Medicine (Graduate Course) · read October 23, 2026
  15. University of Oxford: Medicine course page · read October 24, 2026
  16. University of Oxford: Interviews · read October 24, 2026
  17. University of Oxford Medical Sciences: Shortlisting process and admissions statistics · read October 24, 2026
  18. Imperial College London: Medicine MBBS/BSc · read October 23, 2026
  19. UCL Medical School: Selection procedure · read October 24, 2026
  20. University of Bristol: Admissions statement, Medicine (2027 entry) · read October 23, 2026
  21. University of Glasgow: MBChB interviews · read October 23, 2026
  22. University of Dundee: Interview for Medicine MBChB · read October 23, 2026
  23. University of Southampton: Medicine, how to apply · read October 23, 2026
  24. University of Liverpool: Medicine and Surgery, graduate entry (MBChB), 2027 · read October 23, 2026