How will the Medicine interviews work?

This year, the Birmingham Medical School will be conducting interviews in-person for home applicants and online for international applicants. It is important that you carefully read the frequently asked questions below to find out more about how the interviews will work and what you need to do to prepare.

Please note that we have a set number of international student places on our A100 programme each year, so Home and Overseas applicants are ranked separately and are therefore not in competition with one another.

By attending your interview, you agree that you will not share specific details of the materials provided or questions asked that form part of the Birmingham Medical School multiple mini-interview (MMI) process with any other person. We regard any such sharing or any attempt to seek information from other interviewees as academic misconduct and your application may be rejected if we find evidence of such behaviour.

 

Home Applicants

How will my interview work?

  • Our in-person Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) for home candidates will consist of six separate stations. You will physically move around a numbered circuit of stations set up in a large room; each station will include 2 minutes of preparation time and 6 minutes of interview time. A whistle will be blown when it is time to move to the next station (see below for those with additional needs who may require additional preparation time). 
  • The six stations will include:
    • Commitment and Insight
    • Dealing with personal and ethical challenges
    • Critical Thinking
    • Data interpretation
    • Role-Play
    • Calculation
  • The calculation station will be conducted on a laptop that will be provided and set up for you. Login details for the laptop will be given to you on your interview day, and a calculator, pen and paper will also be provided.
  • All other stations will involve an interviewer or a role-player.
  • There may also be an observer present in addition to the interviewer, but they will not play any part in assessing you.
  • More information on the format and focus of each station can be found on our website
  • There will be two cycles taking place simultaneously (at registration you will be allocated to either Cycle A or Cycle B).
  • Your interview will therefore last approximately 50-60 minutes and you should allow around 2 hours in total for your time at Birmingham Medical School.

Where do I report to on the day?  

  • Please report to the main reception at Birmingham Medical School when you arrive. You will be directed to a waiting area and you will be collected at your interview time and taken to the interview rooms in time to receive a briefing before the first station commences. You will be able to leave bags and coats in the interview room, but we do not have a secure storage facility, so please do not bring valuable items that you cannot easily carry around with you.
  • Please ensure you bring a valid form of photographic ID with you such as your passport or driving licence.
  • Please ensure all mobile phones and any other smart or recording devices are turned off; recording any aspect of your interview is not permitted.
  • You may bring a water bottle with you, but no other food or drink may be consumed in the interview rooms.

What if I am running late?

It is important to arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time. If you are late, we may not be able to interview you.

What if something disrupts my interview?

If something disrupts your interview on the day or you are unable to complete your interview, please inform the interviewer at your current station or the member of staff overseeing the interviews.

I have a disability; what support is available for me?

  • If you are eligible for extra time in your interview, you will need to provide us with evidence of this at least two weeks before your interview. This will allow us time to reschedule you to an extra time slot on a different day if necessary. Please also remind your interviewers on the day so that they can check this before proceeding with your interview.
  • If you require any mobility, hearing or visual support during your interview, please let us know via email at least two weeks before your interview.
  • If you have a disability or require adjustments not mentioned above, please let us know at least two weeks before your interview.

International Applicants  

What do I need to do to prepare for my interview?

  • Check that your desktop/ laptop webcam, microphone and video call connection work in good time before your interview. Please do not use your mobile phone for the interview.
  • Make sure your Zoom call details (from your interview confirmation email) and your UCAS ID are saved somewhere safe.
  • Create an account on www.Zoom.us and ensure that Zoom is installed onto your device. The interview link will not work if you are not signed into Zoom. You will need to edit your name to show your full name and your UCAS ID – just in case someone of the same name or a similar name is in the same interview slot as yourself. You can do this by going onto your profile in Zoom and clicking ‘edit’.
  • Ensure that you have valid photo ID with you ready to show us on the day. If you do not have a photo ID, please do let us know at least one week before your interview so that we can verify you in another way. If we cannot verify you, we will not be able to interview you.
  • Dress as you would for a face-to-face interview.

How will my interview work?

  • Your interview will take place via Zoom and will last for no longer than 30 minutes.
  • We will still be operating a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, but with two stations rather than six. The two stations will include a role-play station and one other station chosen from the list of those used for in-person MMIs (see above). You could be in either of these stations first and you will spend 10 minutes in each station, which will comprise 2 minutes preparation time, 6 minutes for the interview and 2 minutes waiting to be moved so that your next station can begin.
  • You will be joined by two interviewers in each station.

What if I am running late for my interview?

We recommend that you log into your Zoom call at least one minute before your interview, to ensure that you can join on time. If you are running late, or arrive late, we may be able to reschedule your interview, but we cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

What if something disrupts my interview on the day?

  • If something minor disrupts your interview on the day, such as a dip in internet speed or a loud noise coming from outside, then the people interviewing you will make this clear on their mark sheet, which may assist us when we start to make offers.
  • If something major disrupts your interview on the day, please do email us at the earliest opportunity. We would need to confirm this with your set of interviewers and reschedule your interview to a different time with a new set of questions.
  • We recommend that you check your internet speed, webcam and microphone prior to your interview so that you can rectify any issues that may arise.

What if I do not have a quiet space at home or the correct technology to participate in the interview?

Please do speak to your school as they may be able to assist. You are responsible for identifying an appropriate place to undertake the interview.

What if my country does not permit me to create a Zoom account? 

If your country does not allow you to create a Zoom account, please email us as soon as possible, stating which country you are interviewing from, and we will explore other options with you. 

Do I need to have my camera on at all times?

  • To ensure we are interviewing the correct person, we ask that you have your camera on at all times.
  • If you wish, you are welcome to change your Zoom background or pin a plain sheet behind you so that your background is indistinguishable. However, please be reassured that interviewers will not take any account of your background.

I have a disability; what support is available for me?

  • If you are visually impaired and you require support logging into Zoom on the day, you are welcome to have someone to assist you. That person is also welcome to assist you in any reading task.
  • If you are hearing impaired, please contact us before your interview to discuss your options.
  • If you are eligible for extra time in your interview, you will need to provide us with evidence of this at least two weeks before your interview so that we can make a note of it to inform the interviewers. Once in the interview, please remind your interviewers verbally that you require 2 and a half minutes of preparation time rather than the standard 2 minutes.
  • If you have a disability or require adjustments not mentioned above, please let us know at least two weeks before your interview.

All Applicants

What if I don't have valid photo ID? 

  • If you do not have a valid photo ID such as a passport or driving licence, please contact us no later than one week before your interview so that we can find an alternative way to verify you.
  • Your valid form of photo ID does not have to be in date, but it must be the original document (not a photocopy) and display the same name as on your UCAS application.

What if I need to raise any other issue?

If you need to raise any other issue relating to your interview, please email us as soon as possible and we will be happy to respond and assist where appropriate.

I need to reschedule my interview, what do I need to do?

  • We will only consider rescheduling an interview for a very significant and unexpected reason, such as illness, hospitalisation or attending a funeral. Evidence will normally be required.
  • We will not accept clashes with school-based or mock examinations as a reason for rescheduling.
  • Due to the volume of candidates we are interviewing, if we are able to reschedule your interview, it is likely that any new date or time will be given at very short notice.

Who do I need to contact in case I have additional questions before my interview?

Please contact med-admissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk at least one week before your interview.

When will I find out if I have an offer?

You should find out whether you have received an offer to study with us in March, when all of our interviews have concluded and the interview scores have been ranked.