Dundee Medicine Interview Questions
This article was updated in October 2026 with the latest information, and we will continue to regularly update it!
Dundee’ five-year programme is highly ranked and in this guide we provide an expert insight into past Dundee MMI stations, the Dundee interview day and tips for converting your Dundee interview into an offer!
How Is Dundee Interviewing for 2027 Entry?
Dundee University normally uses an MMI style interview to assess candidates.
Interviews will be in person (on the School of Medivine Ninewells campus), with international applicants having the option of remote online interviews (on the platform Blackboard Collaborate). The interview consists of 2 main parts: an oberved preparatory group discussion, and a structured interaction with an assessor.
Preparation Stage: In a group with 5 other applicants you will discuss a specific scenario for approximately 30 minutes. You will be given some broad points to help structure discussion. An assessor will obsever the discussion without interacting with the group.
Assessor Discussion Stage: You will move to another room with a different assessor. They will direct conversation, around topics such as: your ability to communicat effectively, your ability to work within a group setting, your personal values and your professionalism.
What are the Dundee Medicine interview dates?
Invitations to interview is released in phases, trying to give at least 2 weeks notice. Interviews are likely to be held in January. Final decisions are made and communicated by the UCAS deadline, but usually after all interviews have finished.
What are the common topics covered at the Dundee Medicine Interview?
- Critical thinking
- Flexible thinking
- Communication skills
- Teamwork
- Work experience
What were the admission and interview statistics for Dundee’s Medicine course?
Unfortunately, the latest data has not yet been released. However, in 2023-2024, Dundee received a total of 1951 applications to their undergraduate course. They interviewed 844 of these applicants, ultimately sending out 570 offers. A further breakdown of the Dundee Medicine admission statistics is available on the website.
At Medic Mind we’ve helped many students secure offers from Dundee and other medical schools. If you’re applying to Dundee, we can do a high quality 1-1 mock with you with a Dundee tutor and realistic stations uniquely for Dundee.
List of Recent Dundee Medicine Interview topics
| Theme | Dundee Example Questions |
|---|---|
| Academic Skills | Knowledge of reliability measures in research Knowledge of hypothesis’ and carrying out scientific research Factors that impact clinical research |
| Work Experience | General work experience questions Questions based on personal statement Transferrable skills as noted in personal statement |
| Communication & Role-Play | Communicating with those with learning difficulties Managing conflict Prioritization |
| Motivation for Medicine | Motivation to pursue a career in Medicine Realities and challenges of a career in modern Medicine |
| GP-Patient Interaction | Summarise video Assess interactions |
If you would like to practice for the Dundee Medicine Interview, have a go at the following questions:
- What is the system in place for organ donation in Scotland?
- Why is confidentiality important? (You can also check out our interview video on confidentiality here)
- A fellow medical student has been involved in a drunken altercation overnight and turns up to a lecture hungover the next day. Decide the best course of action.
- Instruct a child on how to build a lego model
- What are the most pressing issues for the NHS today, other than Coronavirus?
A Dundee Medical Student’s Perspective
Name 3 Reasons why you picked Dundee
- Early clinical exposure – There are clinical placements from the first year of medicine. All tutorials and lectures take place in the hospital so immediately you feel integrated into the healthcare setting. You are assigned a patient from the start who you meet with to discuss aspects of their medical care which is a great experience and a good opportunity to interact with patients. There are also many opportunities to observe ward rounds and carry out clerkings. You take part in clinical skills right from the beginning which helps you to quickly become comfortable speaking to patients, taking histories and carrying out examinations.
- Patient interaction and communication skills integrated into teaching – clinical skills teaching often involves simulated patients; volunteers who are scripted patients that participate in teaching. This is very beneficial in that practicing on these patients helps to build confidence and communication skills. This makes the experiences of going and speaking to real patients on the wards so much more comfortable.
- Student life – Dundee is a campus university; this creates a very close-knit feel, especially within the medical school. There are many medic events which make you feel so welcome and there are so many exciting events you can choose to be involved in. It is particularly nice coming to university knowing that there are so many ways to immerse yourself in university life and meet lots of people on your course.
What makes Dundee unique to other medical schools?
Dundee is unique in its close-knit campus feel. There is a sense of community and support within the medical school which is comforting, especially which uni gets stressful. It is also one of the few medical schools that still have dissection. This is an interesting, hands-on way to learn anatomy that allows you to visualize and understand the human body. It is also an incredibly clinical medical school right from day one and I have personally found this extremely beneficial for my clinical skills development.
Insider Guide: Dundee Medicine Interview Day
How will the Dundee Interview day work?
Previous interviews have been in the MMI format. For all interviews photo ID is required. For online interviews, candidates will receive a link to access your interview in your confirmation email. Interviews will last 1 hour and 40 minutes (including registration and a welcome). In person interviews also have an optional short tour and Q&A session (lasting approximately 30 minutes).
Does the Dundee Interview require any pre-reading?
The Dundee interview requires no prior medical knowledge, however reading up on medical ethics and the latest media topics in Medicine will help prepare and support your answers.
What are the Dundee University assessors like?
On the whole, the examiners are very friendly; they only want the best for you. If you are going off-track, need a little hand or have questions, they typically will happily help you and point you in the right direction. If there are examiners who seem a little cold, do not worry as they will probably be doing this deliberately to see how you react to the challenge.
What are the personality questions like? Do they want you to give examples in your University of Dundee medicine interview?
Giving examples would be advised, as they can help strengthen your argument and also show you have given thought into how you are as an individual, also demonstrating that you have the ability to reflect (which is extremely important to have as a future medic).
The STARR method is a commonly used tool by medics to assess situations and reflect thoroughly and can be useful for these types of stations.
Do the University of Dundee interviewers expect you to know about recent NHS topics?
Whilst it isn’t explicitly mentioned to be aware of current topics in Medical media, candidates may be questioned on current interests in Medicine, which might link to recent advancements in medical technology, therapeutics or social health. This is to assess passion and dedication towards Medicine as a career, and to test communication skills.
What are unique things you can mention for ‘Why Dundee’?
Thiel Cadavers in Dissection: Dundee uses cadavers that have been embalmed using the Thiel method which preserves maximum authenticity of the tissues in terms of structure, color etc. This makes for richer and more accurate anatomical learning.
Spiral systems-based curriculum: Dundee has a strong focus on re-visiting key concepts to ensure thorough understanding and active learning. This is a particularly strong point to mention if applicants can tie it back to their individual learning needs and styles.
State-of-the-art Clinical Skills Centre (CSC): Dundee boasts a purpose built simulation facility to expose students to real-life ward, consultation and emergency scenarios. This breeds confidence and again, is particularly useful to mention in the context of individual learning needs.
When answering “Why Dundee”, it’s key to mention your attraction to the university at large, the medical school and its teaching hospitals as well as the city. For best results, personalize your answer as much as possible. For example, if you’re interested in learning more about gene sequencing, its worth tying this into Dundee’s work in precision medicine. Or perhaps you have a hobby that the university is quite successful at?
How long does it take for you to hear back after the University of Dundee medicine interview?
A minority of applicants will receive early offers but for most students, decisions will be communicated following the interview period.
Top Tips for Dundee Medicine Interview
- Be a contributing member in the group task
The group task is a key part of the entire interview process. During this station you will need to find a balance between being an active member of the team – but you need to make sure to not dominate the entire discussion too. Actively listen to everyone’s inputs, while sharing your own!
- Make sure you are very sharp on your communication skills – Dundee are very communications-based. They offer clinical opportunities from day one, so they want to see whether you can communicate effectively. This can be as simple as trying to describe what a shape looks like in lay-man’s terms. An easy way to practise this is looking at simple objects in a room and ask yourself, “how can I describe this to a toddler?”
- Practise speaking out loud – it sounds very silly, but even speaking to yourself in the mirror can give you practice and improve your confidence as well as communication skills. It can be very hard to constantly talk about how amazing you are, but you are doing it in order to sell yourself and convince the interviewers why you want to be here. It gets easier the more and more you practise saying it out loud. You should also record yourself practicing online and watch it back to hone non-verbal skills, particularly if your interview is online.
- Ensure you have done some research about the Dundee course itself – what do they have to offer that other universities don’t? Do they have something in particular that appeals you? Do you like their teaching style? Even if it isn’t your top choice, make sure you have a few points up your sleeve as to why you want to go to Dundee.
- Find out about the university you are applying for and have reasons ready about why you have chosen it. You don’t want to seem like you haven’t researched the university and have applied randomly. Showing a genuine interest can go a long way! You could be asked why you have chosen Dundee in particular and there are a lot of unique things about the university that you could say. Also be prepared for the question ‘Why Medicine?’ and try and think about why you honestly want to do medicine rather than focusing on what you think they want you to say- this will help you to sounds less cliché and more genuine.
- Lastly, be yourself – it is very easy to panic and make up things to please the interview, but this will get you nowhere. There is no right or wrong answer, so just be yourself and answer what you believe in. Expect to be a little worn out after the interview as it is meant be tricky because they want to see how you cope with unfamiliar knowledge and information.
Frequently Asked Question
→What is the Dundee Medicine interview process like?
Interviews will be in person (on the School of Medivine Ninewells campus), with international applicants having the option of remote online interviews (on the platform Blackboard Collaborate). The interview consists of 2 main parts: an oberved preparatory group discussion, and a structured interaction with an assessor.
→How can I prepare for the Dundee Medicine interview?
To prepare for the Dundee Medicine interview, it is important to familiarise yourself with the format of the interview and you should also review your application and be prepared to discuss your relevant experiences and qualifications.
→What qualities are Dundee Medicine interviewers looking for in a candidate?
Dundee Medicine interviewers are looking for candidates who demonstrate strong communication skills, teamwork, empathy, and a commitment to the field of medicine. They also look for candidates who are able to think critically and problem-solve effectively, and who demonstrate a strong sense of ethics and professionalism.
→What should I wear to the Dundee Medicine interview?
It is recommended that candidates dress smartly (school uniform is fine), for the Dundee Medicine interview. This can help to convey a sense of professionalism and respect for the interview process.
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