​Interview Format (Historically)
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For domestic applicants, the Medicine interview consists of a seven-station Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). Each station lasts seven minutes with an extra two minute ice breaker question in the first station. One of the stations involves a role-play scenario; others may be question-based or task-driven. Applicants are assessed on the following categories:
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• Integrity (honesty and probity)
• Communication
• Empathy and self-awareness
• Motivation and commitment to be a doctor
• Compatibility with the MBBS programme
• Teamwork (including leadership)
• Personal organisation
• Persistence and resilience

International applicants undergo a panel interview via Skype, rather than an MMI. The panel consists of two interviewers who will ask a comparable set of questions to those covered in the MMIs. Performance at interview will be the sole basis on which the selectors will make their judgement. The total interview score will be used as the basis for the decision making process for offers to study Medicine.

COVID-19 Update For 2021
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Newcastle will be running online panel interviews, with two interviewers per panel. The interview will cover all competencies that would have been assessed by the MMI. The first invitations should be sent in the first week of December.

Recent Interview Questions

Motivation and Insight into Medicine – This station investigates your knowledge of the field of medicine and your awareness of the current issues affecting this field. Relevant work experience in a clinical setting is of great benefit at this station as it will allow you to add depth to your answers to questions such as:

• Why you want to study Medicine?
• What speciality are you interested in?
• Why do you want to study at Newcastle?
• Why you think you would be good at Medicine?
• Why Medicine compared to other health degrees?
• What makes a good doctor?
• What do you think is the worst issue with the NHS at present?
• What are the possibilities of becoming a doctor after finishing the degree?

General/Personal Statement Station – This station provides you with the opportunity to not only reflect on your personal statement, but give the interviewers an insight into who you are as a person. You should expect questions along the lines of:

• What makes you a good communicator?
• Tell us about a time when you worked as part of a team/as a team player?
• Tell me about a patient you encountered during your work experience?

Ethical Scenarios – This station examines your ability to look at an issue from different perspectives and justify your decisions. Often there is no clear right or wrong answer to these stations. Review the ‘2 Sorts, 2 Sides’ approach to MMI Ethical Scenarios for advice on how to approach these vitally important stations.