Applying and interviewing

Preparing to apply for medical school? You're in the right place.

If you haven't read the first part of this guide, Getting Ready to Apply, we recommend you start there and return to this page afterwards. This second part is all about admissions tests, UCAS personal statements, and acing your medicine interviews.

How universities use your UCAT score

Some universities have a UCAT cut-off score. If you don't achieve that score, they will not invite you to interview; if you reach or exceed that score, you will automatically be invited to interview, assuming you meet all other requirements. Other universities rank all their applicants according to UCAT score and interview the top-scoring candidates.

Some universities may add a UCAT uplift for students from underrepresented backgrounds, effectively bumping your score up by 5-10% if you meet widening participation criteria.

Each medical school should tell you about the system they use on their website. UCAT publishes test statistics around September each year so you can see how competitive your score is and make your medical school choices accordingly.

What happens in a medicine interview?

Medical school interview questions will cover a range of topics, from your motivations and interests to your awareness of recent medical developments and how you handle challenging situations such as delivering bad news. No two interviews will be identical, but interviewers generally want you to demonstrate:

• Key skills like communication, prioritisation, and professional judgement

• Your passion for the subject and willingness to work hard

• A well-rounded understanding of what being a doctor is like, including the challenges

• Any relevant work experience and how it has helped you prepare for your medical studies

• Your grasp of medical ethics and the role of the NHS

The Medical Schools Council has lots of free resources to help you prepare for medical school interviews.

What if I don’t receive any offers?

Medicine is a highly competitive subject in the UK, so there are always more applicants than places available. If your medical school application is unsuccessful, there are a few different routes you can take: