University of Malaya Medicine Interview Questions

General Interview Information

​The University of Malaya uses multiple mini-interviews for candidates short-listed for their MBBS programme. The interview focuses primarily on non-cognitive traits such as:
  • Giving instructions
  • Receiving instructions
  • Emotional communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Resilience and maturity
  • Enthusiasm for medicine
  • Ethics
  • Awareness of common issues in medicine
 
Interviews take approximately 40 minutes in total to complete. There are eight stations with candidates spending five minutes at each station. Candidates are awarded marks based on their ability to produce both spontaneous and genuine answers questions as well as their:

  • Quality of content
  • Expression of opinion
  • Body Posture
  • Facial expression
  • Use of eye contact
  • Use of gestures
  • Language fluency

 
​Key Dates
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Interviews are generally conducted in May and June.


Before the Interview​​

  • ​As with any interview, it is all about managing the interviewer’s perception of you and painting yourself in the best light possible. Unlike many others, University of Malaya does not have breaks between stations, so it is essential that you move between stations as quickly as possible and ensure that you do not dwell on the previous station, regardless of how challenging it was.
  • Research the eight core values that the University of Malaya upholds.
  • Reflect on your work experience and ensure that you can discuss what you learnt from them. This includes any personal attributes or skills that you feel you developed that will benefit you in the medical field.
  • Read widely and keep up-to-date on health and other issues that affect the medical community.
  • Practice discussing relevant ethical and medical issues either with your peers, family members and interview specialists, ensuring that you can offer a balanced argument for any ethical discussion.


Recent Interview Questions

​General/Personal Statement Questions: Topics covered at this station often stem from the first question regularly asked by the interviewers at this panel, “tell me about yourself”. This allows you as the candidate a prime opportunity to direct this station on a path of your choice. Examples of questions that have arisen from this initial question are as follows:
  • What are your hobbies?
  • What are your interests?
  • What kind of books do you like to read?
  • Talk about your leadership experience in school.
  • How do you perceive rivalry that may lead to conflicts?

Model answers as well as additional practice questions can be found in the Online Question Bank.
 
Motivation and Insight into Medicine: This station is designed to examine why you want to pursue a career in medicine, your reasons for choosing the University of Malaya, your awareness of what the career involves and your interest in the medical profession. There is a broad range of topics that can arise at this station such as:
  • What made you want to study medicine?
  • What do you know about the University of Malaya? Why did you choose us?
  • What are the current issues that the medical profession are facing?
  • What are the core values that UM upholds?
  • Which of the eight UM values do think is the most important?
  • How do you manage your family as a doctor?
  • You are on holiday with your family, but suddenly you are required to go on call because your colleague (a fellow doctor who was covering for you) has required emergency leave because a member of her family has died. Give your opinion.
  • In other countries, doctors prescribe medication and pharmacists dispense them. In Malaysia, doctors both prescribe and dispense them. What do you think of the separation?

Prioritisation Tasks: These tasks often involve a degree of ethical consideration, and as such do not have a ‘right answer’. Excellent candidates will implement the ‘BlackStone Tutors 5 Step Approach to Prioritisation Tasks’. Examples of recent prioritisation tasks in the UMalaya Medicine interview include the following:
  • Your friend and a pedestrian are involved in an accident; both have the same degree of injury. You can only save one of them. Whom you will choose and why?
  • Additional example stations with model answers can be found in the Online MMI Question Bank.

Role Play Scenarios: These often involve a trained actor and an observer. They are an excellent opportunity for you to demonstrate valued attributes such as empathy and good communication. Ensure that you implement ‘The 6 Stages of MMI Role Play’ in order to succeed in this station. Examples of scenarios that have been used in prior years are:
  • Your friend is having many problems, and he is thinking of committing suicide. What will you do?
  • You accidentally hit your sister's beloved pet. Consider the interviewer as your sister and tell her what happened.

Ethical Scenarios: This station may be related to a current medical issue in the media (either local or international), or be a more generalised topic such as:
  • What are your opinions on euthanasia, autism, vaccination, current diseases, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse?
  • Should a person’s right to access medical treatment by judged by his/her social status?
  • A couple lost their child due to a disease as they failed to vaccinate their child previously. The government decided only to allow children who received vaccines to attend the school. Do you agree with this policy?
  • What is your opinion on being able to buy sperm/ova in order to conceive a baby?
 
As is the case with any ethical dilemma, it is essential to communicate the broader scope of the issue first, giving both sides of the argument. Having done this, you can then make your opinion on the issue known and support it with evidence and a well-considered argument. Ensure that you read the BlackStone Tutors '2 Sorts, 2 Sides' approach to managing ethical scenarios.
 

Medicine Interview Mark Schemes
​Click Here (Available to Interview Course Attendees)
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