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Medicine interviews, 2027 entry
St Mary's Medicine Interview Questions (2027 Entry)
How St Mary's University, Twickenham (St Mary's University, London) interviews for its MBBS: a fully online, recorded multiple mini interview taken on the SAMMI platform, last cycle's window and what is not yet published for 2027, the skills St Mary's says it assesses, and 51 practice questions built from its values and social accountability framework, with model answers.
Reviewed by Dr Akash Gandhi, NHS GP and a Cambridge and UCL graduate (GMC register) · Checked against St Mary's's official pages: 26 October 2026
St Mary's medicine interviews, 2027 entry
St Mary's University, Twickenham interviews medicine applicants by an online, asynchronous multiple mini interview on the SAMMI platform: eight five-minute stations, recorded and assessed later, taking about 1.5 hours in one sitting. St Mary's has not published 2027 entry dates; last cycle's window ran from 26 January to 3 February 2026. The 2027 course is for international students only.
- 2027 dates
- Not yet published. Last cycle's window: 12pm (UTC) on 26 January to 12pm (UTC) on 3 February 2026, eight daysSt Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet)
- Format
- Online asynchronous multiple mini interviews (MMIs) on SAMMI, using Sammi-Select software: pre-recorded questions, recorded answersSt Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet)
- Stations
- Eight stations of five minutes each; each question read aloud and shown on screenSt Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet)
- Length
- About 1.5 hours in one sitting, per the interview page; the MBBS FAQs say no longer than one hourSt Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet)
- Who can apply for 2027
- International (non-UK) students only, with a cohort of 50 to 70St Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine) (2027/28 entry)
- UCAT
- Not required and not used for September 2027 entrySt Mary's University, London, Medicine MBBS course page (September 2027 entry)
- Assessed
- Non-academic skills including communication, empathy, ethical reasoning and decision-making, problem-solving, teamwork and professionalismSt Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine) (2027/28 entry)
- Offers
- Dependent on success at interview; St Mary's does not publish an offer dateSt Mary's University, London, Medicine MBBS course page (September 2027 entry)
- Post-interview success
- Not published: St Mary's publishes no count of applicants interviewed or offers madeSt Mary's University, London, Medicine MBBS course page (September 2027 entry)
Free: The Medicine Interview Guide 2027 (PDF)
An eight-week plan, the frameworks for ethics and role play, five full worked answers with the follow-ups to expect, every school’s interview format, and 20 practice questions with a self-marking sheet. Written by our doctors and dentists.
How does St Mary's interview for medicine?
St Mary's University, Twickenham, which calls itself St Mary's University, London, interviews for its Medicine MBBS with an online multiple mini interview (MMI) on SAMMI (Scalable Automated Multiple Mini Interviews), using Sammi-Select software. It is fully virtual and asynchronous: the questions are pre-recorded, your answers are recorded, and St Mary's assessors score them after you finish. There is no live interviewer.
The interview page describes eight stations with five minutes for each. Each question is read aloud by the interviewer on screen and also shown in writing. Once you start, you must finish in one sitting: you cannot pause, save or come back. The interview page gives the total time as about 1.5 hours.
Two St Mary's pages give different lengths
The MBBS interview information page says the interview takes about 1.5 hours and has eight five-minute stations. The MBBS FAQs say it is designed to last no longer than one hour. Both pages are current; the interview page has the more detailed description, but the instructions emailed with your candidate code are the ones to follow. Allow at least 1.5 hours.
Because nobody is in the room to prompt you, give each answer a clear shape: a direct answer, your reasons, and what you would do. Our guide to online MMIs covers recording yourself and setting up your space, and our MMI preparation guide covers the format in general.
Source: St Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet); St Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine) (2027/28 entry)
When are St Mary's medicine interviews for 2027 entry?
St Mary's has not yet published its interview window for 2027 entry. Its interview page still describes the last round, which is the best guide to the pattern:
| Step | Last cycle | 2027 entry |
|---|---|---|
| Invitation email with your candidate code | Week commencing 19 January 2026 | Not published |
| Interview website opens | 12pm (UTC) on 26 January 2026 | Not published |
| Deadline to complete | 12pm (UTC) on 3 February 2026 | Not published |
In the last round you had eight days to complete the interview at any time you chose inside the window. St Mary's says that, in fairness to all candidates, there are no extensions to the deadline and submissions after it are not accepted. The invitation email contains a six-digit candidate code, which is not your St Mary's ID number, and full instructions, so check the email address on your application regularly.
St Mary's runs rolling admissions for the MBBS and closes applications once all places are filled, so apply early. Compare its window with your other choices in our UK medical school interview dates table.
Source: St Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet); St Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine) (2027/28 entry)
How does St Mary's decide who to interview?
St Mary's does not use the UCAT or any other aptitude test for 2027 entry, and says that meeting its academic requirements does not guarantee an interview; your personal statement is not graded, but an application that does not show clear interest in medicine is not considered further. The academic requirements are on our St Mary's medical school profile, which is the page for that question.
Source: St Mary's University, London, Medicine MBBS course page (September 2027 entry); St Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine) (2027/28 entry)
What does St Mary's assess at interview?
St Mary's says its MMI stations assess non-academic skills and qualities essential for medicine, including, but not limited to, communication, empathy, ethical reasoning and decision-making, problem-solving, teamwork, and professionalism. Offers depend on success at interview.
The School of Medicine also publishes what kind of doctor it wants to train. Its course is built on a CARE principle (Compassion, Ambition, Readiness, Excellence), and its Social Accountability Framework, written with more than 120 people from Hounslow, Richmond and Wandsworth, names five qualities every St Mary's doctor should carry:
- Humility: recognising that people know things about their own life and health that doctors do not.
- Curiosity: asking about the person, not only the symptom.
- Trust: building the connection that lets people share what is really going on at home.
- Emergence: being comfortable not knowing everything, and ready to adapt.
- Pride: respecting the pride and strength in communities facing the greatest inequalities.
Those values matter at interview: St Mary's awards ten scholarships of £3,000 a year to international applicants based on MMI performance and strong alignment with the School of Medicine's values and social purpose. For preparation, St Mary's recommends a webinar by Professor Angela Kubacki, its Head of Medical School Admissions, and links the Medical Schools Council's statement on the core values and attributes needed to study medicine.
The six themes below follow the skills St Mary's lists, with motivation and its social accountability values added because the scholarship criteria name them. The questions are practice questions written by TheUKCATPeople from St Mary's published material. They are not real or leaked St Mary's questions, and nothing here comes from students reporting what they were asked.
Source: St Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine) (2027/28 entry); St Mary's University, London, School of Medicine (no year stated); St Mary's University, London, Social Accountability Framework for the School of Medicine (no year stated); St Mary's University, London, Medicine MBBS course page (September 2027 entry); St Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet)
St Mary's medicine interview questions, by theme
Grouped by what St Mary's says it assesses. Each question has a note on what a strong answer covers, and the St Mary's-specific ones have a full model answer. These are practice questions written by TheUKCATPeople from St Mary's's published guidance, not real or leaked questions.
- Motivation and the St Mary's CARE principle (1 to 9)
- Communication and empathy (10 to 18)
- Ethical reasoning and decision-making (19 to 27)
- Problem-solving and teamwork (28 to 35)
- Professionalism (36 to 43)
- Social accountability and the communities St Mary's serves (44 to 51)
Motivation and the St Mary's CARE principle
What St Mary's says: St Mary's says scholarship winners will show strong alignment with the School of Medicine's values, a clear commitment to social purpose and a dedication to creating positive change through their future medical careers. Its course is built on the CARE principle: Compassion, Ambition, Readiness and Excellence. St Mary's University, London, Medicine MBBS course page
With no interviewer to ask a follow-up, a motivation answer has to carry its own evidence. Know why you want to be a doctor, why you want to train in the UK, and why at a new school built around social accountability. St Mary's publishes a lot about the kind of doctor it wants; read the School of Medicine page before you record.
- 1
Why do you want to study medicine?
What to cover: Give your reason in a sentence, then the experience that tested it. Without a live interviewer, a specific example is what makes the answer believable.
- 2
Why St Mary's?
What to cover: Choose two things St Mary's does that suit you, such as clinical placements from Year 1 or a curriculum shaped by local communities, and link each to you.
- 3
Why do you want to train as a doctor in the UK?
What to cover: Talk about what you understand of the NHS and UK training, and be clear about your plans afterwards. St Mary's graduates can apply for UK Foundation Training but are not obliged to stay.
- 4
St Mary's trains doctors around a CARE principle: Compassion, Ambition, Readiness and Excellence. Which of these is your strongest, and which needs most work?
What to cover: Give an example for the strongest and a realistic plan for the weakest. Self-awareness scores more than claiming all four.
- 5
St Mary's is a new medical school. What do you think are the advantages and challenges of being in one of its first cohorts?
What to cover: Mention new facilities and the chance to shape the school, then the reality of a course still going through GMC review each year. Show you have thought about both.
- 6
What do you know about what a doctor's working week is really like?
What to cover: Talk about shifts, on-calls, paperwork and the training exams after graduation, and say where you learned it.
- 7
St Mary's wants doctors committed to creating positive change in their careers. What change would you like to make?
What to cover: Choose something realistic and specific, such as better care for a group you have seen struggle, and say how a doctor could contribute.
- 8
What have you done to prepare yourself for studying medicine?
What to cover: Talk about experience in caring roles, reading and conversations with doctors. St Mary's says healthcare experience, community service or shadowing is strongly encouraged.
- 9
Studying medicine far from home will be demanding. How will you look after yourself?
What to cover: Describe what keeps you well now and the support you would use. St Mary's offers pastoral and academic tutors and a Student Wellbeing Service.
Model answer
Why St Mary's?
The main reason is how the course was designed. Before it started, the School of Medicine asked more than 120 people in Hounslow, Richmond and Wandsworth what kind of doctor they wanted by their side, and they said someone clinically excellent who takes time to understand them as individuals. I want to train somewhere that starts from what patients asked for.
The second is clinical contact from Year 1. St Mary's students go on placements in GP practices, community settings and hospices in their first years, and practise following patient journeys from home to GP to hospital in simulation. Volunteering at a care home taught me more than any textbook, so I want to learn alongside patients early.
And I like being part of a new school. There will be things that are still being built, and I would like to help shape them, for example by giving feedback on how the community placements work. I think a school that asks its community for feedback will listen to its students too.
Go deeper: How to answer "Why medicine?"
Communication and empathy
What St Mary's says: St Mary's names communication and empathy among the skills its MMI stations assess. Its Clinical Communication Skills teaching, led by Professor Angela Kubacki, is described as a core professional capability built through simulated consultations, feedback and reflection. St Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine)
In a recorded interview you cannot react to a real person, so a communication station is likely to ask you what you would say or do. Speak as if the person were in front of you: acknowledge their feelings, find out what they need, explain clearly and check they understand. St Mary's Social Accountability Framework puts carers and families at the centre, so think about them too.
- 10
An older man on a community placement refuses to come to hospital for tests because his wife depends on him at home. What would you say to him?
What to cover: Acknowledge his worry about his wife first, then explore what help could be arranged so he can attend. Respect that it is his decision.
- 11
How would you explain to a patient why they need to take their blood pressure tablets every day, even though they feel well?
What to cover: Use plain words, one simple picture of what high blood pressure does over time, and check understanding by asking them to explain it back.
- 12
A patient's daughter is upset that her father has waited a long time to be seen. What would you say?
What to cover: Let her speak, acknowledge her frustration and do not make excuses. Offer to find out what is happening and come back with an answer.
- 13
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? Give an example of each.
What to cover: Empathy is understanding someone's feelings from their point of view; sympathy is feeling sorry for them. Give a real example of when you showed empathy.
- 14
St Mary's asks its doctors to be curious about the person, not only the symptom. How would you find out what is going on in a patient's life?
What to cover: Talk about open questions, listening, noticing what is not said and asking about home, work and support. Explain why it changes the care you give.
- 15
Tell me about a time you had to communicate with someone who found it hard to understand you.
What to cover: Describe how you adapted: simpler words, pictures, slowing down or finding help. Then say how you checked it worked.
- 16
How would you speak to a patient whose first language is not English?
What to cover: Talk about professional interpreters, why family members are not a substitute, short sentences and checking understanding.
- 17
A friend tells you they are struggling with homesickness and thinking of leaving the course. What would you say?
What to cover: Listen before advising, ask how they are, and point them to their personal tutor and the Student Wellbeing Service. Check whether they are safe.
- 18
Why do you think communication skills matter so much to patient safety?
What to cover: Link misunderstandings to errors, such as a wrong dose or a missed symptom. St Mary's says poor communication contributes to many patient safety incidents and that the skills can be learned.
Model answer
An older man on a community placement refuses to come to hospital for tests because his wife depends on him at home. What would you say to him?
I would start by understanding his situation, not by persuading him. "It sounds like your wife relies on you a lot. Can you tell me what a normal day looks like for the two of you?" His worry about her is completely reasonable, and if I ignore it he is unlikely to listen to anything else.
Then I would make sure he understands why the doctors want the tests, in plain words, and what might happen if they are missed. I would ask what would need to be in place for him to feel able to go, for example a relative or neighbour staying with his wife, or support from a carers' service.
As a student I cannot arrange that support myself, so I would tell my supervisor what he had said, so the team could look at options such as different appointment times or help for his wife. If he still decides not to go, that is his choice, and I would respect it. St Mary's says carers and families should be recognised and supported, and this is a good example of why: his health depends on hers.
Go deeper: Empathy and sympathy in interviews
Ethical reasoning and decision-making
What St Mary's says: St Mary's names ethical reasoning and decision-making among the skills its MMI assesses. Its School of Medicine Statement of Ethics says GMC guidance requires doctors to act with honesty and integrity at all times, to make patients their first concern and to act with compassion. St Mary's University, London, School of Medicine Statement of Ethics
You have five minutes and no one to steer you, so use a structure: name the issue, say whose interests are involved, weigh the options and reach a decision you can defend. St Mary's is a Catholic university with a Statement of Ethics and expertise in bioethics, so expect it to value careful reasoning and respect for people who disagree. Our guide to answering ethics questions gives you a structure.
- 19
A patient asks for a treatment that conflicts with a doctor's personal beliefs. What should the doctor do?
What to cover: Explain that doctors may object to some procedures but must tell the patient, make sure they can see another doctor, and never let beliefs affect the care they give.
- 20
A patient with capacity refuses treatment that could save their life. What should happen?
What to cover: Check they understand the consequences, explore their reasons and offer alternatives. Then respect the decision; our guide to capacity explains how it is assessed.
- 21
Is it ever acceptable to break a patient's confidentiality?
What to cover: Start from why confidentiality matters, then give the limited exceptions, such as a serious risk of harm to others. Our confidentiality guide sets them out.
- 22
A friend on your course asks you to lend them your assignment so they can "check their structure". What do you do?
What to cover: Decline, explain the risk of plagiarism for both of you, and offer to talk through the ideas instead. Honesty and integrity apply to students too.
- 23
Should a doctor ever accept a gift from a patient?
What to cover: Distinguish a small thank-you from something that could affect care or trust, and explain how a doctor would decide and record it.
- 24
How should a hospital decide who gets a scarce treatment when there is not enough for everyone?
What to cover: Talk about fairness, clinical need and likely benefit, and why decisions should follow clear rules. Our guide to justice in medical ethics covers the principle.
- 25
Is it right that a patient's postcode can affect the care they receive?
What to cover: Explain why variation happens and why it is unfair, then what doctors and services can do. Our guide to the postcode lottery has examples.
- 26
A patient asks you not to tell their family about their diagnosis. The family keep asking you. What do you do?
What to cover: Respect the patient's wishes and do not share. Be kind to the family and gently encourage the patient to think about who they would like to know.
- 27
What does it mean for a doctor to make the patient their first concern?
What to cover: Give a practical meaning: safety, listening, involving them in decisions and speaking up when care falls short. Then give an example from your own experience.
Model answer
A patient asks for a treatment that conflicts with a doctor's personal beliefs. What should the doctor do?
I think two things matter here: the doctor's conscience and the patient's right to care. Doctors are people with beliefs, and in the UK they can object to taking part in some specific procedures. But the patient's care has to come first, so the objection cannot become a barrier for them.
So the doctor should tell the patient openly that they do not provide that treatment themselves, without judging the patient or sharing their beliefs in a way that could upset them. They must make sure the patient knows they can see another doctor and can get there without delay, and the doctor should still give any other care the patient needs.
St Mary's Statement of Ethics says doctors must act with honesty, integrity and compassion and make the patient their first concern. I think that fits this situation well: being open about the objection is the integrity part, arranging another doctor is the patient-first part, and the compassion is in how you say it.
Go deeper: The four pillars of medical ethics
Practise the real format
Rehearse a St Mary's-style interview with a tutor
Mock interviews in the format St Mary's uses, with written feedback after every session, from tutors matched to St Mary's.
Problem-solving and teamwork
What St Mary's says: Problem-solving and teamwork are among the skills St Mary's says its MMI stations assess. Its course teaches through reflective case-based discussions in small groups and teams, and through simulation. St Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine)
A problem-solving station gives you a situation with several things competing for your attention. Say what matters most and why, what you would do first, and who you would involve. Teamwork questions want evidence that you can work with people, share the load and handle disagreement, using real examples from school, work or volunteering.
- 28
On a placement, a patient asks you for help, a phone is ringing and a nurse asks you to fetch something, all at once. What do you do first?
What to cover: Rank by risk to patients, act on the most urgent and say who you would pass the other tasks to. Explain your reasoning as you go.
- 29
Your small-group case discussion has one member who talks over everyone else. How would you handle it?
What to cover: Suggest a fair way for everyone to contribute, invite quieter members in and speak to the person privately if it continues.
- 30
Tell me about a time you worked in a team to solve a problem. What was your role?
What to cover: Describe the problem, your part and the outcome. Be clear about what you did and what others did.
- 31
Your placement is more than an hour from campus and your train is cancelled. What do you do?
What to cover: Contact the placement early, find another route and give an accurate arrival time. St Mary's says some Phase 2 placements involve a long commute, so planning ahead matters.
- 32
You have an exam, a placement and a group presentation in the same week. How do you plan it?
What to cover: Prioritise by deadline and importance, agree tasks with your group early and tell a tutor if you are struggling.
- 33
Tell me about a time your team disagreed. How was it resolved?
What to cover: Show you listened to the other view, helped find a compromise or a fair way to decide, and kept working relationships intact.
- 34
A community group tells your placement team that local people find it hard to get GP appointments. How would you find out why?
What to cover: Ask the people affected and the practice staff, look at when and how appointments are booked, and only then suggest changes.
- 35
What makes a team in healthcare work well?
What to cover: Talk about clear roles, respect for every profession and speaking up about safety. Our guide to the multidisciplinary team explains who does what.
Go deeper: MMI prioritisation stations
Professionalism
What St Mary's says: St Mary's names professionalism among the skills its MMI assesses. It asks candidates to sign a confidentiality agreement before the interview and to complete it with no notes, prompts, other devices or other people in the room. St Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants
Professionalism starts before the interview: St Mary's asks you to sign a confidentiality agreement, consent to recording and record alone. Expect questions about honesty, reliability and how you behave when nobody is watching. The GMC expects professional behaviour from medical students from their first day.
- 36
Your interview is recorded and must be done alone. A relative offers to sit out of view and help you with answers. What do you say?
What to cover: Say no and explain why: it breaks the rules you agreed to and would be unfair to other candidates. Integrity is part of what is being assessed.
- 37
What does professionalism mean for a first-year medical student?
What to cover: Talk about reliability, confidentiality, respect for patients and staff, and looking after your own health. Give an example of each from your own life where you can.
- 38
You see a fellow student share a placement photo online that shows a patient. What do you do?
What to cover: Treat it as a confidentiality breach: ask them to remove it at once and report it if they will not. Explain why patients' trust depends on it.
- 39
Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What did you do?
What to cover: Choose a real mistake, own it, and spend most of the answer on how you put it right and what you changed.
- 40
St Mary's requires a DBS check, an overseas police check and occupational health clearance. Why do you think medical schools need them?
What to cover: Talk about protecting vulnerable patients and the public's trust in doctors. Show you see these as part of joining a profession.
- 41
A senior doctor asks you to do something you have not been trained to do. What do you say?
What to cover: Decline politely, explain that you have not been trained and offer to observe. Knowing your limits keeps patients safe.
- 42
How would you behave on a placement in someone's home or a hospice?
What to cover: Talk about respect, privacy, dignity and following the host's rules. St Mary's places students in hospices from early in the course.
- 43
You notice a classmate is often late and seems exhausted. What do you do?
What to cover: Speak to them kindly and privately first, find out what is wrong, and encourage them to seek support. Raise it with a tutor if patients could be affected.
Model answer
Your interview is recorded and must be done alone. A relative offers to sit out of view and help you with answers. What do you say?
I would thank them, because they would be trying to help, and then say no. St Mary's asks candidates to record with nobody else in the room and no notes or prompts, and I would have signed a confidentiality agreement and consented to the recording. Accepting help would mean breaking an agreement I had made.
It would also be unfair. Every other candidate answers the same questions on their own, and some of them might lose a place to me because I had help they did not. The interview is meant to show how I think, and help from someone else would make it show how they think.
And it matters for medicine. A doctor makes decisions when nobody is checking, and patients have to be able to trust them. I would sooner be judged on my own answers and fall short than get a place I had not earned. So I would ask my relative to help in a different way: by keeping the house quiet while I record.
Go deeper: The GMC guide for interviews
Social accountability and the communities St Mary's serves
What St Mary's says: St Mary's defines social accountability as directing what it teaches, researches and does towards the priority health concerns of the communities it serves. Its framework names five qualities for every doctor it trains: humility, curiosity, trust, emergence and pride. St Mary's University, London, School of Medicine
This is the part of the St Mary's course that is most its own. The School says more than 80% of a person's health is determined by where they live, what they earn, their housing, their education and who they know, and it trains doctors to understand those factors. It also frames its course around the NHS 10 Year Health Plan's three shifts. Be ready to talk about both in plain, practical terms.
- 44
St Mary's says more than 80% of a person's health is determined by factors outside healthcare. What does that mean for a doctor?
What to cover: Name some of the factors, then say what a doctor can do: ask about them, refer to support such as social prescribing, and advocate. Our social prescribing guide explains one route.
- 45
What does "social accountability" mean to you?
What to cover: Put St Mary's definition in your own words: a medical school that serves its community's health needs and answers to that community. Then give an example of what it could look like.
- 46
St Mary's wants its doctors to show humility. What can a patient teach a doctor?
What to cover: Talk about patients knowing their own lives, symptoms and priorities. Give an example of learning something important by listening.
- 47
The NHS 10 Year Health Plan sets out three shifts: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. Which matters most to you, and why?
What to cover: Choose one, explain what it means for patients and give a realistic benefit and a risk. Our guide to the three shifts has the detail.
- 48
What are the benefits and risks of digital technology and AI in healthcare?
What to cover: St Mary's teaches digital health and AI. Give one benefit, such as faster diagnosis, and one risk, such as patients who cannot use digital services being left behind.
- 49
Why might some people in a community not use health services they need?
What to cover: Talk about cost, transport, language, trust, caring duties and past experiences. Then say how services could reach them.
- 50
St Mary's says carers and families should be recognised and supported. Why does a carer's wellbeing matter to a doctor?
What to cover: Explain that unpaid carers keep many patients safe at home and can become unwell themselves. Say how a doctor can notice and support them.
- 51
St Mary's curriculum is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Why should a UK doctor think about global health?
What to cover: Link global issues, such as infection, migration and climate, to patients in the UK. Then say what a doctor can do locally.
Model answer
St Mary's says more than 80% of a person's health is determined by factors outside healthcare. What does that mean for a doctor?
It means that the things that make people ill or keep them well are mostly outside the clinic: where they live, what they earn, their housing, their education and who they have around them. A doctor can prescribe the right inhaler, but if a child goes home to a damp, mouldy flat, their asthma will keep coming back.
So I think a good doctor has to ask about a patient's life as well as their symptoms. That is what St Mary's means by curiosity: asking about the person, not only the symptom. Once you know about the damp flat or the money worries, you can do something, such as writing to the housing provider, or referring to a social prescriber who can connect the family with local support.
Doctors cannot fix poverty on their own, but they can notice it, refuse to ignore it and speak up about it. I like that St Mary's built its course with local communities, because that seems the right way to learn what actually matters to the people you will treat.
Go deeper: Health inequalities and the Marmot review
What do I need for the St Mary's online interview?
- Equipment: a laptop or PC with a working webcam and microphone. You cannot use a mobile phone. Charge your devices fully.
- Browser: the recording tool does not work on Safari. St Mary's names Google Chrome, Opera and Microsoft Edge (Chromium version).
- Practice set-up: before you begin you must complete a practice set-up, checking your Wi-Fi, webcam and microphone.
- Your room: no other devices, no notes or prompts and no other people. The room should be bright and well lit, with your face and torso fully visible. St Mary's warns that if the video is too dark or the connection poor, assessors may not be able to make a decision on your application.
- Agreements: you must sign a confidentiality agreement, emailed to you, before you are given your candidate number, and consent to your interview being recorded. St Mary's cannot interview applicants who do not give that permission.
- Adjustments: request any adjustment using the form in your invitation email, by the deadline it gives. Requests are only accepted through that form; the Wellbeing Team then contacts you.
- Help: if you have questions or difficulty meeting the deadline, email med.admissions@stmarys.ac.uk as soon as possible.
Source: St Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet)
How is the St Mary's MMI scored?
Your recorded answers are assessed by St Mary's after you complete the interview. St Mary's does not publish its mark scheme or how station scores are combined. It says offers depend on success at interview, and the same MMI performance is used to award its ten international scholarships of £3,000 a year, alongside alignment with the School of Medicine's values.
Source: St Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet); St Mary's University, London, Medicine MBBS course page (September 2027 entry)
What happens after the St Mary's interview?
St Mary's does not publish when it makes offers after the interview. If your qualifications are already complete, St Mary's verifies them before making an offer, so check the My Application tab of your applicant portal for any document marked "Required". Offers are conditional on an enhanced DBS check, an in-country police check and occupational health clearance.
Some applicants are also invited to a credibility interview with a member of the St Mary's team. This is separate from the MMI: it simulates a conversation with a UK Visas and Immigration caseworker to confirm your interest in the course and your intent to study, and attending it is mandatory if you are selected.
St Mary's publishes no figures for how many applicants it interviews or how many receive offers, so no post-interview success rate is available. The 2027/28 cohort is expected to be 50 to 70 international students.
Source: St Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet); St Mary's University, London, Your offer: MBBS (credibility interviews, checks) (2026 entry offer holders); St Mary's University, London, Medicine MBBS course page (September 2027 entry); St Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine) (2027/28 entry)
Practise a St Mary's-style interview
A timed mock in the format St Mary's uses, built from the themes St Mary's publishes. Record yourself, then mark it against the pointers above.
Common mistakes at the St Mary's interview
- 1
Leaving the interview to the last day
There are no extensions to the deadline, and once you start you must finish in one sitting. Complete the practice set-up early and record with time to spare.
- 2
Using Safari or a phone
The recording tool does not work on Safari, and a mobile phone cannot be used. Set up Chrome, Opera or Edge on a laptop or PC before the window opens.
- 3
Recording in a dark or busy room
If the video is too dark or the connection poor, assessors may not be able to make a decision. Choose a bright, quiet room with nobody else in it.
- 4
Keeping notes nearby
St Mary's says there must be no prompts or notes in the room. Prepare by practising out loud, not by writing a script to read.
- 5
Answering without a structure
Nobody will ask a follow-up question, so an answer that wanders loses marks. Give a direct answer first, then your reasons and what you would do.
- 6
Ignoring St Mary's own values
St Mary's publishes the qualities it wants, from its CARE principle to humility and curiosity. Show them through examples, without reciting the list.
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FAQs
St Mary's medicine interview: common questions
Does St Mary's interview for medicine?
Yes. Every St Mary's MBBS offer depends on success at an online multiple mini interview, taken on the SAMMI platform and recorded for assessment.
St Mary's does not use the UCAT for 2027 entry, so the interview carries the selection.
When are St Mary's medicine interviews for 2027 entry?
St Mary's has not yet published its 2027 entry interview window. Last cycle's window ran from 12pm (UTC) on 26 January to 12pm (UTC) on 3 February 2026, and you could take the interview at any time inside it.
Compare other schools in our interview dates table.
When will I hear whether I have a St Mary's medicine interview?
St Mary's has not published a 2027 invitation date. Last cycle, invited applicants received an email in the week commencing 19 January 2026 with a six-digit candidate code and full instructions.
St Mary's runs rolling admissions and closes applications when places are filled, so check the email address on your application regularly.
Are St Mary's medicine interviews online or in person?
Online only. The interview is fully virtual and asynchronous: you watch pre-recorded questions and record your answers on the SAMMI platform, and St Mary's assesses the recording afterwards.
How many stations are in the St Mary's MMI, and how long is it?
Eight stations of five minutes each, taking about 1.5 hours in one sitting, according to St Mary's interview page. The MBBS FAQs say the interview is designed to last no longer than one hour, so allow at least 1.5 hours and follow the instructions sent with your candidate code.
What does St Mary's look for at interview?
St Mary's says its MMI assesses non-academic skills including communication, empathy, ethical reasoning and decision-making, problem-solving, teamwork and professionalism.
Its scholarships also reward alignment with the School of Medicine's values and a commitment to social purpose.
How does St Mary's choose who to interview for medicine?
St Mary's does not use the UCAT or any aptitude test for 2027 entry, and says meeting its academic requirements does not guarantee an interview; an application whose personal statement does not show clear interest in medicine is not considered further. The requirements are on our St Mary's medical school profile.
How competitive is the St Mary's medicine interview?
St Mary's does not publish how many applicants it interviews or how many receive offers, so no post-interview success rate is available. It expects a 2027/28 cohort of 50 to 70 students.
Are international applicants interviewed differently at St Mary's?
No: for 2027 entry the St Mary's MBBS is open to international students only, and every applicant takes the same online MMI.
St Mary's says it expects to open the course to home students in the future.
When will I hear from St Mary's after my interview?
St Mary's does not publish a date for decisions after the interview. If your qualifications are complete, it verifies them before making an offer, so upload any documents your applicant portal marks as required.
Can I reschedule a St Mary's medicine interview?
No, there is no rescheduling as such: you choose when to take the interview inside the window, and St Mary's gives no extensions to the deadline.
If you have difficulty meeting the deadline, email med.admissions@stmarys.ac.uk as soon as possible.
What is SAMMI?
SAMMI stands for Scalable Automated Multiple Mini Interviews, and St Mary's runs it on Sammi-Select software. You see each question on screen, hear it read aloud, and record your answer on webcam; the questions are pre-recorded and there is no live interviewer.
What is the St Mary's credibility interview?
It is a separate, mandatory conversation for selected applicants that simulates a UK Visas and Immigration interview, confirming your interest in the course and your intent to study. It is not part of the MMI, and you book a slot when invited.
Where these facts come from
- St Mary's University, London, Interview information for MBBS applicants (January to February 2026 round (2026 entry); no 2027 dates yet)
- St Mary's University, London, Medicine MBBS course page (September 2027 entry)
- St Mary's University, London, FAQs: MBBS (Medicine) (2027/28 entry)
- St Mary's University, London, School of Medicine (no year stated)
- St Mary's University, London, Social Accountability Framework for the School of Medicine (no year stated)
- St Mary's University, London, School of Medicine Statement of Ethics (no year stated)
- St Mary's University, London, Your offer: MBBS (credibility interviews, checks) (2026 entry offer holders)
Update log
- 26 October 2026: Published. Every fact checked against St Mary's own pages; 2027 dates not yet published.
Last checked: 26 October 2026. Universities change interview arrangements during the cycle, so confirm on St Mary's's own page before you travel or book. The questions above are practice questions written by TheUKCATPeople from St Mary's's published guidance; they are not real or leaked interview questions.
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