Queen Mary University of London Medicine Interview Questions
This article was updated in September 2024 with the latest information, and we will continue to regularly update it!
In this guide we provide an expert insight into past Barts University interview days and tips to help you turn your Medicine interview into an offer!
How Is Barts Interviewing for 2025 Entry?
Barts has confirmed that interviews for the 2025 cycle will be online. Medicine interviews at Queen Mary University of London are normally in the style of a panel. This consists of 2 members of senior academic or clinical staff, a medical student and sometimes a lay selector.
The interview lasts around 20 minutes and consists of two parts. Firstly, you will be asked questions on an article sent to you prior to the interview. In the second part, the panel will conduct a more traditional medical interview.
It is important to note that undergraduate candidates will receive the article a week before their interview but graduate candidates will only receive this 24 hours in advance.
How are applicants selected for the interview?
Applicants will be invited for an interview based on a weighted score relative to other candidates applying in the same year. This score may include the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) score, the UCAS tariff of predicted or achieved qualifications, or a weighted assessment of degree results for graduates.
When are the medicine interviews at Barts?
Interviews will take place between January and February.
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Book a session with one of our expert Queen Mary University tutors to boost your chances of getting into medical school! Call us on +44 (0) 203 305 9593 for a free consultation.
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How many successful applicant places are expected to be available for the 2025 cycle?
The available places for Home students is 311 and up to 24 for Overseas students. You can check their selection criteria here.
What are the common topics for the Queen Mary Medicine Interview?
Interviews are designed to evaluate the following:
- Motivation and reality of a career in medicine
- Initiative, resilience and maturity
- Teamwork
- Organisation and problem solving abilities
- Contribution to university life
- Communication skills
At Medic Mind we’ve helped many students secure offers from QMUL and other medical schools. If you’re applying to QMUL, we can do a high quality 1-1 mock with you with a QMUL tutor and panel questions uniquely for QMUL.
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List of Recent Queen Mary University of London Panel Stations
| Theme | Queen Mary Example Questions |
|---|---|
| Motivation for Medicine | Why Queen Mary University of London? Why Medicine? Tell me about the course structure at Barts |
| Work Experience | Can you elaborate on the work experience mentioned in your personal statement? Strengths and weaknesses of a doctor |
| Article | You will be given an article a week before your interview and will be told to prepare yourself to be questioned about it. You are expected to have good general knowledge on what the article is about will be asked follow up questions based on the answers you initially give. Summarise the main points presented What are the implications for the NHS? |
| Personality & Skills | What can you contribute to this university? Why would you be a good doctor? What extracurricular activities do you do? |
| White Chapel / Mile End Area | What diseases / conditions do you think are prominent in this area? |
If you would like to practice for the Queen Mary medicine interview, have a go at the following questions and check out our tips for panel interviews: QM Medicine Interview
If you would like to practise for the Queen Mary medicine interview, have a go at the following questions and check out our tips for panel interviews
- Describe a time when you worked within a team
- What have you read recently that’s related to medicine?
- Describe a memorable moment from your work experience, what did you learn from it?
- Talk about your strengths
- Why do you want to attend Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry?
We have University specific interview lessons which could help you with a question like this, check out more information here: University Specific Interviews
Insider Guide: Barts Medicine Interview Day
What did you have to wear for the Barts Medicine Interview? Were you required to bring anything?
The dress code is as usual for an interview – suits for boys, and smart clothes for girls. A photo ID is required.
Was your personal statement used in the Panel Interview?
They informed us that it will not be used in scoring at interviews but it was used to give extra insight into my interests and potential contributions. However, familiarising myself with my personal statement proved to be beneficial, as it allowed me to mention relevant activities when asked on questions like “what can you bring to the medical school?”
What were the panel and Barts staff like?
Everyone at Barts was really friendly and happy to answer any of my questions. There were three different examiners. I was interviewed by a specialist doctor, a General Practitioner, and a medical student. Different candidates had varying experiences but overall, I appreciated that they gave me time to speak and ask questions. Most were really encouraging and they nodded along with what I was saying. One of them was quite stern, challenged points I made and asked follow up questions. Both the students and staff recognised that interviews can be stressful, so they strived to make the process as smooth as possible. Overall, the examiners were polite and focused, starting the first question almost immediately.
Did the Barts medicine interviewers ask a lot of follow up questions?
There were lots of follow up questions regarding the article that was given to us beforehand. They based their follow up questions on my answers. For example, when I expressed a particular view, they asked me to elaborate or to explain the disadvantages of that view. On other questions, they used a standardised set of questions and did not ask follow-ups as they moved on to the next question once I’ve finished speaking. I advise future applicants to aim to be concise and keep your answers to around two minutes to avoid being interrupted.
How long is the actual Queen Mary University of London Panel Interview?
The medicine interview at Barts was 20 minutes long and was split into two 10-minute halves. The first half was based on the article emailed to us prior to the interview. The second half was questions on topics such as my personal qualities and motivation for medicine. They gave time at the end of the interview so I can add anything I might want to tell them and to ask them questions.
How long did it take you to hear back after your Barts medicine interview?
My interview was mid January and I received my results around March.
Top Tips for Queen Mary University of London Medicine Panel Interview
1. Research your article and know it well. It’s crucial for you to research your article and be confident discussing it, as half of your interview will focus on this. Consider which of the pillars of medical ethics are involved, the implications for the NHS, and various societal aspects. You may find our article on model answers for useful questions here: NHS Hot Topics
2. Be ready to discuss any aspect of your personal statement. A common mistake is neglecting to review it beforehand because remember, the interviewers don’t know you personally. Your personal statement is their only source of information about you, so they will be keen for you to elaborate on elements of it during your interview.
3. Prepare your answers for the typical questions. These include questions about why medicine and why Barts. Remember to make your answers personal to you by mentioning your work experience and volunteering.
4. Know about the local community. Research the Mile End/Whitechapel area and its characteristics, as this is crucial for your Barts interview. You will likely be asked questions about the community and its health issues.
5. Look into the social aspects of the university as well as academics. This will show the interviewers that you’re genuinely interested in the university as a whole and have invested time in understanding the experience of studying at Barts. It will also assist you in answering questions like, “What can you contribute to this university?” by giving you insights into how you want to get involved.
Frequently Asked Question
→ Am I required to take the UCAT to apply?
You must sit the UCAT in the year of application. Any UCAT exemptions or waivers are not granted under any circumstances. If you are unable to take the UCAT for any reason, the university advises you to reapply for the following application cycle. Register and book a test here.
→ Is Barts particular about work experience?
They require applicants to have an understanding of what a career in medicine looks like. The Barts interview is designed to explore an applicant’s understanding of the realities of a career in medicine, so it is therefore essential that applicants gain people-focused work experience in providing care or service before submitting their application. Work experience can come in various forms, and Barts values all types, including voluntary positions, paid jobs, and volunteering with local charities.
→How can I prepare for the Queen Mary University of London Medicine interview?
To prepare for the Queen Mary University of London Medicine interview, it is important to research the course and the university. You should also practise answering common interview questions and familiarise yourself with the article sent to you. Additionally, you can attend mock interviews or interview preparation workshops to help you feel more confident and prepared on the day. You can check our mock interviews here.
→ When will the decisions be communicated?
The decisions will be released in March when all interviews have been completed. There will be three possible outcomes from the interview:
Offer – conditional upon obtaining relevant qualifications and/or non-academic clearance checks
Rejection
Waiting List – candidates who are unplaced elsewhere may be reconsidered after the summer examination results
→ Can unsuccessful candidates reapply?
Candidates who are unsuccessful cannot be reconsidered for entry in the same cycle but may reapply the following year (provided they achieve the relevant qualifications on their first attempt) without any negative impact on the new application.
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