MMI University of Dundee

Interview Format (Historically)
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Dundee Medical School uses the multiple mini interview format. There are ten stations which are assessed independently with each station taking 7 minutes. There is usually only one interviewer per station. A 30-second break between stations allows candidates to progress between stations and read or listen to any relevant instructions before starting the task.The interview assesses:

• Thinking skills
• Personal values
• Communication

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It is important to note that Dundee offers candidates a place solely on their performance at the interview.

COVID-19 Update for 2021 Entry
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Online interviews will proceed on pre-scheduled dates. Before your interview you will be asked to verify your identity. The interview will then take the form of an Online MMI (using Blackboard Collaborate), with each station involving a panel of staff and/or students from the School of Medicine. These will consist of, ‘questions, situations and dilemmas’ which require no previous medical knowledge, and the whole process will take approximately 45 minutes.

Before the Interview​​

• Research why you want to study at Dundee Medical ensuring that you can clearly articulate why you would be suited to Dundee and why Dundee would suit you. For example, Dundee has a systems-based course which differs from some of the more traditional approaches adopted by other medical schools. Knowledge of the teaching style and how this would fit with your style of learning would be of use here.
• Ensure you know about the school and the unique aspects of the curriculum. For example, any recent refurbishments, being able to shadow a patient from the first week, ability to clerk on the wards, the use of full body Thiel cadavers, their online platform and research opportunities.
• Read and re-read your personal statement so that you know it inside out and can discuss any aspect of it at length.
• Be aware of any current issues facing the NHS/ medical community, in particular NHS Scotland.
• Ensure that you have at least two weeks of clinically-related work experience, which you have reflected on and can discuss in detail.
• Make sure you balance your academic work with hobbies and extra-curricular activities which you can talk about at interview – and particularly the skills you have been able to hone while doing these, for example, teamwork and leadership.
• Practise role-playing sensitive scenarios with friends, family members and MMI Interview Specialists.
• Research different career pathways, e.g. GP versus surgery and the respective timescales.
• Research the General Medical Council Guidelines so that you can include them, where relevant, in your answers.
• Ensure that you have structures to combat each MMI Station type. A range of structures with model answers can be found in our Online MMI Question Bank.

Recent MMI Stations

Dundee divides their stations into two distinctive types.

Those which pose a question, situation or dilemma and are designed to examine the candidate’s values, critical thinking and ability to think on your feet. There are no correct answers and require no medical knowledge, even though they may be framed within a clinical context. While it is essential that you consider these questions and develop a range of points that you would make, try not to memorise a pre-planned answer, as this likely to look obvious and count against you for this station. Examples of these types of stations are:  

Personal Statement/General Station

• What volunteer work have you done?
• What work experience have you done and what did you learn from it?
• Tell me about a time where you worked well in a team situation.
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?

Motivation and Insight into Medicine

• Why Dundee and/or why Medicine?
• Why do you want to be a doctor rather than a nurse?
• What would you do if you didn’t get into medical school?
• The NHS principles/function etc.
• Recent medical advances
• The General Medical Council structure and function.
• Professionalism and medicine as a career
• What qualities are most important in a doctor?
• How long does will it take you to become a GP/surgeon/oncologist?
• Have you read any medical articles of interest recently?

Ethical Dilemmas – These stations pose a problem that often has no clear right or wrong answer. Ensure that you can back up any decisions or opinions that you have with evidence.  Examples of these types of scenarios include:

• What are your views on euthanasia, abortion, cloning etc.
• What is your view on organ donation