About Imperial Medical School (2023 Edition)
Imperial College London is a world class university with a respectful reputation for the teaching of science and medicine.
A recently redesigned curriculum now adopts a spiral-based approach. Students cover the same topic multiple times throughout the course, building on and consolidating prior knowledge.
There is also an increased level of patient contact, with students now meeting their very first patients within the first weeks. The programme is driven by clinical expertise as well as international competitive research.
Imperial College Interview Information
😊 How does Imperial College select candidates for interviews?
GCSEs/GCE A Level: You need to just meet the entry requirements! Having a higher grade does not give you a competitive edge.
Personal Statement: This is not used for short listing applicants, but it may be used during the interview.
BMAT: Used exclusively for the interview selection process. Home applicants meeting the minimum BMAT score and with a combined score of >8.7 for Sections 1 + 2 were selected for the interview. Cut off scores change every year depending on the average scores that year.
🧬 What is the interview format?
Imperial College used to have MMI Interviews. But from 2022 onwards, they have split into 2 parts.
Part 1: Asynchronous Interview. These interviews are not done in real time. The interview team requires you to record your response to pre-recorded/written questions. You are given up to a minute to read the question and up to 5 minutes to record a response and upload it into a platform called Panopto Capture. Candidates are invited to Part 1 of interviews were given instructions on how to use the website and account details are well.
Part 2: Online MMI interviews which are Face to Face. There were 7 stations, with each station lasting 5 min along with 1 min of reading time. The interview lasts around 40 min.
📆 When will you get interview invitations?
Typically between mid-December and January. This is a little later than other medical schools as they wait for BMAT results to short list candidates.
👩💼 When are the interviews usually held?
They are usually held between January and March. You typically have to stick to the assigned date. In 2022, the interviews were split into 2 categories: January interviews were online and asynchronous and February and March interviews were a mixture of face to face online interviews.
📝 What are the main topics I will be asked at the interview?
Teamwork and Leadership
Motivation to study medicine
Understanding the role of a doctor
Empathy and breaking bad news
Ethics scenarios
Imperial and contribution to school of medicine
Resilience
☑️ How will my interview be marked?
7 points are given for context (what you say) and 3 points are given for communication (how you say it). Your ability to think is what will be assessed so there are no right or wrong answers. If you change your mind halfway through the question, your ability to reflect and thinking on your feet will be assessed.
🏠How many applicants are there per interview (Home)?
2 Home applicants per interview
🌎 How many applicants are there per interview (International)?
4 International applicants per interview
✨How likely is it that I will be given an offer after an interview?
Home: Out of 1245 interviews that were held, 670 offers were given to Home students. This means that there is approximately a chance of 54% after an interview to get an offer!
International: Out of 129 interviews that were held, 63 offers were given to International students. This means that there is approximately a chance of 50% after an interview to get an offer.
The role players at the Imperial College London Medicine interview are usually students so it will be useful to practise with friends as this will be close to the actual experience.
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, as this will help you organise your thoughts and prevent waffling.
Give multiple examples to illustrate your points. Make sure you include your personal experience in your answers, for example, work experience.
If unsure about the question, it is better to ask the interviewer to rephrase it as they are there to help you.
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?
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 contribution would you make to university life?
⚖️Medical Ethics Interview Questions
A 5 year old girl and a 45 year old doctor 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 a difficult situation?
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 sport/ do Duke of Ed/ play in the orchestra (or similar)- why is this important?
How do you balance work and all your outside activities?
I see you were Director/ Manager in your Young Enterprise company. How did you go about performing this role?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
How do you deal with conflict?
📰 NHS Interview Questions
Discuss NHS waiting times
If you were Secretary of State for Health, what changes would you make?
How should doctors tackle the problem of obesity 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’t come to her 18th birthday party.
🏥 Work Experience Interview Questions
What difference did your work experience make to you?
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?
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 £100,000 to spend, would you give it to a 3 year old needing a heart transplant or 100 older patients needing hip replacements?
Imperial College Medical School is one of the largest schools in the country. The programmes are delivered at four main campuses in West London, giving students a unique opportunity to live and study in one of the UK's most exclusive postcodes. The course is delivered through a blend of traditional and innovative teaching methods which involves workshops, problem-based learning and lectures. Anatomy is now taught using prosections rather than dissections. There is a strong sense of camaraderie, world-class facilities and a diverse social life. There is a compulsory BSc in fourth year. You also get to graduate at the Royal Albert Hall!
The main campus for medics is at Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith, which is a great area for students to live. The main campus is right next to the Royal Albert Hall, where there are always amazing events going on including red carpets for some of the biggest premieres and award. The area around campus is very exciting with museums, music halls, parks and restaurants. There are accommodation options for first years across West London, some of which is minutes away from the South Kensington campus.The medical school at Imperial is unique because it has its own student’s union, with over 60 societies run entirely by the medical school and there’s a really strong sense of community.
The social life at ICSM is inclusive and far from dull. There is a plethora of societies to take your pick from. There is definitely something for everyone, whether you enjoy sports, arts, volunteering, music, culture or anything else. A scheme called ‘Horizons’ allows students to take an extra course in a language or humanity. London is a city filled with life, culture and diversity, and you get the opportunity to live and study at the heart of it. These accommodation blocks are very large, so it is a great place for meeting many other students. The beauty of studying in London is that wherever you're living the many benefits of the city are never too far away.
Imperial College School of Medicine Students' Union support our academic reps, consults on changes and pushes for improvements. From bops to Finals Week, to milestone dinners like STFYD and Halfway Dinner, the medical SU puts the much-needed life into the ICSM work-life balance for everyone. They put on our amazing sports, arts, and volunteering dinners to recognise the talent within ICSM. The welfare team are also always on-hand to signpost and ensure you’re getting the support you need.
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