Glasgow Medicine Interview Questions

This article was updated in December 2023 with the latest information, and we will continue to regularly update it! 

Ranked first in the Complete University Guide 2024 (alongside Dundee), Glasgow Medical School is a great place for any aspiring medic with high aspirations. 

For more general information about the university, click here: University of Glasgow

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In this guide we provide an expert insight into past University of Glasgow Medicine interview stations, the University of Glasgow panel interview day and tips for converting your University of Glasgow Medical School interview into an offer! 

GLASGOW MEDICAL SCHOOL: The Medicine course at Glasgow is ranked 1st in the UK according to ‘The Complete University Guide’ 2021 subject rankings. It is highly competitive and prestigious, meaning students will benefit from excellent teaching and facilities. Glasgow is a ‘campus university,’ with the Medical School located on campus, which is ideal for students who want to be well connected to other students, studying different courses.
GLASGOW MEDICAL SCHOOL: The Medicine course at Glasgow is ranked 1st in the UK according to ‘The Complete University Guide’ 2021 subject rankings. It is highly competitive and prestigious, meaning students will benefit from excellent teaching and facilities. Glasgow is a ‘campus university,’ with the Medical School located on campus, which is ideal for students who want to be well connected to other students, studying different courses.

How is Glasgow Interviewing for 2024 Entry?

What is the Glasgow Medical School Interview style?

For 2024 entry, your University of Glasgow Medical School interviews will be online via Zoom. There are 2 panels (A and B) lasting approximately 30 minutes in total, which have 2 examiners at each one. Panel A will be focused on the role of a doctor and panel B is more focused on the candidate as a future doctor, including a discussion of an ethical scenario. There will be two scenarios so the candidate will have a choice on which to answer. You will be given 15 minutes at each panel, so you will swap panels at the midpoint.

Download Free Medicine Interview Notes

    What are the Glasgow Panel Interview Dates?

    Most candidates normally take the University of Glasgow Medical School interview between December and March.

    What are the common topics covered at the University of Glasgow Medicine interview?

    In one panel, you have to choose a scenario (from a list of options) which you will read and discuss with the examiner.

    Topics which may be covered in the other panel include:

    • What being a Doctor means
    • Ethics
    • Glasgow curriculum
    • Achievements and skills
    • Personal qualities
    • Meaning of being a doctor
    • Reflection on past experiences
    • Personal statement reflection (examiners will not see your personal statement beforehand)

    How many people were interviewed at Glasgow?

    For 2022 entry,

    • 961 Scottish students applied to Glasgow Medical School, and 494 of them (51%) have been interviewed.
    • 848 RUK students applied to Glasgow Medical School, and 244 of them (28%) have been interviewed.

    International Students: 631 international students applied to Glasgow Medical School, and 161 of them (26%) have been interviewed.

    How many interviewed applicants received an offer from Glasgow?

    Historically, Glasgow has been sending out invitations for medicine interviews between November and February of the application cycle. In 2020/21, 576 of the 879 students interviewed received a Glasgow Medicine Offer. This means 1 in 1.5 students received a Glasgow Offer after the interview. 

    At Medic Mind we’ve helped many students secure offers from Glasgow and other medical schools. If you’re applying to Glasgow, we can do a high quality 1-1 mock with you with a Glasgow tutor and realistic panel questions uniquely for Glasgow. 

    List of Recent Glasgow Medicine Interview Topics

    ThemeGlasgow Example Questions
    Motivation for MedicineWhat does being a doctor mean?
    Why medicine?
    Qualities needed by good doctors
    Work ExperienceReflection on experiences
    Personality & SkillsHow do you manage stress?
    Hobbies and ways of relaxing in spare time
    Qualities you have which are relevant to Medicine
    Problem solving skills (may be given a scenario)
    Medical Ethics‘Big’ ethical questions, e.g. organ donation, abortion, euthanasia 
    Personal StatementMight have to reflect on this
    OtherWhy this university?

    If you wish to practice Glasgow panel interview mocks, here are some sample questions:

    • Why do you want to come to the University of Glasgow?
    • How are you suited to being a doctor?
    • What are your personal strengths?
    • Discuss your thoughts on organ donation.
    • What hobbies do you have outside of your studies?
    • Which qualities does a doctor need?
    • What was the most important thing you’ve learned about Medicine during past work experience and why?
    • Why are you choosing to study Medicine?

    To make sure you can explain why you’ve chosen to apply to Glasgow, have a look at the university’s official course page for Medicine: Glasgow Official Page

    A Glasgow Medical Student’s Perspective

    Name 3 Reasons why you picked Glasgow

    1. Reason 1 The teaching style – Explanation
      Glasgow has a unique teaching style which combines early clinical exposure and a spiral system-based curriculum which gives you a good depth of knowledge.
    2. Reason 2 The Facilities – Explanation
      Glasgow medical school has great clinical teaching facilities in the Wolfson Medical Building and the two big Glasgow Teaching hospitals: the Glasgow Royal Infirmary & the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
    3. Reason 3 The wider University & City- Explanation
      Glasgow has a great social life with lots of brilliant societies on Campus and great nightlife in the city. I love the societies I’m involved with and really enjoy the social life at Glasgow!

    What makes Glasgow unique to other medical schools?

    The teaching style makes Glasgow unique is the four-phase approach provides a good level of early clinical exposure and a spiral system-based curriculum which allows you revisit prior learning in subsequent years which reinforcing the information. 

    Glasgow also has a great mix of UK and international students as well as a large section of graduates/mature students which allows you to meet lots of people from diverse background which enhances the university experience.

    Insider Guide: Glasgow Medicine Interview Day

    How did the University of Glasgow Medical School Interview work?

    Panel A is focused on what you think being a doctor means and topics relating to this. Panel B is focused on you as a future doctor and a discussion of an ethical scenario. You’ll read between two ethical scenarios and choose which to discuss. There are two interviewers who cover both panels and the interviews are quite conversational.

    What do you have to bring for the University of Glasgow Medicine Interview?

    Personal ID and wear smart but comfortable clothing.

    How is the personal statement used for the University of Glasgow panel interview?

    The interviewers won’t have read your personal statement but you should refamiliarise yourself with it, so you can mention any activities you’ve done that relate to the discussion.

    What were the University of Glasgow panel interviewers like?

    I had extremely friendly examiners, however, I heard from other candidates that one examiner was colder, and one was more friendly, for each panel.
    The examiners also told me if I was nearly running out of time.

    Did the University of Glasgow panel interviewers ask a lot of follow up questions?

    There were lots of follow up questions on each panel, mainly based on what I had previously said in my responses.

    How long is the actual University of Glasgow panel interview?

    Once the Glasgow Medicine interview had started, the whole process took about 40 minutes but the actual panel time felt very short on the day.

    How long did it take you to hear back after your Glasgow Medical School interview?

    Just under 2 months, but this varies between candidates.

    ELECTIVES: Something that makes Glasgow very unique is the fact that it offers two electives. One is completed at the end of third year and the other at the end of fourth. This allows students to have two chances to organise experience in a subject they are passionate about. Since the elective has no assessment it is a chance in medical school to do something you enjoy.
    ELECTIVES: Something that makes Glasgow very unique is the fact that it offers two electives. One is completed at the end of third year and the other at the end of fourth. This allows students to have two chances to organise experience in a subject they are passionate about. Since the elective has no assessment it is a chance in medical school to do something you enjoy.

    Top Tips for the Glasgow Medicine Interview  

    1. Research the course structure and the styles of teaching that Glasgow uses because they are likely to ask a few questions about why Medicine at Glasgow will suit you.

    2. Practice ethical scenarios.
    There could be a panel dealing with an ethical scenario. It is good to have looked through some ethical scenarios/dilemmas within the medical profession, so you feel confident in dealing with these. UCAT SJT questions are often a good place to start.
    Here are some example answers for ethics questions, to help you out: Medical Ethics

    3. Revisit your personal statement and make sure you have points you could make in relation to it, as you could be going through it with an interviewer who hasn’t seen it before.

    4. Think about examples of what you like outside of Medicine and Science.
    You could be asked about your hobbies and extracurricular activities so you need to have good examples and be able to reflect on what these activities have taught you.

    5. Have a solid answer for ‘why Medicine’.
    This is a standard question, but it does come up at Glasgow and at many university interviews! Try to come up with something personal and specific to you, linked to your work experience or past experiences with Medicine.
    This can be hard, so have a look at our ‘Motivation for Medicine’ blog post if you need some help: Model Answers

    6. The Glasgow interviews are panel interviews and meant to be conversational. As these interviews are longer than a traditional interview, make sure to give details answers (talk for >1 min per question asked). It’s easy with panel interviews to only interact with the interviewer asking the question. This is even harder online (as the interviews will be this year), so make sure you engage with both members of the panel e.g. looking into your laptop camera when you are speaking.

    7. On one of the panels, you will get a scenario, make sure you use your three minutes of reading time to thoroughly through the scenario and think in your head about the potential questions you could be asked about the scenario and how to answer them. Remember, to use your four pillars of medical ethics in these questions.

    8. Make sure you have a good depth of knowledge regarding the course structure. Glasgow loves to ask a question about why you want to go to Glasgow. Ensure you know about the spiral curriculum and the four-phase structure to the Glasgow course.
    Ensure you always know about PBL (beware this varies between medical schools), its benefits and disadvantages, CBL and the whole-body dissection offered at Glasgow.
    To go the extra mile, consider reading up on the variety of intercalated degrees offered, the two elective periods or the range of societies at Glasgow (and the unique four student bodies structure)

    Covid – 2023/24 Changes for the Glasgow Medicine Interview

    Is the University of Glasgow Medical School interview different this year?

    The University of Glasgow Medicine interview will be conducted virtually via Zoom.
    For some guidance on taking a Medicine interview online, check out this useful document from the Medical Schools Council

    medicine MMI circuit
    Medicine MMI Circuits
    Experience real-life medicine MMIs, with individual feedback on each station to prefect your answers
    Download Free Medicine Interview Notes

      Frequently Asked Question

      →What is the Glasgow Medicine Interview?

      The Glasgow Medicine Interview is a highly competitive interview process that assesses the suitability of candidates for studying medicine at the University of Glasgow.

      →What types of questions can I expect in the Glasgow Medicine Interview?

      The Glasgow Medicine Interview typically consists of questions related to the medical field, such as ethical dilemmas, medical news, personal experiences, and academic interests. It may also include scenario-based questions to test your problem-solving skills.

      →How long does the Glasgow Medicine Interview last?

      The Glasgow Medicine Interview typically lasts around 30 minutes.

      →How can I prepare for the Glasgow Medicine Interview?

      To prepare for the Glasgow Medicine Interview, you should research the University of Glasgow’s medical programme, practice answering typical interview questions, and develop an understanding of current healthcare issues.

      →What are some tips for performing well in the Glasgow Medicine Interview?

      To perform well in the Glasgow Medicine Interview, you should practice active listening, maintain good eye contact, speak clearly and confidently, and demonstrate your passion for medicine. It’s also essential to be honest, respectful, and ethical throughout the interview process.

      →Can I reschedule my Glasgow Medicine Interview?

      In some cases, you may be able to reschedule your Glasgow Medicine Interview. However, you should contact the University of Glasgow as soon as possible to discuss your options.

      →How important is the Glasgow Medicine Interview for admission to the University of Glasgow's medical programme?

      The Glasgow Medicine Interview is a crucial part of the admission process for the University of Glasgow’s medical programme. While academic qualifications are important, the interview allows the faculty to assess your communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and suitability for the profession.

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