How to prepare prospective medical students for interview at UK universities
The prospect of interviewing to study medicine at a UK university can seem terrifying to students. But you can help them approach their interview with confidence
Kam Stylianou
Students facing an interview for medicine at a UK university may feel overwhelmed by the volume of information they to need study, and by the prospect of the interview itself.
This is particularly noticeable with students who live abroad and who are not familiar with the UK healthcare system or with UK life and culture.
You can help them prepare for their interviews by increasing their confidence and knowledge, so that they are able to perform at their best on the day of the interview.
1. Set up an interview preparation programme for medicine applicants
Present the outline of this programme to students, teachers, parents and senior leadership, so that you establish its significance. Explain how it will be implemented and how students will benefit from it.
2. Provide key information
Break down the key information they need to prepare into manageable sections. Students can use flashcards to help organise their ideas.
University: the course and the structure of teaching, the facilities and the research focus of the medical school. Encourage students to follow each university’s medical school on social media, so that they can learn about important events and updates.
Career: the career path of medical professionals in the UK, and the challenges of the profession
NHS: values and constitution, problems, key facts
Ethics: the four pillars of medical ethics, as well as how to approach an ethical question in a balanced manner
Hot topics: in medicine and in current research
Skills: what is required for a doctor?
Student self-awareness: strengths and weaknesses
3. Point to useful resources
Encourage students to follow current affairs in the UK on a daily basis via news websites such as the BBC or the health section of The Conversation UK.
The Med Schools Council provides helpful information about the core values and attributes that trainee doctors need. There are useful interview practice questions in the Medic Portal.
Prepare crib sheets of useful phrases to help students structure their answers. Give them tips on how to answer questions in a succinct and effective way.
4. Tap into your own network
Establish a social media group of applicants and medical students already at university. Encourage students to contact alumni for interview tips and practice.
Gather a team of teachers and school psychologists and draw on their expertise to prepare mock interview questions. If you have any parents who are in the medical profession, contact them to ask if they can assist as well.
5. Conduct mock interviews
Start with group interviews: give students questions and ask their peers to assess their answers. They should use clear criteria, similar to those used by interviewers during multiple mini-interviews (MMIs). Make sure that the feedback is positive and constructive.
Then use your team of experts to move on to MMI-style interviews. Set up several interview stations in a large room and use your timer for a specific number of minutes per station. Move the students around from station to station so they experience the time frame and pressure of an MMI.
Gather the students at the end of each session and give group feedback. Focus first on the positives and then on areas for improvement. For the next session, target the areas and topics that they need to improve on.
6. Practice makes perfect
Encourage students to practise at home and film their answers. They should then reflect on what they could do to improve. Advise them to practise with different people, who will question them using different perspectives.
7. Hold individual practice sessions
To speed up your preparation time, you can use AI to help you prepare questions and answers. Be careful to give precise prompts, to ensure that you generate the best questions to work with.
Give clear, specific feedback to students, rather than generalised comments. This will give them a clear idea of what they need to do to improve and how they can work to achieve it.
8. Discuss the importance of appearance
Remind students of the importance of their appearance at interview. Students need to understand that this is an aspect of the interview that they must consider. Encourage them to adopt a professional dress code.
9. Keep parents in the loop
Keep parents updated and advise them on their role: how they can support their children and how they can help to relieve anxiety during the interview process.
10. Respond to outcomes
Celebrate students’ successes. If students have not received any offers, be sure to review their options and next steps, and to discuss how reflection can help them learn.