Glasgow Medicine Interview — Format, Questions & Prep Tips

Why do you want to be a doctor? (Panel A opening)

Glasgow opens conversationally. Use this to set your tone for the whole interview. Be specific about what drew you, not abstract.

What did your work experience teach you about the realities of being a doctor?

Pick one specific moment that changed your view. Reflect on what was unexpected. Glasgow values insight more than the experience itself.

Why Glasgow specifically?

Reference Glasgow's long-established integrated curriculum, the strength of teaching in surgery and clinical pharmacology, the Scottish 5-year MBChB structure, and the city's clinical environment.

Tell me about a time when you had to manage a difficult relationship with someone.

STAR framework. Focus on what you learned about managing the relationship constructively, not on who was right.

What concerns you most about the NHS today?

Workforce burnout, retention, waiting lists, junior-doctor disputes, primary-care access. Show informed awareness with realism and a sense of purpose — Glasgow specifically looks for both.

Scenario A: A patient confides they used recreational drugs but asks you not to tell the surgical team. Scenario B: A patient with mental illness refuses life-saving treatment. Choose one and discuss. (Panel B ethical scenario)

You choose. Pick the one you have more to say about. Apply the four pillars. Discuss both sides before reaching a position. Glasgow wants reasoning, not a fixed answer.

Should the NHS prioritise patients based on age?

Engage with QALY-based vs equity arguments. Acknowledge that explicit age-based rationing is controversial. Reference how the NHS currently handles this implicitly (frailty scoring).

Describe a time you worked in a team where you weren't the leader.

Glasgow looks for collaborative qualities, not always-leadership stories. Reflect on what you learned about followership and supporting others.

A doctor disagrees with a colleague's clinical decision but the colleague is more senior. What should they do?

Patient safety is paramount. Discuss the GMC duty to raise concerns. Cover constructive escalation channels (clinical director, hospital protocols) without being adversarial.

What qualities do you think a good doctor needs, beyond clinical knowledge?

Communication, empathy, resilience, integrity, willingness to keep learning, ability to acknowledge uncertainty. Connect each to a specific example from your experience.

Tell me about a setback you've faced.

Pick a genuine setback, not a humble brag. Focus on what you learned and how you adapted.

Why a Scottish medical school?

Reference the 5-year MBChB structure (different from English 5-year MBBS), the NHS Scotland clinical environment, and the integrated teaching approach Scottish schools share.

A friend asks for your medical advice about a worrying symptom. What do you do as a medical student?

Acknowledge the limits of your knowledge. Encourage them to see a GP. Don't diagnose or prescribe. Discuss the GMC guidance on giving medical advice as a student.

What did you learn about communication from your work experience?

Pick one specific interaction you observed (doctor-patient, multi-disciplinary handover, breaking bad news) and reflect on what made it effective or ineffective.

Should patients be able to access their medical records online?

Current direction of travel in NHS England (Patient Online programme). Pros: autonomy, transparency, error checking. Cons: misinterpretation, anxiety, confidentiality concerns about co-resident family members.