Interview Day: Step by Step
Your medicine interview day, step by step: from the invitation email to results day. Logistics, ID, what to wear, online set-up, nerves, and what happens after.
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At a glance
Your interview countdown
The 10 things that go wrong most often (and how to avoid them)
- Missing the invitation. Many schools email only the address on your UCAS form. Check spam daily from November.
- Replying too late. Some schools treat no reply as a no.
- Wrong or missing ID. Bring the original, and the same one you uploaded if asked.
- Arriving late. Some schools start on time without you.
- Untested tech. Test on the same platform within 24 hours.
- Notes or a second screen online. Can be treated as misconduct.
- Interviewing while ill and complaining afterwards. Attending means you’re fit to sit.
- Forgetting pre-reading or a pre-set task.
- Letting one bad answer spiral. Reset every time.
- Posting the questions online. It can cost you the offer.
The invitation: what to do straight away
Interviews usually run from November or December to March or April. Invitations arrive in batches, so a friend hearing first doesn’t mean you won’t.
Within 48 hours
- Reply and book. Slots go quickly, and some schools won’t change dates.
- Read every line of the invitation: format, timings, ID, pre-reading, rules on notes and devices.
- Request adjustments now. Deadlines vary. Extra time and alternative formats are commonly offered.
- Upload documents if asked (ID, certificates).
- Save the emergency contact from the invitation in your phone.
Notice periods and clashes
- Notice is usually 1–3 weeks, sometimes less (Oxford can give about a week). International applicants often get more.
- A clash? Contact both schools at once. Most will try to help if you ask early; mock exams usually don’t count as a reason. Cambridge rarely reschedules.
Money and travel help
If cost is a barrier, ask the admissions team about travel bursaries, accommodation or online alternatives; some schools also help with technology. Choosing online, where offered, is not a disadvantage.
What to bring and what to wear
Photo ID: the rules
- Bring the original. Copies often aren’t accepted.
- What counts: usually a passport, driving licence or national ID card showing your name, date of birth and a clear photo. Some schools accept others, so check.
- If you uploaded ID, bring the same one.
- If you wear a face covering, you may be asked to remove it briefly, in private, for the ID check.
The kit list
- Original photo ID
- Invitation email
- Any requested documents
- Water bottle and a small snack
- Route, tickets and the emergency phone number
- Pre-reading, if any was sent
What to wear
Most schools have no dress code beyond “appropriately dressed”.
- Smart, sober, comfortable. A suit is fine but not required.
- Shoes you can walk in.
- Online: dress fully, in plain colours.
- Religious and cultural dress is welcome.
From first-years who’ve just done it
- Introduce yourself and thank them at the end.
- Get organised the night before; there’s nothing worse than arriving late.
The in-person day, hour by hour
| When | What happens | Get it right |
|---|---|---|
| The night before | Kit packed, route checked | Light review of your bullet points only. Sleep beats cramming. |
| Morning | Breakfast, travel | Leave 30–60 minutes of slack for delays. |
| Arrival | Registration and ID check | Arrive 30–45 minutes early. Some schools start on time whether or not you’re there. |
| Briefing | Rules, confidentiality, phones away | Listen for timings and how you’ll move between rooms. |
| Interview | MMI circuit, panel, or both | Read every prompt twice; reset after each station or question. |
| After | Optional tour or talk | Take the tour: it helps your “why here?” answers. |
Rules that apply all day
- Professionalism is observed throughout, not just in the interview.
- Phones off and away; no recording.
- Confidentiality: sharing questions afterwards can be treated as misconduct.
- Guests often can’t wait on site.
If something goes wrong
- Running late: contact admissions immediately.
- Unwell: tell the school before you start. Illness raised afterwards is usually not considered.
- Flustered: pause, breathe, ask for the question again.
The online day
Set-up the day before
- Laptop or desktop, plugged in
- Test on the same platform and account you’ll use
- Camera at eye level; light in front of you
- Quiet room, door shut, household told
- Backup connection (phone hotspot)
- Plain, tidy background; ID within reach
- Check the time zone if you’re abroad
- Practise sitting where you’ll be for the real interview, so you’re comfortable there
The rules (they are strict)
- No AI, no help, no recording. You may be disqualified.
- Notes: only if the school says so. When unsure, none.
- Join early unless told otherwise.
Where to look
On video, eye contact means looking at the camera lens, not the faces on screen. Put a small dot next to the lens, and practise by recording yourself.
If the connection drops
Rejoin the same link at once, use the emergency contact from your invitation and report it on the day. You are not usually penalised.
Recorded interviews (e.g. Brunel)
A few schools use recorded answers: short thinking time, no follow-ups and no re-recording. Use any practice area offered and pick a time and room you control.
Nerves: what actually helps
Every interviewer expects you to be nervous. The aim isn’t to feel calm; it’s to perform well while a bit nervous.
“Interviewers expect nerves”
A medical student who runs mock interviews says nerves are completely normal; if you’re struggling, take a breath before answering and remember it’s okay to pause.
Turn nerves into anticipation
Applicants describe the same trick: treat the adrenaline as energy and focus on connecting with the person in front of you, not on being judged.
If anxiety is affecting your daily life, talk to your GP or school support team. Reasonable adjustments are available for many conditions; ask the medical school early.
After the interview
Straight after
- Write down what went well and what you’d change: it helps your next interview.
- Don’t share the questions, even in group chats.
- Don’t judge it by feel. Plenty of applicants who felt it went badly got offers.
- Feedback on the day is rare.
If you’re unsuccessful
- Ask for feedback within the window your school allows.
- Waiting lists exist and do produce offers.
- Reapplying is normal, and many successful doctors did it.
When will I hear?
Most schools send decisions between January and the end of March, and all must decide by the UCAS deadline in May.
- Oxford decides in early January.
- Some schools (e.g. KCL) decide in May.
Many schools hold every decision until all interviews are finished, so a long wait is normal and says nothing about your result.
Your interview day checklist
When invited
- Replied and booked
- Invitation read twice
- Adjustments requested
- Documents uploaded
- Emergency number saved
- Travel or tech planned
- Pre-reading or tasks noted
Night before
- Original photo ID out
- Clothes ready
- Route / tech tested
- Personal statement skimmed
- “Why here?” points refreshed
- Two news stories ready
- Alarm set; early night
On the day
- Breakfast and water
- Leave or log in early
- Phone off; notifications off
- Eyes on the person or the lens
- Reset after every question
- Thank them at the end
- Don’t share the questions
A final word
The logistics are the part you can control completely. Get them right, and all your energy goes into being the curious, kind, thoughtful future doctor they hope to meet. Good luck from all of us at MedWay.
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