Brighton and Sussex University Medicine Interview Questions (2023 entry)
About Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Brighton and Sussex Medical School, a joint school of the University of Brighton (responsible for professional aspects of teaching) and the University of Sussex (responsible for the biological science aspect of teaching) is a well-respected medical school situated on university campuses in Falmer. The medical school is associated with teaching hospitals and community settings in Brighton, East and West Sussex. The research undertaken at this medical school that makes a genuine contribution to evidence and science which underpins clinical practice. The students of Brighton and Sussex Medical School has a high student satisfaction rate of above 90% due to their early clinical involvement and firm foundation in basic scientific knowledge.
It is the highest ranked UK institution in the latest Times Higher Education Young University World Rankings. The Brighton medical school is also the only UK institution in the global top 50, coming in at number 44 on a list of 475 universities spread around 68 countries.
The course takes a systems-based approach which then in turn encompasses various scientific and medical themes. The programme is split into three phases over 5 years: Phase 1 (Years 1 and 2 are systems teaching based with integrated modules covering the core biomedical and psychosocial sciences); Phase 2 (Years 3 and 4 are made up of clinical teaching based through a series of placements to further develop clinical skills in primary, secondary and tertiary settings as well as teaching blocks on cutting edge developments in areas such as immunology and genetics) and Phase 3 (Year 5 is taught as a long placement in one of East Sussex, West Sussex or Redhill hospitals to better hone the skills students will need as an FY1 junior doctor with the opportunity to take an elective to gain clinical or non-clinical experience in another environment in the UK or abroad).
There is also the opportunity to intercalate or pursue postgraduate degrees both of which there is a huge amount of support as Brighton and Sussex Medical School is affiliated with both the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex and students have opportunities to engage with teaching staff from both institutions.
Brighton and Sussex Interview Information
😊 How does Brighton and Sussex select candidates for interviews?
GCSEs/GCE A Level: A*AA at A level, including Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry (or predicted at least AAA) and these three subjects should normally be taken during the last year of school and grades should be achieved at first sitting
General Studies, Critical Thinking and EPQ and not accepted as a third A level
AS levels will not be used for selection
You just need to meet the entry requirements which can be found on their website, having higher grades won’t give you a competitive edge!
Other accepted qualifications include:
Scottish Highers, Advanced Highers
Irish Leaving Certificate
International Baccalaureate
And others
English Language: must have GCSE English Language Grade of 6, IELTS score of 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 7.0 in other components – IELTS must be taken within 3 years of enrolling on the course
Personal Statement: This is not used for short listing applicants, but it may be used during the interview.
UKCAT: there is no lower threshold but the band you score on the Situational Judgement Test will be used for the interview stage. There is a special focus on the Verbal Reasoning aspect of the UKCAT.
More information on the decile cut-offs for each year can be found on the UKCAT website and fluctuate each year
Age: you must be aged 18 for the start of the year, if not your entry may be deferred until the start of the next academic year
🧬 What is the interview format?
Remote Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) made up of six or seven 8-minute stations – each includes 2 minutes of reading time.
📆 When will you get interview invitations?
December to February (varies from year to year)
👩💼 When are the interviews usually held?
Between January and February, interviews will continue until all the places are filled and you may not hear back until all places have been filled which can be as late as March, with decisions being made from January to the end of March
📝 What are the main topics I will be asked at the interview?
- Motivation and reality of a career in medicine
- Initiative, resilience and maturity
- Teamwork
- Organisation and problem-solving abilities
- Contribution to university in life
- Communication skills
- Personal statement
- Morals and core values of the NHS
- Safety and quality of care
- Maintaining trust
☑️ How will my interview be marked?
There are no right or wrong answers, the interviewers are looking for an overall understanding of the main topics that they expect you to know about before attending medical school such as the realities of a career in medicine and to make sure that you are a good fit for their medical school and for a future prospective career in medicine. You are being assessed for your thinking and also the ability to exhibit the qualities mentioned above that they are looking for.
🏠How many applicants are there per interview (Home)?
4 Home applicants per interview
🌎 How many applicants are there per interview (International)?
15 International applicants per interview
✨How likely is it that I will be given an offer after an interview?
About 50% of those interviewed are offered a place
Try and think about things specific to you which you could bring up at the interview when asked about your qualities.
Go over recent news events, NHS hot topics, and updates within the NHS.
Also know some for and against arguments for controversial topics. Have a short think before getting into your response, to gather your thoughts and stop yourself from
Give multiple examples to illustrate your points. Make sure you include your personal experience in your answers, for example, work experience, use the STARR technique.
If unsure about the question, don't be afraid to ask the interviewer to rephrase it as they are there to help you, this also gives you a bit more time to think about an answer
Check out our Medicine Interview Course!
Example Interview Questions
🔥 Motivation Interview Questions
What have you done to find out about medicine as a career/ Who have you talked to about doing medicine and what did you learn from them?
Why do you think some doctors leave after they qualify and pursue other careers?
What do you think you might like best about medicine as a career?
What do you feel are likely to be the worst things about being a doctor?
When and Why did you decide you wanted to be a doctor?
What would you do if you don't get into medical school this year?
What contributions have you made to your community thus far?
⚖️Medical Ethics Interview Questions
A 7 year old boy and a 65 year old anaesthatist have just been diagnosed with cancer. Only one person can receive treatment. Who would you give it to and why?
🤯Values and Skills Interview Questions
What qualities will make you a good doctor?
We all know exams are stressful. How did you manage when you were taking your GCSEs?
What do you do when you have 3 or 4 things to do that are all urgent?
What do you do to relax?
How do you cope in situations where there is not enough time to finish a task?
Have you dealt with conflict and how did you resolve it?
Could you tell me about a time where you lead a team in a stressful/difficult situation? How did you deal with this?
I see you play a sport/do Duke of Edinburgh/play in the orchestra (or similar)- why is this important?
How do you balance work and all your outside activities?
I see you were the president of a school society. How did you go about performing this role?
What is your greatest weakness?
📰 NHS Interview Questions
Discuss emergency staff strikes
If you were Secretary of State for Health, what changes would you make?
How should doctors tackle the problem of overprescribing on a national level?
🏨 Teamwork Interview Questions
Give an example of a time you’ve worked in a team and what did you learn from this?
I see you are captain of a team. What duties does that involve?
How do you feel about sharing work with others?
🎭 Roleplay Interview Questions
Tell your friend that you can no longer help her plan a surprise party for your mutual friend.
🏥 Work Experience Interview Questions
What difference did your work experience make to you?
What was the most valuable lesson you learned during your work experience?
I see you attended online work experience with Brighton and Sussex Medical School, how did that affect your view on a career in healthcare?
When you visited a hospital what did you see that caused you to think about the challenging aspects of a medical career?
Tell me about a patient who interested you whom you met during your work experience
🏛️ Ethics Interview Questions
If the parents of your patient (who is a child) denied treatment of radiotherapy for that child, what would you do to convince them otherwise?
In a scenario, where your schedule is fully packed, and yet you need to see more patients, what would you do?
A patient with the letters DNR tattooed on their neck has fallen unconscious under your care, do you administer CRP?
Can a doctor withhold information about a patient who has broken the law?
With the current organ shortage in the UK, should we legalise the sale of organs?
Is human cloning acceptable under any circumstances?
If you had £1,000,000 to spend, would you give it to 2 paediatric patients needing heart transplants or 100 older patients needing hip replacements?
Brighton and Sussex Medical School is one of the most prestigious medical schools in the country. The programmes are delivered at the medical school and the students of this medical school have access to both faculties at the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex. The course is delivered through a blend of traditional and innovative teaching methods in a systems based programme which involves workshops, problem-based learning and lectures. There is a strong sense of community, world-class facilities and diverse social life.
The main campus for medics is at the medical school halfway between the campuses of the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex in Falmer, which is a great area for students to live. The area around the campus is very safe with many lovely walks and parks as well as plenty of spots for students to relax and study. The student union from both universities offer a variety of over 250 clubs and societies, from the sporting to the academic, and there is no shortage of activities and events for students to attend and enjoy.
The social life at Brighton and Sussex is inclusive and far from dull. There is an extensive list of societies to take your pick from. There is definitely something for everyone, whether you enjoy sports, arts, volunteering, music, culture or anything else. Brighton being a coastal city, the beaches and sea are never too far away and students enjoy having bonfires and hosting events on the beaches. These accommodation blocks are very large, so it is a great place for meeting many other students. There are also plenty of good transport links meaning you're only ever a train or bus ride away from where you need to be.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School has it's own medical society and also has class reps from every year to push feedback to the faculty and make sure that communication between faculty to students is as clear and concise as possible. From Freshers Week events to revision nights during exam season the med soc work had to provide a work-life balance for everyone. The welfare team are also always on-hand to ensure you’re getting the support you need.
Click on the icons below to learn more about Interviews!
