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St Andrews Medicine Interview Questions
This article was updated in December 2023 with the latest information, and we will continue to regularly update it!
The six-year Medicine degree programme at St. Andrews is slightly different from other Medicine courses. The first three years are undertaken at St. Andrews and is followed by a further three years of training with a partner medical school.
In 2021/22, the University of St Andrews interviewed 463 out of 1028 applicants, ultimately making 400 offers. This means that only 1 in 2.2 applicants were invited to interview after which roughly 86% received offers. The University of St Andrews uses MMI style interviews to assess candidates.
In this guide we provide an expert insight into past St Andrews MMI stations, the St Andrews interview day and tips for converting your interview into an offer!
How Is St Andrews Interviewing for 2024 Entry?
What is the St Andrews interview style?
For 2024 entry, Interviews will be conducted in-person. The University of St Andrews MMI typically has 6 stations, each 6 minutes in length. International students will conduct their interview online.
What are the St Andrews Medicine interview dates?
Invitations to attend an interview will be emailed to applicants throughout the period of November up to March. Interviews usually take place on dates in November and early December and then in the following January, February and early March.
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recommendedWhat are the common topics covered at the St Andrews Medicine Interview?
St. Andrews aims to assess the following key qualities in their medicine course hopefuls;
- Personal qualities such as empathy, listening skills etc
- A well-informed understanding of the realities and challenges of a medical career
- Commitment to medicine through work experience
- Experience of working with ill or disabled people
- Commitment to academic study and intellectual perseverance
How many students were invited to interview at St. Andrews?
In 2021/22, the University of St Andrews interviewed 463 out of 1028 applicants, ultimately making 400 offers. This means that only 1 in 2.2 applicants were invited to interview.
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List of Recent St Andrews Medicine Interview topics
| Theme | St Andrew´s Example Questions |
|---|---|
| Ethical Scenario | Unbiased ethical debates Funding and healthcare expenditure Universal Healthcare – pros and cons |
| Work Experience | General work experience questions |
| Communication & Role-Play | Helping an individual complete a given task Encouraging a patient Calming down anxious or irritable patients |
| Problem Solving Station | Completing puzzles Following difficult instructions |
| Motivation for Medicine | Reasons for wanting to pursue Medicine Understanding and dedication to the St. Andrews course Preference of partner schools To find out more about the unique degree structure and partner medical schools check out their Course Website Advantages and disadvantages of a career in medicine |
| Analytical Station | Interpreting data sets |
If you would like to practice for the St Andrews Medicine Interview, have a go at the following questions and check out our video on approaching data interpretation stations here
- When should problems in a healthcare setting be reported to a higher authority?
- Why is confidentiality important? (You can also check out our interview video on confidentiality here)
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the new opt-out system for organ donation in the UK?
- Has the Coronavirus pandemic affected your motivation for studying medicine?
- How would you explain how to tie shoelaces to someone with learning difficulties?
A St Andrews Medical Student’s Perspective
Name 3 Reasons why you picked St Andrews
- Reason 1 – One of the main reasons I wanted to study at St Andrews was that I was able to attend two separate universities and I wouldn’t be confined to just one town/city for 6 years. It allowed me to build self-confidence in a very supportive, structured environment before attending a much larger medical school.
- Reason 2 – St Andrews has traditional learning which suits my studying style. The way they delivered the teaching also really appealed to me, they focus on systems-based learning and each year you build on what you have learnt before, so you are constantly encouraged to re-visit previously taught material. Despite being traditional they introduce you to the clinical environment in the first week and are always giving clinical context for what we are learning.
- Reason 3 – It is a beautiful seaside town and had a great atmosphere when I went to visit, everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming which hugely appealed to me. The student support offered by the central university and the medical school was really good and I always felt as if I could ask for help if I needed it. As it is a relatively small medical school all the years are very well integrated which is perfect for giving you advice as well as being a guide to the university.
What makes St Andrews unique to other medical schools?
Everyone takes a huge sense of pride in the University and the town and it is an incredibly inclusive, friendly and supportive school. They offer traditional learning whilst still preparing you for clinical practice, including weekly clinical skills sessions and frequent placements from year 1. The lecturers are all specialists in their field and excellent at teaching. Anatomy teaching has a really good student to cadaver ratio and you normally have one teacher between 10/12 students unlike other medical schools. The University as a whole is really inclusive and offers lots of extracurricular activities whether its sports, singing or social societies. There are also lots of whole university events such as Opening Ball, Raisin and May Dip which almost everyone of all years participates in.
Insider Guide: St Andrews Medicine Interview Day
How does the University of St Andrews Interview day work?
The St. Andrews Interview begins with logistical necessities, such as photo ID check. The interview itself is comprised of 6 stations, each lasting 6 minutes with some reading time given prior to each station. The interview will be held online only for overseas applicants in 2023-24 via Microsoft Teams. For all other applicants, the interview will be conducted in person in 2023-24.
Logistical advice for the day?
For virtual interviews, ensure you have a quiet and bright space with a strong wifi connection and working camera and microphone. Ensure you will not be disturbed during your interview and avoid sitting in front of a bright light or window to prevent glare. Ideally, set up your interview space prior to the day and practice in that setting a few times to ensure comfort and logistical ease. If the university allows, it is helpful to have water to sip on throughout the interview.
While it may be held online, applicants should still maintain professional attitudes and dress formally, as they would for any other interview.
How do you receive information for each of the University of St Andrews MMI stations?
The brief for the station is typically given by the St Andrews interviewer. It is a valuable use of time to read the scenario twice and if you are unclear, ask for clarification – the interviewers are very polite and understanding.
What were the University of St Andrews MMI examiners like? Did they ask follow up questions during your St Andrews Medicine Interview?
There were a variety of examiners – the majority being friendly and encouraging. Some of the examiners were light-hearted, specifically in personal statement stations where there is more room for conversation. There were a few follow-up questions, depending on how the station was answered but there is little time for extra discussion. The circuit is relatively fast paced so try to be concise and to the point for the best result.
How long is the actual University of St Andrews Interview?
The interview shouldn’t last more than an hour.
Is there much guidance with timing for the St Andrews Medicine Interview?
Not much guidance on timing is provided in the St Andrews interview but you can always ask for how much time you have left. If permitted, you may able to have a clock on the table during your virtual interview to monitor the time yourself but check with the admissions team before attempting this as you don’t want to be written off for cheating!
What are the University of St Andrews MMI role play stations like?
The role play stations are typically laid back with friendly and accommodating actors. However, keep in mind that the actors will be fulfilling a brief and may be instructed to remain neutral or even cold/indifferent. This is hardly a testament to your performance and is usually just an indicator of difficult conversations that you are expected to tackle as a prospective medical student.
What are the data interpretation and ethical stations in the St Andrews interview like?
Data interpretation stations typically involve a set of data that requires a level of interpretation (usually a description) followed by questions related to said interpretation. This can often be time-sensitive as the data can be fairly extensive. Remember to remain calm, focus on the task at hand and have a fool-proof system to describe and/or analyze data sets.
Ethical stations can be set up in a debate format where the applicant is asked to argue one side of the ethical debate or applicants may be asked to assess both sides of a certain ethical argument and come to a conclusion. No prior medical or scientific knowledge is needed but a thorough understanding of medical ethics is required. Wider reading is also suggested. For example, knowing the impacts of euthanasia on public and mental health in chronic illness in countries where it is legal can help pad out arguments for or against it when discussing the topic in the context of UK laws.
How long did it take for you to hear back after the the University of St Andrews medicine interview?
Applicants will be notified of decisions via UCAS typically by mid-March. Some may hear back early but this is rare.
Top Tips for the University of St Andrews Medicine Interview
- Prepare your virtual interview set-up early – It’s important to be relaxed yet prepared on the day so set-up a quiet, brightly lit space to do your interview and practice in this setting to ensure maximum comfort. It will also help you survey for any faults in the set-up and tackle them preemptively. Practice by doing an mock interview if possible (this is a key feature of our Interview Lessons, find out more here Interviews Lessons)
- Read instructions carefully – be prepared to read the question / station slides again if you aren’t sure, some may seem ambiguous but the stations aren’t as intimidating as they may seem at first.
- Use the transition and reading time to take deep breaths – even though the exam is fast-paced, take time to think before you speak, don’t fall into the trap of rushing through a station.
- Know the ins and outs of the St. Andrews program – a thorough grasp of the unique structure, including the various placement sites will help show you off as a more dedicated applicant.
- Be professional – one of the key values of the GMC is ensuring the professionalism of doctors is of the highest standard.
- St Andrews does MMI style interviews and they cover a range of attributes including why you want to do medicine and why St Andrews. Be yourself and be confident, they’re not looking for someone who knows all the answers, they are looking for someone who is compassionate and empathetic. They want to understand why it is you want to do medicine and if you are prepared for what it entails, so an awareness that it’s not plain sailing is really important.
- Be prepared to discuss ethical issues and have a strategy for approaching ethical dilemmas. Talk through your thought process and relate it back to the four pillars of medical ethics. Don’t worry if they question why you have said something, they are just trying to explore what has led you to your conclusion.
- St Andrews use actors for role-play scenarios and they are looking for you to be able to effectively communicate with them. You don’t need to know anything about medicine the scenarios will revolve around something trivial but remember to smile, be friendly, ask the patient questions and try not to talk at the patient but instead engage them in conversation
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Frequently Asked Question
→What are the St Andrews medicine interview questions?
The St Andrews medicine interview questions vary from year to year, but generally focus on the applicant’s knowledge of medical science, their motivation for pursuing a career in medicine, and their ability to think critically and solve problems. Some potential questions may include:
What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
What are the biggest challenges facing the healthcare industry today?
Can you discuss a medical case that you found particularly interesting or challenging?
How do you stay up-to-date with medical advancements and research?
How do you prioritize competing demands and manage your time effectively?
→What should I expect from a St Andrews medicine interview?
The St Andrews medicine interview is designed to assess your suitability for the medicine program. You should expect to be asked questions that test your knowledge of medical science, your ability to think critically and solve problems, and your motivation for pursuing a career in medicine. The interview may also include role-playing scenarios or ethical questions related to medicine.
→How can I prepare for a St Andrews medicine interview?
To prepare for a St Andrews medicine interview, you should familiarize yourself with the program’s curriculum and the requirements for becoming a successful medical practitioner. You should also read up on current events in the healthcare industry and medical advancements. Practicing mock interviews with friends or family can also help you feel more comfortable and confident on the day of the interview.
→What qualities are St Andrews looking for in medicine applicants?
St Andrews is looking for applicants who demonstrate a genuine passion for medicine, a strong work ethic, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to work well under pressure. They also value candidates who have good communication skills, empathy, and an understanding of the importance of teamwork in healthcare.
→How important is the St Andrews medicine interview in the admissions process?
The St Andrews medicine interview is an important part of the admissions process and carries a significant weight in the overall assessment of an applicant’s suitability for the medicine program. However, it is just one of several factors considered, alongside academic achievements, personal statement, and references.
→ Is St Andrews medicine competitive?
Yes, St Andrews medicine is considered to be a highly competitive program. The admissions process is rigorous, and the program receives a large number of applications each year from highly qualified candidates. The program is known for its high academic standards and its emphasis on developing well-rounded medical professionals who can provide compassionate and patient-centered care. To be admitted to the St Andrews medicine program, candidates must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, strong communication and interpersonal skills, and a genuine passion for medicine.
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AnonymousMedic Mind Tutor
10 December 2021
Do St Andrews look at your EPQ if you’ve done one?