Barts and The London (Queen Mary) Medicine InterviewFormat, Questions & Prep Tips
Walk through the interview with a current student
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
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Related guides
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Free Interview Resources
Worked-through MMI stations, ethics scenarios, and panel questions.
Read guideNHS Core Values Guide
The 6 NHS values examiners listen for in every interview answer.
Read guideMedical School Rankings
See interview format (MMI vs panel) for each UK medical school.
Read guideUCAS 2026 Personal Statement
The new three-question format your interviewer will reference.
Read guideContextual Offers for Medicine
Every UK medical school's widening-access scheme in one place.
Read guideSources & 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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