About Exeter Medical School (2023 Edition)
Exeter is defined by early clinical contact, friendly and supportive staff and the characteristic friendly atmosphere of a small Med School. Exeter are very keen on the holistic approach.
The problem-based syllabus helps you anchor medical knowledge learnt in lectures, whilst preparing you to treat your own patients as an F1.
Placements can be in a massive variety of settings, from GP surgeries to chiropractors and funeral directors!
University of Exeter Interview Information
😊 How does University of Exeter select candidates for interviews?
GCSEs: The university only requires a grade C/6 in English Language GCSE.
A-Levels: For a valid application, the university requires AAA at A-Level including Chemistry and Biology. The university will assign a score (see table below) to candidate’s academic achievement which forms 75% of the weighting for interview selection.
Personal Statement: It is not used for shortlisting candidates, however personal statements may be referenced in interviews so it is advised to keep a copy for the interview.
UCAT: Exeter requires all candidates to sit the UCAT test and each candidate’s decile will be assigned a score (see table below) which forms 25% of the weighting for interview selection. The UCAT is also used to decide which candidates get an offer if there is a high number of candidates within the eligible pool for offers.
🧬 What is the interview format?
For 2023, Exeter will be conducting online MMI interviews via Zoom and breakout rooms – which will automatically move candidates to each station once time is up. It is essentially to bring photographic ID for the interview!
The MMI will be short 5 stations that lasts 3-5 minutes each with a different assessor in each station.
📆 When will you get interview invitations?
Based on previous years, the university usually sends out their invitations between November 2022 and March 2023.
👩💼 When are the interviews usually held?
Based on previous years, the interviews should be held between December 2022 and March 2023.
📝 What are the main topics I will be asked at the interview?
The university looks to assess a candidate’s communication skills, reflectiveness, insight into strengths and weaknesses, empathy and motivation to study medicine. Exeter has also mentioned that they are looking for candidates to have the values based on NHS Constitution and qualities outlined by GMC Good Medical Practices document – so it is worth reading them in order to prepare for the interview.
☑️ How will my interview be marked?
The interview will be marked based on how well the candidate is able to demonstrate the qualities/skills that is being tested in each station.
🏠How many applicants are there per interview (Home)?
In 2022, the university received 1777 applications and gave out 654 invitations to Home students – 2.7 applications per interview (36.8% chance).
🌎 How many applicants are there per interview (International)?
In 2022, the university received 301 applications and gave out 30 invitations to International students – 10 applications per interview (10% chance).
✨How likely is it that I will be given an offer after an interview?
In 2022, they gave out 442 offers from 654 interviews for Home students – 1.5 candidates per offer (67.6% chance).
In 2022, they gave out 8 offers from 30 interviews for International students – 3.75 candidates per offer (26.7% chance).
Check the Exeter Medical School website and email info.stlukes@exeter.ac.uk if you have any specific questions!
Read GMC's Good Medical Practice in action.
Practice with family and friends as much as you can and reflect on your work experience and skills.
Make full use of the three minutes between each station – this is there to help you prepare and focus for the next station, so make sure you don’t waste time thinking about your previous station.
In a roleplay scenario, think about how you would approach the situation in real life and try to demonstrate attributes such as communicating clearly.
Check out our Medicine Interview Course!
Example Interview Questions
🔥 Motivation Interview Questions
Why medicine?
Why Exeter?
Why do you think you are suited to Medicine?
Why do you want to gain acceptance to this particular medical school?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
What would you do if you were not accepted to medical school?
⚖️Medical Ethics Interview Questions
You might get some ethics scenarios and be asked your opinion/ what you would do
What do you do in a situation where a 15-year-old teenager is asking for birth control?
Tell me about the Terri Schiavo case and what do you think about it?
What is your stance on euthanasia, abortion, stem cell research or Jehovah Witness?
🤯Values and Skills Interview Questions
What are your biggest strengths/weaknesses?
What are some ways in which you relax after a stressful day?
Tell me about a challenge in your life and how you overcame it?
How do your peers describe you?
How do you handle stress?
What do you do in your spare time?
What book have you recently read? What did you learn?
Looking over your application, I see you have received an under performing grade? Explain?
Who is the most influential person in your life? And why?
What are the qualities that make a good doctor and do you have them?
🏥 Work Experience Interview Questions
Describe your work experience and what you have learnt from it
What exposure do you have to medicine? Tell me about a clinical experience
📰 NHS Interview Questions
Current/ past issues in the NHS
What are some downfalls of the NHS?
What are the current challenges in current health care and what can we do to improve it?
How do you feel about 'Doctor Compensation'?
🎭 Roleplay Interview Questions
A woman has just been told that her 4th round of IVF has failed. Break this news to her gently.
🏛️ Science/Medical Questions
What is the Hippocratic Oath?
What do you like most/ least about medicine?
What role does research play in medicine? Have you engaged in any research projects? Tell me about them?
Exeter provides clinical contact through community placements from day one, which many students find particularly useful and motivating, since they can better understand how medical knowledge learnt in lectures is applied to real life patients. Special Study Units are 3 -week blocks delivered twice a year, during which students carry out research in a selected field related to medicine and also enjoy a break from the core medical syllabus. Intercalating is also an option, with Exeter offering a wide range of degrees and masters.
Exeter provides the perfect mix of city life, country side and beaches! Exeter's beaches are just a 15 minutes train journey away and Dartmoor National Park 30 minutes away. First year students have the opportunity of living close to the medicine or on the main campus - regardless, they often live with a mix of medics and non-medics, which enables them to form friendships outside of their course. Exeter also provides a wide range of student societies, ranging from Medics Hockey, to medical specialties societies, to Taylor Swift society! Most medics spend at least a year of their degree at the beautiful Truro campus, and that gives them the chance to explore the beaches of Cornwall, surf and exercise outdoors, as well as a nice break from the city life!
It is very easy to get to know people and make friends at Exeter. There are societies for all hobbies and interests, and they are all amazing at organising drinking and non-drinking events! The sports clubs and facilities provided by the uni enable you to reach you full sporting potential, regardless of your level. It is common for medics to have friends from other courses, since it is so easy to meet others, even outside of the medicine campus. Medical students and others living around St. Luke’s tend to form a close and tightly-knit community which makes the social life even better. The self-directed nature of the course makes it easier to plan a social life around it.
Exeter Medsoc (as well as many other medical societies at Exeter) are brilliant at organising social and academic events! Ranging from the Medics Winter and Summer balls, themed socials every 3 weeks, conferences and movie nights, to weekly revision lectures, there is always something to get involved with. UEMS is a small med school, and hence it is very easy to get to know your whole year and meet people outside of your cohort - Exeter Med School really is one big family!
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