Barts and The London (Queen Mary) Medicine Interview — Format, Questions & Prep Tips
Barts and The London (Queen Mary University of London) Medical School uses a distinctive 20-minute interview format conducted online for 2026 entry. The interview comprises two parts: the first 10 minutes are based on an article sent to you in advance, the second 10 minutes are a more traditional medical interview.
A critical timing difference exists between programmes: undergraduate (A100) candidates receive the article ONE WEEK before interview, allowing thorough preparation. Graduate-entry (A101) candidates receive the article only 24 HOURS before interview, putting them under significant time pressure. The article-based format tests your ability to read critically, form opinions, and articulate them under structured questioning.
The panel typically comprises two members of clinical or senior academic staff, a medical student, and sometimes a lay selector. Topics span motivation and insight (why medicine, why Barts), and Barts explicitly assesses motivation to study medicine, resilience, teamwork, organisation and communication skills. For 2026 entry, interviews run January through March, with all interviews completed by March and decisions released shortly after.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Applicants per year
- ~2,800
- Shortlisted for interview
- ~700
- Offers issued
- ~270 (~39% of interviewed)
- Format
- 20-min online: 10 min article-based + 10 min traditional
- Article notice
- UG (A100): 1 week / GEM (A101): 24 hours
Interview Format
- 20-minute online interview for 2026 entry
- Part 1 (10 min): article-based discussion — article sent in advance
- Part 2 (10 min): traditional medical interview
- A100 (undergraduate): article received 1 week before interview
- A101 (graduate-entry): article received only 24 hours before interview
- Panel: 2 clinical/senior academic staff + medical student + sometimes lay selector
- Assesses: motivation, resilience, teamwork, organisation, communication
- Interviews run January through March; decisions released by late March
Sample Interview Questions
Why medicine, and why Barts specifically?
Reference Barts' East London clinical placements, the diverse multi-ethnic patient population, the Royal London Hospital teaching environment, and the integrated curriculum.
(Article-based) Tell me about the article we sent you. What was the main argument?
Show you read it thoroughly. Summarise the argument concisely. Be ready to discuss specifics, not just headlines. Don't fake familiarity.
(Article-based) What perspective do you think the article missed?
Engage with what wasn't there. Counter-arguments, alternative interpretations, missing voices (patients, junior staff, specific demographics). Show critical reading.
(Article-based) Do you agree with the article's conclusion? Why or why not?
Take a position with reasoning. Acknowledge the strengths of the opposing view. Avoid fence-sitting — Barts wants reasoned opinions.
(Article-based) How does the article relate to current NHS challenges?
Connect specific points in the article to specific NHS issues (workforce, access, funding, ethics). Concrete connections.
Tell me about an experience when you had to demonstrate teamwork skills.
STAR framework. Focus on what you contributed and what you learned about collaboration.
What experiences led you to choose medicine specifically over related careers?
Genuine reasons + clear thinking about what attracts you to the medical role specifically (diagnostic responsibility, long-term patient relationships).
A patient asks you to share information with their employer. What do you do?
Confidentiality is paramount. Explore why — could there be coercion involved? Don't share without explicit informed consent.
Describe a time you demonstrated resilience.
Genuine setback with reflection on what you did and what you learned. Barts explicitly assesses resilience.
How do you organise yourself when juggling multiple priorities?
Concrete strategies — calendar, prioritisation, asking for help. Barts explicitly assesses organisation.
Should the NHS prioritise patients from underrepresented communities for certain treatments?
Engage with equity arguments. Reference health inequalities particularly relevant in Barts' East London catchment. Acknowledge the implementation complexities.
What aspect of Barts' curriculum most attracts you?
Specifics: the integrated 5-year MBBS, the early clinical contact, the breadth of placements across diverse East London communities, the Whitechapel and Royal London clinical environments.
(Possibly in Part 2) A patient is upset that their consultation has been cut short. (Actor present.)
Acknowledge the inconvenience. Don't over-apologise. Listen to their specific concern. Offer concrete next steps.
What concerns you about a career in medicine?
Honest concerns + management strategies. Workload, burnout, emotional toll. Show informed self-awareness.
How to Prepare
- READ the article in advance — A100 candidates get a week; use it. A101 candidates get 24 hours; structure your time.
- Have a 1-min summary, 3-min discussion of strengths, 3-min discussion of weaknesses ready for the article.
- Identify perspectives the article missed — Barts probes critical reading.
- Form an opinion on the article's conclusion with reasoning — don't fence-sit.
- Research Barts' East London context — the multi-ethnic, multi-lingual patient population is central.
- Practise online interview etiquette: camera angle, lighting, eye contact at the lens, neutral background.
- A101 (graduate) candidates: practise reading + structuring opinions under 24-hour time pressure.
Common Pitfalls
- Not reading the article carefully — Barts probes specifics. Faking familiarity fails fast.
- Fence-sitting on the article's conclusion — Barts wants reasoned opinions.
- Online format issues — audio cut-outs, distracting backgrounds, eye-line drift.
- Generic "why Barts" answers — be specific about East London and the integrated curriculum.
- Treating Part 1 and Part 2 the same — Part 1 is article-anchored; Part 2 is broader.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do GEM applicants get only 24 hours with the article?
Barts uses the shorter time to assess graduate-entry candidates' ability to read critically and structure opinions under time pressure — skills they value in mature applicants. Undergraduate (A100) candidates get a full week to allow thorough preparation.
How does Barts use the UCAT?
Barts uses UCAT cognitive subtests for interview shortlisting. SJT is considered separately. Recent successful applicants have needed an above-median UCAT.
Are Barts interviews really online?
For 2026 entry — yes, all interviews are online. Check the current admissions page before your interview window for any updates.
How heavily does Barts weight the personal statement?
Used to inform interviewer questions but not separately scored at shortlisting. Make sure every claim is defensible in conversation, especially motivation and work experience.
What kind of article does Barts send?
Typically a healthcare-related article on a topical issue (NHS policy, medical ethics, public health). Past topics have included assisted dying, antimicrobial resistance, mental-health funding. Read it critically — note the argument, the evidence, the perspectives, and what's missing.
Does Barts have a contextual offer scheme?
Yes. Queen Mary operates widening-access schemes reducing UCAT and A-Level thresholds for eligible applicants from underrepresented backgrounds — particularly relevant given Barts' East London catchment area.
Sources & official admissions information
We cross-check every interview guide against the school's own admissions guidance and the UK regulators.
- Barts and The London (Queen Mary) — official admissions page — Programme overview, entry requirements, interview format and timeline straight from the school.
- UCAT Consortium — Official UCAT registration, test format, scoring methodology and free practice materials.
- General Medical Council (GMC) — approved UK medical schools — Statutory regulator. Approved medical schools, the registered-doctor register, and fitness-to-practise standards.
- Medical Schools Council — Selecting-for-excellence guidance, MMI principles, and an A–Z of UK medical schools.
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