About Leeds Medical School (2023 Edition)
To summarise Leeds University Medical school in a few words it would be easy to say it is supportive, stimulating and encouraging.
Leeds ensures there is early patient contact as well as including early anatomy teaching and dissection.
The University welcomes all feedback and always acts on suggested improvements.
There is a fantastic support network and all members of staff offer ample support to make sure we succeed.
University of Leeds Interview Information
🔍How does Leeds University select candidates for interviews?
GCSEs/A-levels/Highers: Leeds use your academic grades to form a score out of 37. 24 points come from GCSE grades. You score 1 point for grades 5/6 or B, and up to 3 points for grade 8/9 or A*. 8 points are available in A-levels, to score 8 points you need to get AAA. A-levels are not weighted heavily during admissions process. For Scottish students, you need to get AABBB at higher level and BB at advanced higher level which must include a B in chemistry or biology, or you can get a B at advanced higher and AAABB at higher level.
Personal statement: Unlike other medical schools Leeds places emphasis on the personal statement. It is ranked alongside the grades. It is quoted on the website that "personal statements are extremely important".
BMAT: You are required to sit the BMAT. To select candidates the BMAT score is plotted on a graph, along with other candidates. The top 20% are awarded 5 points, and decreases as goes down the percentages. Overall the BMAT weighs only 13% of total so even with an average BMAT score you still have a good chance of receiving an interview.
🧬What is the interview format?
Top ranked applicants are invited to interview. For now interviews are held online. Leeds uses MMI format. This stands for multiple mini interviews. There are 8 stations, each of which the format changes. Each station has a different interviewer who will ask various questions. You will be given 1/2 minutes to read the question before starting. Each interviewer marks the applicant against a pre-determined standardised criteria. After which applicants score are calculated and ranked.
📆 When will you get interview invitations?
Invitations to interview are issued by email in batches starting in December. Applicants that have not been offered an interview will be informed between early December to early February.
👩💼 When are the interviews usually held?
Interviews are held from the start of December to the beginning of February.
📝 What are the main topics I will be asked at the interview?
Motivation to study medicine
The NHS
Current affairs
Why leeds?
Medical ethics
Role play
☑️ How will my interview be marked?
Interviews are marked based on a pre-determined standard marking scheme. Interviewers will be marking your answers and your interpersonal skills.
🏠How many applicants are there per interview? (Home)
2.3 home applicants per interview.
🌎How many applicants are there per interview? (International)
2.4 international applicants per interview.
✨How likely is it that I will be given an offer after an interview?
For home students, after 940 interviews, a total of 300 students received offers. This makes it very competitive with only 32% successful.
There is no data regarding proportion of international students receiving an offer after interviews.
Check the website before your interview and make sure you are familiar with the entire process.
Read the GMC PDF for Good Medical Practice.
Do mock interviews as this is great practice and will really build up your confidence.
Don’t forget to read over your personal statement prior to the interview, as you may also be asked about this.
There is one station in the MMI which specifically tests you on your BMAT essay– so make sure you familiarise yourself beforehand and are able to justify any points you made, as well as why you chose the essay.
Example interview questions
🔥Motivation Interview Questions
What is your motivation for wanting to study medicine?
Why should we take you?
Why Leeds Medical School?
Tell us what you did to find out about medicine.
Why do you want a career as a doctor rather than another health-related profession?
🤯Values and Skills Interview Questions
Give us an example of when you have had to take responsibility (or show leadership) and deal with a difficult situation.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
How do you think that healthcare professionals deal with stress at work?
How will you cope with the stress of a career in medicine?
🧐Problem Solving Interview Questions
You are on your first clinical placement, the nurses are extremely busy and have asked you to help. What do you do?
A patient is prescribed 50mg, tablets are 12.5mg each: how many tablets will you give?
How would you instruct someone to tie their shoelaces?
🎭Roleplay Interview Questions
You are visiting your aunt who is afraid of hospitals, she has received a letter that she requires an MRI scan but really does not want to go. How will you comfort her?
🏥Work Experience Interview Questions
Give an example of work experience you have done and what you have learnt from this
❤️ Medical Ethics Interview Questions
Discuss and put forward your opinion on certain topics including ethical scenarios, current affairs and even unseen article titles.
A fellow medical student has put a post on social media about their clinical placement, it includes a selfie which has patients featured in the background. What should you do?
🗓 Current affairs Interview Questions
Your knowledge and opinions on medical current affairs?
🏢 Teamwork Interview Questions
Give an example of a time you have shown teamwork - I talked about doing my Gold DofE
The main selling point of Leeds would be the fact there are early placements in primary and secondary care. This early onset of clinical exposure is a great way to build up a skillset that will prove useful in later years. This early exposure is really useful in applying Clinical Pathology and Essential Medical Sciences, which are covered in 2nd year. The medical school is also in a great location, being a 10-minute walk into town, meaning there is always lots to do during your lunch hour or after a busy day of university!
Leeds is a busy city and there is always lots to do, especially with how close the medical school is to the city centre. There is ample opportunity for a great work-life balance, as 1st and 2nd year students finish at 1pm on Wednesdays, enabling you to get involved with the many available sports and societies, including MedSoc, Cutting Edge and the Medic/Dentist sports teams. Most students live on campus in first year, which makes it really easy to get to 9am lectures on time, especially if you decided to go out the night before! On campus there are several libraries, including the Health Sciences library, so you are always able to get some work done between lectures!
There is a great family system which involves matching up first year students with ‘couples’ from other years, this is a great way to integrate students and make sure they have support outside of their year group! It’s also really useful if you are struggling and need some wisdom from your medic parents! There are always lots of events held by MedSoc, which also incorporates the family system, as well as various other student-hosted events, such as movie night, quiz nights etc. Don’t worry if you are a non-drinker, there is still plenty for you to do and all socials welcome everybody with open arms.
MedSoc at Leeds is fantastic. There are always lots of events that are suitable for anybody. MedSoc is renowned for the best events, including the Medic ball, cocktail party, varsity and Enigma – a night out to a secret destination. There are also lots of events for non-drinkers, including film nights, pizza nights and more! MedSoc is a great way to meet new people and there is always a friendly and inviting atmosphere, it brings everyone together and creates a real sense of community.
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