University of Southampton Medicine Interview Questions

General Interview Information
​Interview Format
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​The University of Southampton has a two-part interview process:
  1. A group interview, which takes 20 minutes with five minutes of preparation time. The group is given a topic to discuss in front of two interviewers.
  2. An individual panel interview, which also takes 20 minutes and has two interviewers. This is predominantly based on aspects of the candidate’s personal statement.
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During the interview candidates must be able to show that they:
  • Are self-motivated and resilient
  • Have reflected on and learnt from life experiences (this may include, work experience, paid employment and personal experiences both in and outside health and social care settings)
  • Can communicate effectively
  • Can interact successfully with others
  • Can demonstrate an understanding of the values of the NHS constitution

 
Key Dates
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Interviews are conducted in February and March.
 

Before the Interview​

  • Review your personal statement and ensure that you know it well. Be able to articulate your motivation for wanting to study medicine at the University of Southampton.
  • Research the course (for most this will be BM5) and be able to identify aspects that appeal to you, for example, the spiral based curriculum with an integrated teaching style, the research that third-year students undertake, the option of intercalating etc.
  • Reflect on your work experience and the skills that you have learnt from it, that are relevant to medicine.
  • Research the role, structure, function and values of the NHS.
  • Keep up-to-date with any medical-related developments and issues regarding the NHS.
 

Recent Interview Questions

The Group Activity - This involves around eight candidates discussing a given topic, whilst being observed by two interviewers. They are usually ethics-based and are on a topic which the candidates have very little knowledge about. It is important to note that communication and group interaction is what is being assessed here, rather than knowledge itself. For further insight on how to excel in the group activity, read our Group Task Tips written by medical school interviewers. 

The Traditional Panel Interview – This focuses primarily on the contents of one's personal statement and historically has also included the following areas:
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Why Medicine/Southampton/Insight into medicine:
  1. Why would you like to study at Southampton?
  2. Why do you want to be a doctor/study medicine?
  3. Why not nursing or another medical course?
  4. What direction do you see your career taking in medicine?
  5. Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
  6. What appeals to you about this city?
 
Character, Background and Personal Statement
  1. Tell us about yourself
  2. What did you learn/how were you affected by this experience (referring to an experience described in the personal statement)?
  3. Are there any extra-curricular activities that you do now/have done that you hope to continue during university?
  4. Describe a situation where you have learnt something independently.
  5. How will you balance work and extracurricular activities?
  6. What are your strengths/weaknesses?
  7. What is the biggest mistake you’ve ever made?

Attributes of a Good Doctor:
  1. What do you think makes a good doctor?
  2. Do teams need leaders?
 
Work Experience/Volunteer Work:
  1. How did you arrange this work experience?
  2. What did you learn about yourself by volunteering? How much time do you spend volunteering on that placement?
  3. Tell us about a team activity you organised. What went well/badly/did you learn from this experience?

Science/Medicine-based:
  1. Can you talk to us about a medically-related book or article that you read recently?
  2. Can you tell me about a significant, recent advance in medicine?


Medicine Interview Mark Schemes
​Click Here (Available to UKCAT/BMAT/MMI Interview Course Attendees)