St George's Medicine Interview — Format, Questions & Prep Tips
St George's, University of London (SGUL) runs a multi-station MMI for both the five-year MBBS (A100) and the four-year graduate-entry MBBS (A101). Interviews are held December through March at the Tooting campus, which is co-located with St George's Hospital — one of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK. The school admits approximately 135 students to A100 and 30 to A101 each year.
SGUL's defining feature is its hospital co-location: students have clinical exposure from day one, and the institution is, uniquely, a single-faculty health sciences school. The MMI tests motivation, ethics, communication, role-play and reflection, with a particular interest in candidates who understand the realities of working in a diverse, inner-London teaching environment serving a large and varied catchment population.
Shortlisting for A100 is based on UCAT (cognitive sections, banded) and academic achievement. A101 graduate applicants use GAMSAT alongside academic profile. Both programmes use the same MMI format with comparable expectations on interview day.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Applicants per year
- ~2,400 A100 + ~1,200 A101
- Places (A100)
- ~135
- Places (A101 graduate)
- ~30
- Format
- Multi-station MMI (~7–10 stations, ~5–7 min each)
- Shortlisting
- A100: UCAT cognitive + academics / A101: GAMSAT + academics
Interview Format
- Multi-station MMI for both A100 (5-year) and A101 (4-year graduate)
- Stations typically ~5–7 minutes with independent assessors
- In-person at the Tooting campus, co-located with St George's Hospital
- Same MMI format for undergraduate and graduate applicants
- Stations span motivation, ethics, role-play, communication and reflection
- Strong emphasis on awareness of inner-London population and clinical realities
- Some role-play stations include trained actors
- Single-faculty health sciences institution — distinctive feel
Sample Interview Questions
Why St George's specifically?
Reference the hospital co-location, the single-faculty health sciences focus, the diversity of the Tooting catchment, and early clinical exposure. Avoid generic London answers.
What appeals to you about studying medicine alongside other health sciences students?
Engage with interprofessional learning — working with future physiotherapists, paramedics, biomedical scientists. Show you understand collaborative care.
A patient is anxious about a procedure they have consented to. How do you reassure them?
Acknowledge the anxiety, check what specifically worries them, give information in manageable chunks, offer choices where possible.
A patient asks you about complementary therapies you do not believe are effective. How do you respond?
Respect autonomy, be honest about evidence, explore why they are interested, do not dismiss. Note potential interactions with conventional treatment.
A friend is angry that you cancelled plans because of a study commitment. Speak with them.
Acknowledge their feelings, take responsibility, explain without making excuses, suggest a concrete way to make it up.
Here is data on emergency admissions by hour of day in a London teaching hospital. What patterns do you see?
Describe before interpreting. Identify peaks, propose causes (evening alcohol-related, weekend GP closure, shift handover). Be cautious about overinterpretation.
Tell me about a time you had to deliver news someone did not want to hear.
Warning shot, clear delivery, acknowledge feelings, offer next steps. STAR-style.
Should the NHS prioritise patients who can pay privately on the same waiting list?
Clear position — NHS allocation by need is foundational. Acknowledge the practical tension with private practice and the equity arguments.
What do you understand about the population served by St George's Hospital?
Diverse, multi-ethnic, multilingual catchment in south London. Show awareness of health inequalities, language access, and cultural sensitivity.
Describe a medical or scientific concept you have struggled to understand.
Honest example. Show how you broke it down, who you asked, what eventually made it click.
A patient is upset that their procedure has been postponed. (Actor present.)
Apologise sincerely, explain what you can, do not over-promise, signpost concrete next steps. Avoid defensive language.
What attracts you to a career in medicine over nursing or physician associate roles?
Respect adjacent professions. Be specific about what attracts you to the medical role — diagnostic responsibility, long-term continuity, depth of training.
A medical student you supervise has not turned up to placement twice this week. What do you do?
Speak with them privately first — there may be a personal reason. If concerns persist, escalate via the appropriate route. Balance compassion with professionalism.
Explain what informed consent means.
Capacity, information, voluntariness, no coercion, ongoing process. Show you understand it is more than a signature.
For A101 candidates: what does your previous degree bring to medicine?
Specific transferable skills (research methodology, communication, resilience) with examples. Avoid the "graduates are more mature" cliché.
How to Prepare
- Practise five- to seven-minute stations — SGUL pace can be brisk.
- Research the south London catchment and St George's Hospital's clinical specialties.
- Engage with interprofessional learning — it is a real feature of the SGUL experience.
- Refresh capacity, consent, confidentiality and end-of-life ethics.
- Practise role-plays with feedback — multiple SGUL stations use trained actors.
- For A101 candidates: prepare clear, evidenced answers about what your previous degree adds.
- Visit Tooting if you can — the hospital co-location is striking in person.
Common Pitfalls
- Generic "London" answers that could apply to any London medical school.
- Underestimating the diversity of the catchment — SGUL takes cultural sensitivity seriously.
- For A101 candidates: leaning on "I'm more mature" instead of giving evidenced reflections.
- Skipping interprofessional content — it matters at SGUL more than at most schools.
- Over-rehearsed role-play that ignores the actor's specific cues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does SGUL use the UCAT and GAMSAT?
A100 applicants are shortlisted on UCAT cognitive sections combined with academic profile. A101 graduate applicants are shortlisted on GAMSAT (typically minimum 50 overall with no section below 50) alongside academic profile.
Is the MMI identical for A100 and A101?
The format and content are very similar. Both programmes use the same MMI structure with comparable station content. A101 candidates may face questions probing what their previous degree adds.
What makes SGUL different from other London medical schools?
SGUL is the only single-faculty health sciences institution in the UK — students study alongside future allied health professionals on a campus co-located with a major teaching hospital. Clinical exposure starts in year one.
Does SGUL offer contextual admissions?
Yes. SGUL operates contextual offers for applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, with reduced UCAT, GAMSAT and academic thresholds for eligible candidates. Check the current criteria on the admissions page.
Are placements always in south London?
Primarily, but not exclusively. Most placements are within the south west London sector, with some rotations at partner Trusts. The hospital co-location means much of your early clinical contact is on the Tooting site.
How important is the personal statement at SGUL?
It is not separately scored for shortlisting but is used to inform interviewer questions. Make sure every claim — particularly motivation and work experience — is defensible in conversation.
Sources & official admissions information
We cross-check every interview guide against the school's own admissions guidance and the UK regulators.
- St George's — 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.
Ready to nail your St George's interview?
Book a mock interview with a current medical student who recently went through the same process.
See interview packages