So you’ve made it to the interview stage. Congratulations!
Just one final hurdle to overcome before you can start your career in medicine is the medical school interview. Don’t worry! We’ve got the answers to all your “What do they ask in a medicine interview?” questions.
The format in the UK can vary slightly between universities, but generally, it consists of a panel interview conducted by faculty members, doctors, and sometimes current medical students.
The interview aims to assess your suitability for a career in medicine by evaluating your communication skills, critical thinking abilities, ethical awareness, and motivation to study medicine. While the specific questions asked may vary, here are some examples of the types of questions you might encounter during a med school interview in the UK:
Personal and Motivation to Study Medicine Interview Questions
Knowledge and Understanding of Medicine Interview Questions
Decision-Making and Medical Ethics Interview Questions
Ethical and Situational Interview Questions
Empathy and Patient-Centred Care Interview Questions
Professionalism and Integrity Medicine Interview Questions
Communication and Teamwork Questions in a Medicine Interview
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Medical School Interview Questions
Health Policy and NHS Medicine Questions
NHS Hot Topics Questions
COVID-19 Medical School Interview Questions
Future Goals and Self-Reflection Interview Questions
Prepare, Research, Practice with PreMed
1. Personal and Motivation to Study Medicine Interview Questions
Just like any interview, the most asked questions are “Why medicine?” and “Tell me about yourself”. This provides your interviewer with a little background about yourself whilst also breaking the ice, easing you into the interview.
To prepare for these “Why medicine?” interview questions, do some research and keep your answers short and to the point. Your main aim for these types of med questions is to convey your passion for medicine and be able to effectively articulate this in your answer.
Remember, saying you’re from a family of doctors is not enough to show your passion. Make sure you talk about the steps YOU have taken and how your experiences have led you to a career in medicine!
The “Tell me about yourself” question in a medical school interview should also be kept brief. Talk about your background, your work experience, or any key achievements and events in your life that relate to a career in medicine. You may be asked to expand upon these points, so make sure you are comfortable talking about each fact you mention.
Examples of Personal and Motivation to Study Medicine Interview Questions
Why do you want to study medicine?
Tell me about yourself.
There are many great medical schools in the UK. Why [insert university name]?
Why would you want to be a [insert name of position]?
What do you wish to achieve in your career in medicine aside from clinical practice?
Why do you want to be a doctor rather than a nurse?
When you think about becoming a doctor, what do you look forward to most and least?
What experiences have influenced your decision to pursue medicine?
What qualities do you possess that would make you a good doctor?
What impact do you hope to make in the field of medicine?
2. Knowledge and Understanding of Medicine Interview Questions
It’s great to have a passion for something, but you need the knowledge to back it up. This is even more crucial when it comes to medicine.
Showcasing your knowledge of not only the discipline of medicine itself but also the course and institution you have applied to will allow the interviewer to assess your suitability for their specific medicine course.
The range of questions in this category varies, so make sure you practice as many different variations as possible.
Examples of Knowledge and Understanding of Medicine Questions
What challenges do you anticipate facing during medical school?
Discuss a recent medical news article that caught your attention.
How do you stay up to date with medical advancements and research?
Describe a medical condition or procedure that interests you and why.
What is the role of a doctor?
How do you think technology and advancements in medicine will affect the way doctors practice in the future?
How do you think medical education will evolve in the next 5 years?
How do you think the medical field will adapt to an ageing population in the next few years?
Can you explain the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in modern healthcare settings?
What are you looking forward to most about studying here?
3. Decision-Making and Medical Ethics Interview Questions
Probably one of the most asked questions in a medical interview is questions on medical ethics. This is also an area pre-med candidates are the most concerned about as it can be more complicated than other types of questions.
When answering ethical medical interview questions, remember to think about the four pillars of ethics: Patient Autonomy, Non-Maleficence, Justice, and Beneficence. You should always answer any medical ethics questions based on the patient to show you are putting the patient first.
Remember, don’t start with a strong one-sided viewpoint! Make sure you balance both sides of the argument for a well-rounded answer.
Examples of Decision-Making and Medical School Ethics Questions
What ethical principles are essential for a doctor to uphold?
Describe a medical case where you had to consider the ethical implications of treatment options.
How do you handle conflicts between patient autonomy and the patient’s best interest?
Discuss a controversial medical issue and present arguments from different perspectives.
What do you think about euthanasia?
Why is confidentiality important?
Should doctors be allowed to strike?
What are some pros and cons of abortion?
Do you think marijuana should be provided free to particular patients on the NHS?
What issues would you consider when deciding to allocate an organ to a patient?
4. Ethical and Situational Interview Questions
Situational and ethical questions in a medical school interview slightly differ from medicinal ethics questions as this set of questions aims to assess how you would handle certain situations.
Being a doctor requires dealing with tough situations. To prepare for these interview questions for medicine, put yourself in the shoes of a patient and think about what you would like to be told if you were the patient.
Alternatively, you must think logically as a doctor in stressful situations, so ensure you are prepared by running through different outcomes and practicing with various scenarios.
Examples of Ethical and Situational Interview Questions
Describe a situation where you faced an ethical dilemma. How did you handle it?
How would you prioritize patients in a resource-limited setting?
What would you do if you made a medical error?
How would you approach delivering bad news to a patient or their family?
A woman who is bleeding heavily refuses a blood transfusion. How would you handle this situation?
What would you do if a person with an STI refuses to tell their partner about their STI and plans to continue to have sex with this partner?
What steps would you take if you observed unethical practices in a healthcare setting?
You only have one dialysis machine. One patient in need is a 17-year-old drug addict who has just overdosed. The other patient is a 40-year-old woman with terminal breast cancer with a life expectancy of 6 months. Who would you give the dialysis machine to?
How should medical professionals approach the issue of providing medical care to minors without parental consent?
How should medical professionals handle the issue of organ donation from prisoners or individuals with mental disabilities?
5. Empathy and Patient-Centred Care Interview Questions
Empathy is key in a medical setting. You will be surrounded by people who need your support. These questions aim to examine your understanding of empathy and how you would handle specific scenarios.
The way to approach these empathy questions is to put yourself in the shoes of the patient. How would you like to be spoken to in the scenario?
Don’t get too bogged down in the steps you will take to solve an issue. Remember, these questions assess your empathy, so focus on how you would show empathy towards the patient and address their concerns instead of how you would deal with the problem at hand.
Examples of Empathy and Patient-Centred Care Interview Questions
Describe a situation where you demonstrated empathy towards a patient or person in need.
How would you ensure equitable healthcare for patients from diverse backgrounds?
What steps would you take to develop a strong doctor-patient relationship?
How do you handle patients who are anxious or frightened about their medical condition?
How would you deal with a parent who has brought their child into A&E and is angry about the long wait time?
How would you explain to a patient their blood sample has been lost?
Why is it important to be empathetic in medicine?
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy?
What thoughts and feelings will go through the mind of a patient after being told they have cancer?
What would you say to a patient who is scared to go into surgery?
6. Professionalism and Integrity Medicine Interview Questions
Doctors are held to a high standard of professionalism due to the nature of their roles. The questions in this section are used to assess how you would maintain professionalism as a doctor and uphold those standards.
These interview questions for medicine are more fluid, so practice as many as possible to ensure you have some prepared points to use when asked any of these questions.
Examples of Integrity and Professionalism Medicine Interview Questions
What does professionalism mean to you as a medical student and future doctor?
How do you handle situations where your personal beliefs conflict with a patient’s needs?
Discuss a time when you witnessed unprofessional behavior in a healthcare setting. How did you respond?
How would you maintain patient confidentiality in the era of electronic health records and social media?
How do you tackle criticism?
How would you manage interacting with patients from various cultural backgrounds that you may be unfamiliar with?
How do you control your ego?
How do you cope with failure?
Do you know when to seek help?
What is your biggest weakness?
7. Communication and Teamwork Questions in a Medicine Interview
When working in a hospital, communication is key. Whether that be with patients or members of your team, it is important you are able to display your communication skills in your med interview.
From the attributes of a good leader to examples of teamwork in healthcare interview questions, there are various ways these questions can be asked. But don’t worry! All you need is a few examples to back up your answers.
A common mistake of medical school candidates is to list qualities without expanding on them or providing examples. Think about your experiences and relate your points to specific examples from your own life.
Examples of Communication and Teamwork Questions in a Medicine Interview
Describe a time when you effectively communicated with someone from a different background.
How do you handle difficult patients or colleagues?
How would you break down complex medical information for a patient with limited health literacy?
Give an example of a teamwork experience that demonstrates your ability to collaborate effectively.
What are the attributes of a good team member?
Are you a leader or a follower?
Why is teamwork important?
How do you resolve conflict within a group?
Give an example of a time you worked in a team and failed.
Do all teams need a leader?
8. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Medical School Interview Questions
The interview questions asked in this particular category are not necessarily based on medicine. There will be occasions where you might have to think outside the box when answering questions.
For example, you may be asked, “How much does an elephant weigh?”. Chances are you don’t know the answer to this, and you’re not expected to! The aim of this question is to assess how creatively you can think.
Not all questions will be like the one above, but it is important to prepare yourself if you are asked a question that is similar to this. Tell your friends and family to ask you out-of-the-box questions to get you in the right creative mindset to answer these problem-solving questions effectively.
Examples of Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Medical University Interview Questions
How do you approach solving complex problems or making decisions under pressure?
Give an example of a time when you adapted your thinking to a new or unexpected situation.
How would you handle a patient who disagrees with your recommended treatment plan?
How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks in a high-pressure environment?
How much does an elephant weigh?
How many words are there in a book?
Why do we wear clothes?
You are on a deserted island. Who would you want to be with you and why?
What do you think fashion will be like in 200 years?
How would the world be different if the wheel wasn’t invented?
9. Health Policy and NHS Medicine Questions
Understanding how health policy works and the core values of the NHS are essential in the field of medicine. These interview questions for medicine focus on how well you understand the healthcare system of the UK and the current issues in healthcare.
The only way to prepare for these questions is to do your research! Take a look at how the NHS works, its core values, and the challenges it faces today. This will provide you with a foundation to build your answer.
Examples of Healthy Policy and NHS Medicine Interview Questions
What role should doctors play in advocating for public health initiatives?
Discuss a prevalent health issue and propose strategies to address it.
How would you contribute to reducing health disparities and improving healthcare access?
What are your thoughts on the balance between individual patient autonomy and public health measures?
What are the core values of the NHS?
Describe the organisational structure of the NHS.
Discuss the key healthcare issues confronting the NHS this year.
Do you agree with the privatisation of the NHS?
How would you fix the NHS?
What steps can be taken to address the ongoing challenges of underfunding and understaffing in the NHS?
10. NHS Hot Topics Questions
The NHS Hot Topics is a fundamental part of your medical school interview. To ensure you can successfully answer these questions, stay up-to-date with the current news surrounding the NHS.
Make sure you don’t miss important news events by setting up an alert on your phone so you can be notified of everything going on in the NHS!
Below, we have listed some examples of current events in the NHS, but make sure you do your own research for the latest news as well!
Examples of NHS Hot Topics Interview Questions
What do you think of the Junior Doctor contract dispute?
What do you know about the 7-Day NHS proposal?
What is a contemporary medical issue that interests you that has recently been in the news?
What happened in the Dr Hadiza Bawa Garba case?
How should we deal with anti-vaxxers?
What can you tell me about the government’s view about mental health?
What are the challenges the NHS will face with the ageing population?
Why is antibiotic resistance a global threat?
What are your thoughts on euthanasia?
What can medical professionals do to address the issue of medical waste and environmental sustainability in healthcare?
11. COVID-19 Medical School Interview Questions
As the COVID-19 pandemic was a major globe event, especially for healthcare, you may be asked about it in your med school interview. The questions that could be asked in this category are rather broad, but it is important you brush up on your COVID-19 knowledge, particularly about its effect on healthcare.
Examples of COVID-19 Medical University Interview Questions
What should the UK have done differently to deal with COVID-19?
How do you think COVID-19 has impacted medical research and the development of new treatments and vaccines?
Should wearing masks be compulsory in public places?
What is herd immunity?
Why do you think some people were reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Should hospitals have let visitors in to see their relatives when it was clear their relative would pass away?
How do you think COVID-19 impacted the morale of healthcare workers?
What role do you see yourself playing in the response to any future pandemics or public health emergencies?
What have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about the role of public health and prevention measures?
Is it right to hail healthcare workers as heroes? Is it helpful?
12. Future Goals and Self-Reflection Interview Questions
Interviewers want to know about your ambitions and where you see yourself in the future. This gives the interviewer an insight into how far you want to go and if you are fit for a career in medicine.
Additionally, a medical degree can be stressful and fast-paced. By understanding how you handle stress and what your mindset is, the interviewer can envision whether you will be able to take on the pressures of a medical degree and working in healthcare.
Examples of Future Goals and Self-Reflection Interview Questions
Describe a challenging experience or setback and how it influenced your personal development.
How do you handle stress and maintain well-being while studying medicine?
Discuss a time when you received feedback and incorporated it into your growth.
How will you address weaknesses or gaps in your knowledge or skills before starting medical school?
What have you learned about medicine from the doctors you have spoken to?
What area of medicine interests you most and why?
Do you know what area of medicine you would like to specialise in?
How do you plan to contribute to medical research or advancements in your chosen field?
What steps will you take during medical school to explore different specialties and make an informed career choice?
How do you envision your role as a doctor evolving in the future?
Prepare, Research, Practice with PreMed
That’s a lot of questions… But don’t fret! You’ve got time to practice. The good thing about practicing for your medical interview is you can do it wherever you are. If you have some spare time, why not pick a question from this list and practice how you would answer it.
Get your family and friends involved too. They’ll be happy to help you tackle your med interview head on!
If you need more information and advice about the other parts of the medical school application, take a look at our guides. From personal statements to the UCAT exam, we have all the information you need to show admissions tutors your best self.
Good luck with your medical school interview!
Haven’t applied to medical school yet and need medical work experience? You’ve come to the right place! At PreMed, we have a range of in-person and online work experience courses to help you advance your medical school application further.
Medical Interview Questions FAQs
What do they ask in a medicine interview?
There are various questions that can be asked in a med school interview. We have brushed upon the common categories of questions that are typically asked.
Questions for medical interview include:
Personal and Motivation to Study Medicine Interview Questions
Knowledge and Understanding of Medicine Interview Questions
Decision-Making and Medical Ethics Interview Questions
Ethical and Situational Interview Questions
Empathy and Patient-Centred Care Interview Questions
Professionalism and Integrity Medicine Interview Questions
Communication and Teamwork Questions in a Medicine Interview
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Medical School Interview Questions
Health Policy and NHS Medicine Questions
NHS Hot Topics Questions
COVID-19 Medical School Interview Questions
Future Goals and Self-Reflection Interview Questions
When are med school interviews?
In the UK, medicine school interviews can start anywhere between Novemeber until March. You should start your medical school interview preparation as early as possible so you feel prepared for you med interview no matter when it is!
How to prepare for medical school interview
The key to doing your best in any medical school interview is to prepare all your answers. However, this doesn’t mean you should memorise a script! Based on the types of questions above, come up with a list of points you want to talk about for each category.
For example, for personal and motivational questions, think about what has led you to a career in medicine and why you want to study medicine. Pick out about 3 points you feel you can elaborate on and go from there.
You should always use examples to back up your answers wherever you can! Don’t just say you are great at teamwork, give an example from your work experience!
What are the difficult medicine interview questions?
This all depends on you! You might find it easy to talk about the NHS but you’re not as confident at medicine ethics questions. Others might find motivation to study medicine interview questions complicated but problem solving questions easier.
With a good amount of practice, any question you come across will be made easier with a few pre-prepared points and examples. Try not to compare yourself to others as everyone is different. If you focus on your own development, you will be able to target the areas you find difficult without feeling the pressure of others on you!
What are good questions to ask in a medical school interview?
If you have the opportunity to ask your interviewer any questions at the end of your med school interview but aren’t sure what to say, why not ask them about the medical school you are applying to?
From “what do you love about this medical school?” to “What was your path to medicine?”, there are plenty of questions to ask your interviewer. You could write some example questions down before your interview if you get stuck!
Contact Us
