

Swansea Graduate Medicine Interview Questions
This article was updated in September 2024 with the latest information, and we will continue to regularly update it!
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ToggleWe’ve all heard about the award-winning teaching and world-class research programmes at Swansea University. Now it’s time to experience learning from their perspective. In this guide we provide an expert insight into past Swansea University medicine panel Interview topics, the Swansea University medicine interview day and tips for converting your Swansea University interview into an offer!

How Is Swansea Interviewing for 2024 Entry?

Swansea has a very competitive nature of their selection process as only candidates who scored highest will be offered a place. All applicants must take an admissions test prior to submitting an application to study MBBCh Medicine (Graduate Entry) at Swansea. They accept Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) or University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) for Home applicants, and GAMSAT, UCAT or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for International applicants. They will receive UCAT scores automatically alongside your UCAS application however you will need to give permission for GAMSAT and MCAT scores to be sent to us via the test providers’ respective online portals.
For all admissions tests, a cut-score will be determined to select candidates for interview. Applicants who meet or exceed the annual cut-off score for the test they have taken will be invited to interview. If you choose to complete more than one admissions test, they will consider one score only. Please read here on how they will consider the score. Any offer of a place to study MBBCh Medicine (Graduate Entry) at Swansea will be based solely on performance at interview.
What is Swansea’s Medicine Interview assessment process?
Swansea University carries out assessment days with 3 stations of 20/30 minute face-to-face sessions. The assessment may take the form of interviews, presentations or role play scenarios. Be ready to be questioned on the content of your personal statement within one or more of the stations. Further details on the format of the day, and anything you need to prepare, will be confirmed within your invitation to interview. We reserve the right to change the format of stations and the competencies assessed between admissions cycles, without notice.
The Swansea interview panel typically consists of trained panel of clinicians, academics, medical students and members of the public and are designed to take account of the personal and academic qualities needed as a doctor, as set out in ‘Good Medical Practice’, and the capacity to meet the outcomes of ‘Outcomes for Graduates’.
When do the Swansea Medicine Interviews take place?
Based on Swansea’s application timeline, interviews take place between November to March. Applicants may be made an offer and then invited to attend an Open Day, or you may be invited for an interview before a decision is made on your application.
What are the common topics for the Swansea Medicine Interview?
Swansea University identifies seven key competencies that they believe are essential for a good doctor and assesses these during interviews. They tailor their questions to highlight each candidate’s qualities in the following areas:
- Communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Coping with pressure
- Insight and Integrity
- Passion for medicine
- Organisation and research
- Ethics and Values
How many applicants were interviewed and subsequently offered a place at Swansea’s Graduate Medicine Course?
Swansea interviews around 400 candidates each year for approximately 142 places to study, which makes the course highly competitive.
At Medic Mind we’ve helped many students secure offers from Swansea and other medical schools. If you’re applying to Swansea, we can do a high quality 1-1 mock with you with a Swansea tutor and realistic panel questions uniquely for Swansea. Book your Online MMI Mock with a Swansea GEM Tutor.
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List of Recent Swansea Medicine Interview Topics
Theme | Swansea GEM Example Questions |
Medicine | Role of emotions in clinical practice |
Personality & Work Experience | Discuss your candidature Memorable work experiences Coping with stress |
Medical Ethics | Discuss ethical scenarios Describe popular ethical case studies, such as the Charlie Gard case General questions on ethical dilemmas |
Personal Statement | General discussion of personal statement |
Other | Casual conversation |
If you would like to practice for the Swansea Graduate Medicine Interview, have a go at the following questions and check out our article on tips for panel interview.
- What do you like doing in your spare time?
- Why is confidentiality important?
- Give an example of a time when you have demonstrated empathy
- What did you learn from your work experience?
- What is your favourite part of your personal statement and why?
Insider Guide: Swansea University Medicine Interview Day
How does the Swansea Medicine Interview day work?
Our assessment days were carried out on 3 stations with each station lasting for 20-30 minutes. They asked a series of questions that mainly evaluated my personal qualities and my responses to various scenarios. We had role play scenarios and presentations all throughout the stations. They placed particular emphasis on questions about my personal statement, so be sure that you are thoroughly familiar with it.
What are the Swansea University medicine interviewers like?
The interviewers I encountered were friendly and the tone is often more engaging than at other medical schools. However, some interviewers were more neutral or formal so they can test how we handle stressful communication situations.
Do the Swansea University panel interviewers ask a lot of follow up questions?
The interviewers had a set list of follow-up questions given to us during the stations. These questions often came as “prompts” that guided our conversation. Personal statement questions were more flexible and free-flowing, with follow-up questions based on the answers given to the main question.
What are the ethical questions during the Swansea University medicine interview like? Do they expect you to have extensive knowledge? Is it based around an article?
Swansea GEM candidates should have a solid grasp of key ethical debates, such as cannabis use, euthanasia, and abortion. The questions were framed around case studies based in the UK and summaries are given for these, but being familiar with major news cases related to healthcare and ethical decisions was also beneficial. They expected that we had basic understanding of basic legal principles, including who makes the final decision and what determines legality. Knowledge of how laws in other countries differ from those in the UK can also strengthen your arguments. For instance, understanding why euthanasia is legal in some EU and Asian countries can help inform your perspective on the UK’s stance on euthanasia.
What are the personality questions like? Do they want you to give examples?
The personality questions typically started off with very broad and open questions, such as “Tell me about yourself”. They went through my personal statement and asked about additions that caught their eye, including my work experience and extracurricular activities. They asked for examples but engaged more conversationally.
Swansea do expect applicants to have a strong grasp of their own weaknesses and this was a popular question in the interview. I avoided cliche answers or parading my strength as a weakness (for example, being a perfectionist). Instead, I discussed a real weakness that I have consciously self-reflected on and consequently, have worked to improve.
Do the Swansea medicine interviewers expect you to know about recent NHS topics?
Yes absolutely! It would not be possible to complete the ethical and situational station if I did not have a firm understanding of NHS topics. They asked questions regarding funding, abortion, euthanasia, organ donation, blood transfusions, religious exemptions, etc. Also, it was great that I was familiar with recent big news regarding these topics – for example, patients flying for euthanasia in continental Europe, etc. Anything that’s been in contemporary news, BBC health may be a good source as well as our model answers for NHS topics
Do you know how they score/marked GEM candidates for medicine at Swansea University? How long does it take to hear back after the Swansea medicine interview?
After the interviews were completed, my overall performance was assessed. They told us that only candidates who scored highest will be accepted. I received the results 10 days after the interview.

Top Tips for the Swansea Medicine Interview
Stay Updated: Be well-informed about current events, the NHS, healthcare legislation, recent news, and GMC guidelines. You may be asked about scenarios based on current news, and interviewers might adjust details to test your understanding. Be confident with what you know, but if you’re unfamiliar with something, acknowledge it and use any provided information to answer follow-up questions effectively. It’s better to learn about new situations than to pretend you know something and risk missing key details.
Prepare Examples: Anticipate the types of questions that may come up in the personal panel and have concrete examples ready. Think about things you do to relax, challenges you face, areas where you excel, things you want to change, and experiences that have impacted your life. Provide genuine examples and discuss their impact honestly. Reflection is a key skill for medical professionals.
Stay Focused: During discussions, stick to the topic at hand. Avoid tangents or unrelated information. Keep your answers concise yet detailed, and stop when you’ve answered the question. More words don’t necessarily mean more information.
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Frequently Asked Question
→What is Swansea Graduate Medicine?
Swansea Graduate Medicine is a graduate-entry programme for medical studies at Swansea University in Wales. This programme is designed for students who already have completed a degree in a relevant subject and wish to pursue a career in medicine.
→What are the entry requirements for Swansea Graduate Medicine?
The entry requirements for Swansea Graduate Medicine include a relevant degree with a minimum of a 2:1 classification or above, as well as a strong performance on the GAMSAT or UCAT for home applicants, or GAMSAT or UCAT or MCAT for international applicants. In addition, applicants are required to demonstrate relevant work experience in a healthcare setting.
→What is the selection process for Swansea Graduate Medicine?
The selection process for Swansea Graduate Medicine generally includes an interview and an evaluation of academic and work experience. The interview will cover your motivations for studying medicine, your healthcare experience, and your knowledge of the field.
→What is the curriculum like for Swansea Graduate Medicine?
The Swansea Graduate Medicine curriculum offers an intensive and accelerated medical education. It combines classroom learning, practical sessions, and clinical placements to build knowledge and skills in medicine and surgery, with a strong focus on practical experience.
→What clinical placements are available at Swansea Graduate Medicine?
Swansea Graduate Medicine provides clinical placements in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, and community settings. Students work with experienced healthcare professionals and learn from real-world cases.
→What research opportunities are available at Swansea Graduate Medicine?
Swansea Graduate Medicine is a research-intensive programme with a strong focus on medical research and innovation. Students can participate in research projects across various medical fields and collaborate with leading researchers.
→What are the career prospects for Swansea Graduate Medicine graduates?
Swansea Graduate Medicine graduates are in high demand and often work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. They also have the option to pursue postgraduate education or research opportunities in various medical fields.





