Your one-stop shop for all things application related!
You Can Be A Doctor:
Application Guide
Advice for Specific Universities
For general interview advice, see below.
Click on the links to see our advice for specific Universities in Scotland.
University of Edinburgh
University of Glasgow
University of
St Andrews
University of Dundee
University of Aberdeen
General Interview Advice
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Interview invitations may be released batches, thus you should not panic or feel disheartened if someone you know has received a date and you haven’t heard anything yet.
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It is not always possible to reschedule your interview. It is extremely unlikely that you would be permitted the chance to reschedule because of a missed email. It is your responsibility to check your inboxes, including spam folders!
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Ensure you request any reasonable adjustments ahead of time.
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You can wear your school uniform as “smart clothes”.
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Read up on the university before attending your interview - they will likely ask you why you want to study there specifically, so it is good to have a browse of the kind of student support offered, the clubs and societies you could join, and anything unique about the medicine programme itself - highlighted below.
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Review your personal statement and be prepared to flesh out some of the things you wrote. An interview is also an excellent opportunity to discuss anything you were unable to fit into your personal statement. ​​
Before your interview
During your Interview
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You will need to show photographic ID in order to sit your interview. You may also be required to complete additional documents ahead of your interview, which will be sent to you via email, so make sure you look out for these!
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Never lie - you will always get caught out. If you state that you have read a book or a paper, they will pry you on this! It is also very likely that a doctor interviewing you will have read the book you mention…
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Think aloud - for problem-solving based questions, your thought process is often more important than the answer you give. If you are given an ethical scenario, you should consider and discuss both sides of the argument and be careful of the influence of your own biases and opinions.
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It is OK to say you don’t know, or to ask the interviewer to repeat/rephrase the question. They will acknowledge that you are nervous and generally try to steer you onto the correct path. You can take a breath if you are stumbling, or take a moment before beginning your answer. These are all perfectly natural and if anything, make you sound less like a robot!
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It is tempting to feel intimidated by other applicants surrounding you on interview day. However, they are all likely just as nervous as you are, and starting up a conversation with someone can really help to ease nerves. So be the friendly face in the room!
University of Edinburgh
Information primarily sourced from -
https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/applying_for_medicine_23_24_final.pdf (page 018)
% of application score: 50%
Dates: December-January
Timings: half-day (approx. 3hrs)
Location: Chancellor’s Building, The Royal Infirmary
Format: “Assessment Day” beginning with a welcome presentation, then entailing a small group station that lasts 30mins and some accompanying MMI-style stations that each last approx. 12mins (breaks in-between)
Stations/topics covered:
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“The structure of the day is based on a consultation of clinicians and teachers in the medical school about the most important attributes we seek in our medical students. These attributes have been selected from those published by the Medical Schools’ Council”
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You do not require any prior knowledge to complete the task in the group station - you are assessed on your communication skills, time-keeping and how you interact with your peers
Top tips:
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The individual stations are quite long so be sure to have a few examples in your head to keep the conversation going. In the past, some stations were centred around developing technology in medicine, so you could read up on recent developments and so-called NHS “hot-topics”
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Edinburgh has a compulsory intercalated year that you should be familiar with, you can only skip this year if you already have a degree! - https://www.wiki.ed.ac.uk/display/IHP/
University of Glasgow
Information primarily sourced from -
https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/admissions/mbchbinterviews/
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% of application score: not stated
Dates: see university response below
We are conducting MBChB Admissions interviews to Year 1 from November 2023 to (approx.) February 2024. Home applicants (WP included) are typically seen in November and December.
GAP Admissions interviews are typically conducted in March (we have not confirmed dates for 2024 entry yet).
Timings: ~20mins
Location: online for 2024 entry, in-person previously held on central campus, GAP to be in person at Wolfson Medical Building
Format: 2 panels, panel A is centred around the realities of being a doctor and desirable qualities, panel B is focussed on an ethical scenario that you can choose from 2 given to you, this panel will also involve discussion around you becoming a future doctor, each panel has 2 interviewers
Top tips:
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Ensure you read up on NHS “hot-topics” and current issues faced by the healthcare sector
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Glasgow have 2 electives within their curriculum, at the ends of years 3 and 4. The course also includes “Preparation for Practice” and “Community Orientated Medical Experience Track”, which aim to equip you with necessary skills for Foundation Years - https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/medicine/#medicineatglasgow
University of St Andrews
Information primarily sourced from -
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/medicine/medicine-bsc-a100/selection/
% of application score: not stated
Dates: late November-March
Timings: stations are 6mins each
Location: not stated
Format: 4 MMIs
“At the interview, you will be expected to demonstrate that you have an understanding of medicine as a career and that you appreciate the realities of working in a caring profession. Your communication and interpersonal skills will be assessed at each station, and at least one station will involve role-play and interaction with an actor. You may also be assessed on such things such as critical thinking, reflection and your ability to discuss ethical issues.”
Top tips:
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You only complete your first 3 years in St. Andrews before moving to another university!
ScotGEM:
Applicants must complete the online questionnaire prior to late November before being considered for interview - https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/medicine/scotgem-mbchb/selection/
*If you have been offered an interview for both Dundee MBChB and the ScotGEM graduate entry programme, you will be interviewed for both programmes at the same time (both Ninewells). If you have been offered an interview for Dundee but not yet heard about ScotGEM, you should get in touch via email. For ScotGEM, you should be given 6 weeks notice.
University of Dundee
Information primarily sourced from -
https://www.dundee.ac.uk/undergraduate/medicine/interview (still to be updated for this cycle and Gateway)
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% of application score: not stated
Dates: December, January if online
Timings: ~1hr
Location: Ninewells Hospital
Format: 5 MMI stations
Stations/topics covered - previous themes have included:
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Academic skills
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Work experience
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Communication/role-play
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GP-patient interaction
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Motivation to study medicine
Top tips:
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Dundee are known for their roleplay stations, so be prepared for some A-class acting!
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Dundee are also unique for their anatomical teaching using full-body dissection of Thiel-embalmed cadavers -
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This medical school provide very early clinical exposure for students, which many have praised as being of great value to their learning.
University of Aberdeen
Information primarily sourced from - https://www.abdn.ac.uk/smmsn/undergraduate/medicine/interview.php
% of application score: 50%
Dates: November-March
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2023 date is 18th December
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Gateway date is April 2024
Timings: each station will last 5mins, entire interview will last approx. 1hr
Location: Suttie Centre, Foresterhill
Format: MMI
Stations/topics covered:
MBChB
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Motivation to study medicine
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Core qualities
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Critical thinking & problem solving
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Team work
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Professionalism
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Personal statement
Gateway to Medicine (G2M)
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Motivation
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Professionalism
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Core qualities
Candidates may be asked to discuss their preparation for entry to medicine/G2M, e.g.
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Research into undergraduate curricula and postgraduate training
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Research then understanding of the implications of a medical career
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Experience of caring or other environments
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Consider a new situation and discuss their thoughts or suggest a solution to solve a problem
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Outline any learning points from previous experiences
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Reflect upon their own and others' skills and abilities
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Consider their potential contribution to the care of others
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Candidates should be aware that we don’t just assess you answers but also your approach and ability to reflect upon and discuss diverse aspects of the problem may be under scrutiny
Top tips:
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Read up on the General Medical Council (GMC)
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Aberdeen will entail remote and rural peripheral placements - https://www.abdn.ac.uk/smmsn/undergraduate/medicine/remote-rural.php