Which Top UK Universities Interview Applicants?

University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham, like several others in this list, requires only applicants for medicine to interview ahead of being accepted onto their course. This is quite a common requirement at top universities since medicine is both a very hefty undertaking, and a discipline which requires a combination of academic prowess alongside the ability to conduct oneself in an appropriate and professional manner from the get go. Birmingham interviews applicants for both their undergraduate and graduate intakes for the MBChB Medicine and Surgery courses, with interviews usually taking place between December and February. These interviews follow the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format that is common to a lot of medical schools in the UK, which is designed to assess an applicant’s soft skills through a series of short ‘situational’ tests.

University of Bristol

The University of Bristol interviews students for several of their vocational courses: dental hygiene and therapy, dentistry and gateway to dentistry, medicine and gateway to medicine, gateway to veterinary science, and veterinary science with accelerated graduate entry. Interviews at the University of Bristol usually take place between December and March for entry the following September, and follow the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format that is common to a lot of medical schools in the UK, designed to assess an applicant’s soft skills through a series of short ‘situational’ tests. Some applicants for Bristol were also asked to undertake a practical component to their interview.

University of Cambridge 

Applicants for all undergraduate courses at the University of Cambridge are required to interview, regardless of which subject they’ve applied for, as well as a good deal of graduate applicants (if you’re applying for a graduate course, do check the faculty website to check whether you’ll be required to interview). Interviews at Cambridge are in a traditional format, wherein one student is sat down, either in person or online, with one or two tutors and asked questions on their subject knowledge, wider interests, or content of their personal statement. Cambridge interviews take place between December and January each year. 

Cardiff University 

Cardiff University interviews applicants for a good number of subjects, so we recommend checking the university website during your year of application to double check whether you’ll need to interview. The most common subjects that ask for interviews year on year include medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, politics, languages, and music. Interviews are conducted either in the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) situational format - most commonly used for medicine and other vocational courses - and more traditional panel interviews. Interviews for Cardiff take place from January onwards. 

Durham University 

In terms of formal interviews, Durham only interviews for their BA course in Primary Education. However, applicants for other courses can sometimes be asked to come back in for an informal interview if Tutors think they may be a suitable candidate but there was information lacking or parts of the application that they felt needed clarification. 

University of Edinburgh 

The University of Edinburgh, much like the majority of universities in our list, interview for a select group of vocational courses, largely those with a relation to medicine or clinical practice. These courses include: medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine, oral health sciences, and teacher education. Interviews at Edinburgh take place as part of a longer assessment day, in which applicants are asked to conduct several tasks to help admissions tutors get a better idea of them as a learner. The medicine and veterinary medicine courses are in MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format, whilst the others are more traditional interviews. There is no specified window in which University of Edinburgh interviews take place.

University of Exeter 

Exeter University requires applicants for the following courses to interview before they can be offered a place: BMBS Medicine, BSc Medical Imaging, Nursing, MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical), Teacher Training (PGCE). Interviews at Exeter take place between December and March for admission in September, and the interviews are conducted in an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format to gauge situational judgement of various natures. 

University of Glasgow 

The University of Glasgow interviews for a range of vocational and practical subjects. These are: Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Teaching, Music, History of Art and Art World Practice, and Community Development. Interviews for Glasgow are all in a Panel format (including Medicine), and take place from December onwards. 

Imperial College London 

As a university specialising in scientific courses, most applicants for Imperial College London will be required to attend an interview at some point in the admissions process. We recommend that you check the course website for more information, but if you’re applying for Medicine or Medical-related courses, then an interview is a relatively safe bet. Interviews at Imperial vary between either MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) or Traditional formats, and take palace from January onwards, Do note that if you are invited to interview at Imperial, this may take place as part of a wider recruitment day in which you’ll be asked to complete other tasks designed to show your working style to admissions tutors. 

King’s College London 

King’s College London to conduct some interviews. But they are reserved largely for Medical courses, such as Medicine and Dentistry. These interviews can take place any time between November and May (a large window, we know…) and are usually in an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format. 

University of Leeds 

The University of Leeds invites back their top-ranked applicants for certain practical and clinical courses, such as Medicine and Surgery, Social Work, or Midwifery. These interviews are in either an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) or Panel format, and take place between November and April. 

University of Liverpool 

Like many of the other universities on our list, Liverpool interview for applicants to medical or healthcare-related subjects such as Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Dentistry. These interviews usually take place between December and March. 

London School of Economics and Political Science 

LSE does not interview applicants for any of their courses. 

University of Manchester 

The University of Manchester interviews for a range of courses, so we recommend checking the course page in question to double check. Some applicants are invited to a Visit Day at the university, wherein they will be shown around and, as part of the day, will sit a short interview/chat with admissions tutors. If you’re applying for a healthcare or medicine-related subject, then you can be relatively certain that you will need to interview. These interviews can take place any time between November and March. 

Newcastle University 

Newcastle interviews applicants for Medicine, Dentistry, and Music. Medicine applicants are interviewed in an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format, testing their soft skills as well as logical skills relevant to being a doctor. Dentistry applicants are also assessed on a range of skills, ranging from their biological logic to their ethical and interpersonal skills. For Music interviews, applicants are required to perform audition pieces and discuss their interest in said piece in a follow-up interview. Newcastle interviews have no set window in which they occur. 

University of Nottingham 

The University of Nottingham, like many others on our list, only interviews applicants for medical and healthcare subjects like Medicine or Veterinary Medicine. Interviews for the University take place between December and March, and are in either MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) or Panel format. 

University of Oxford 

The University of Oxford interviews all of their undergraduate applicants, as well as for many graduate courses (we recommend checking the website if you’re a graduate applicant to double check). These interviews are traditional sit-down interviews with an admissions tutor, and take place largely in the first three weeks of December for admissions the following October. 

Queen’s University Belfast 

Queen’s University interview for professional or vocational courses, such as Medicine or Social Work. These interviews can be either MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) or Traditional format depending on the course, and take place from January onwards. 

Queen Mary, University of London 

Queen Mary, like most other universities on this list, require interviews only from applicants applying to Medicine-related courses. Interviews at Queen Mary take place from January onwards and are conducted in a Panel format. 

University of Sheffield 

Various faculties at the University of Sheffield interview applicants, but these are largely restricted to medical-related courses, practical science courses, and social work. However, this is not an absolute rule, so you should check the webpage for the course you’re applying to. Interviews at Sheffield take place from December onwards, and are usually conducted in the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format. 

University of Southampton 

The University of Southampton only interviews for Medicine applicants, which are conducted between January and March for admission the same September. These interviews usually take place as part of selection day, in which applicants are asked to complete tasks that show the admission tutors more about them as a student. 

University College London 

University College London interviews for a wide range of degrees, not just limited to Medicine but also including Art, English, and others. We recommend that you go to the course webpage for the most up-to-date information on whether your course will require an interview. UCL interviews take place between January and March, and are conducted in a panel format. 

University of Warwick 

Most undergraduate courses at Warwick do not require interviews. In very rare circumstances, the university might interview students, but this is unlikely to happen. 

University of York 

The University of York interviews for a wide range of subjects across various disciplines, including Medicine and Engineering, but also ranging to Law and Mathematics. We recommend heading to the course webpage for up-to-date information on whether your subject is asking for interviews. These interviews are conducted in either MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) or panel format, and take place from December onwards.