About University College London Medical School (2023 Edition)
As one of the best medical schools in the country, UCL boasts of high student satisfaction, great iBSc options, varied teaching techniques and a brilliant location.
It places a lot of focus on careers and opportunities other than clinical medicine like paths pertaining to research, global medicine, medical policy and much more.
With lots of focus on students’ mental health, extra-curricular activities and patient-centered approach to medicine, UCL is the perfect university for any medical student!
University College London Interview Information
😊How does University College London select candidates for interviews?
A-Levels: A*AA. Biology and Chemistry are required, with either at A*.
GCSEs: Maths and English Language are required, both at B or grade 6.
The BMAT will be used ALONE to select interviewees. The average BMAT scores of UCL applicants who received an interview in 2022 were 5.8, 5.8, 3.3A.
From 2023 onwards, your personal statement is no longer used in the selection process. You still need to demonstrate your passion for helping others, an understanding of the challenges and rewards of medicine, and of the NHS.
🧬What is the interview format?
The interview is a panel format, with 2-3 interviewers. That means you will speaking with a panel of professionals for 20-25minutes.
📆 When will you get interview invitations?
Typically, between December and March you can expect to get interviews. Candidates will be given at least one weeks’ notice.
👩When are the interviews usually held?
The interviews are usually held in December and March and come out on a rolling basis.
📝What are the main topics I will be asked at the interview?
Academic curiosity and interest in healthcare
Motivation for and understanding of a career in medicine (including robustness for the course)
Problem solving and reasoning ability
Professional attitudes and values (factors such as flexibility, integrity, empathy, honesty, conscientiousness and compassion)
Team work, leadership, resilience and individual strengths
Communication skills (including verbal ability, listening skills, eye contact)
☑How will my interview be marked?
Each interviewer will provide scores, which will be reviewed by the Admissions Tutor.
🏠How many applicants are there per interview (Home)?
3 applicants per interview
🌎 How many applicants are there per interview (International)?
16 applicants per interview
✨How likely is it that I will be given an offer after an interview?
There is a 78% chance of receiving an offer after an interview.
A thorough understanding of your personal statement is absolutely essential as the panel has your personal statement in front of them and are liable to ask you about any aspect of them.
Along with a good understanding of current affairs and medical challenges facing the world, UCL interviews have the advantage of being less structured than other interviews, which allows interviewees to lead the interview in the direction of topics they are well read on.
This can be current affairs, a speciality, an activity or opportunity undertaken or impressing the interviewers with an in-depth knowledge of the UCL course.
While UCL interviews do not involve role plays or scenario based questions, students are expected to be able to engage in conversation regarding such aspects of medicine and explain their views, beliefs and understanding eloquently.
UCL is very involved in public health and is proud of many of its staff and professors being involved in the NHS and health Ministry. Have a good understanding of the structure of the NHS, its advantages, drawbacks, challenges, budget and services as it is very liable to be asked and should be known by a prospective student.
Questions regarding current affairs in medicine are a common favourite of UCL interviewers so it is vital all students are up to date on the large, major developments in medicine currently in the news
Even if they ask you to give an example of where you have used one particular skill (e.g. teamwork), always try and incorporate a range of other skills as well (e.g. leadership, resilience, integrity). This will present you in a better light to the interviewers.
Check out our Medicine Interview Course!
Example Interview Questions
🔥 Motivation Interview Questions
Can you tell me about the history of UCL?
Tell me about your research project.
⚖️Medical Ethics Interview Questions
What are the 5 pillars of medicine?
How do we assess the capacity of a patient in order to obtain consent?
How do we assess the capacity of a child in order to obtain consent?
What are the laws surrounding euthanasia in this country?
Your patient’s family members request that you do not tell him of his new cancers diagnosis. What actions would you take in this scenario?
If you made a small mistake during an operation, would you tell the patient? You do not believe that your mistake will have any clinical impact on the patient or his recovery.
🤯Values and Skills Interview Questions
You may be asked to briefly summarise your BMAT essay. Ensure you approach this question wisely as this can dictate the nature of subsequent questions. Expect questions such as “why did you write that point?”, “what’s the reason you wrote this?”Alternatively, “what would you improve?” You must be able to demonstrate that you can justify and reflect on your decisions. Avoid criticising your work as this gives the interviewers fuel to discredit you. Instead, focus on additional points that you could mention or develop further.
📰 NHS Interview Questions
The structure of the NHS, its advantages, current challenges faced, budget and services offered.
What difficulties and stresses are posed for GPs?
Recently there has been a rise in the cases of measles. Do you know why?
If you were made in charge of the NHS budget, where would you allocate your funds?
What are the issues surrounding the NHS?
What recent medical news have you recently come across?
What sort of diseases are mentioned alongside stem cell research?
What body system does cystic fibrosis affect the most?
What method can be used for gene therapy?
🏨 Teamwork Interview Questions
Speak about opportunities or activities they have mentioned in their personal statement. (This is the ideal opportunity for students to elaborate and demonstrate to the interviewer that they are able to work well in a team, for example in a sports/ music team or Duke of Edinburgh.)
🎭 Roleplay Interview Questions
N/A
🏥 Work Experience Interview Questions
What was your most memorable work experience moment?
What did you learn from your work experience/tell me more about it
What did you learn from your voluntary work/tell me more about it
UCL medical school operates as a traditional medical course- this involves a distinct separation of clinical and pre- clinical years along with a compulsory intercalated iBSc. Dissections rather than prosections provide a good grasp of anatomy. UCL is particularly proud of having a great number of intercalated iBSc options available for its medical students- from cardiovascular sciences to medical physics. Students carry out their placements at Royal Free Hospital, UCL Hospital and Whittington Hospital, all of which are at the forefront of medical treatment, where many of the doctors are presidents of their respective royal colleges.
At UCL Medical School all students are able to find a good-work life balance via the seemingly infinite numbers of societies to match any students interests- from academic to sport to arts to food. Many students are able to balance a part time job along with their studies, with a number of well-paying, flexible jobs available through the SU! Most first year student accommodation is within a 15 minute walk of the Medical School. Due to the large and frequently turning housing market, UCL students can choose who they wish to live with and start looking at properties as late as August, while students in smaller city universities have to choose their flatmates and properties after only a month of starting at university, which can be very stressful!
UCL has virtually every society one can think of- from the extremely popular societies such as sports, music and debating to niche interest societies such as bubble tea society, photography clubs and food society. Additionally, owing to the large number of international students, UCL has a large number of cultural societies, great for any one missing home or looking to learn about a new culture! Alongside the societies that help medical students mix with students from other courses, there is also varied student accommodation in first year along with numerous and large social places across the campus. Medical students are a family of their own but are very well integrated with students from all other courses!
UCL’s Medicine Society, commonly referred to as RUMS, is host to a multitude of events each year, renowned at UCL for their excellent organisation, diversity and regularity. Starting form Fresher’s Fairs to Final Year Ball, RUMS ensures that any students UCL experience is anything other than uneventful or boring! RUMS hosts events such as pub crawls, charity sporting events, many black-tie events, speed dating, quiz nights, themed parties (such as a James Bond themed night) and many others, along with the student- led RUMS committee being extremely responsive any event suggestions and feedback. RUMS is also vital to ensuring that despite the large size- 300+ students per year group- of UCL medical school, the atmosphere is warm, friendly and welcoming!
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