Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online interviews have become a common feature of UK medical school admissions. Many schools have now returned to in-person interviews, but a number still run virtual MMIs over video platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, particularly for first-round, widening-access or international applicants, so always confirm your school's current format.
This guide will walk you through our top tips to prepare for your virtual interviews, from what to expect in your MMI interview to the optimal computer and device setups. Find out how to boost your chances of receiving a medical school offer in your virtual interview below!
Through our own experiences and expert doctor team, we’ve written these tips to help you succeed in your MMI preparation for your medical school interviews.
Top 10 Online & Virtual MMI Interview Tips at a Glance
Are Medical School Interviews Still Online?
Online interviews are no longer universal. Since the pandemic many UK medical schools have returned to in-person MMIs, but virtual interviews remain common at some schools, for first-round or screening stages, and for widening-access and international applicants. Because the format can change each admissions cycle, always confirm whether your interview is online or on campus on the medical school's own website before you start preparing.
Know How Your Online Interview Will Run
Practice Using The Interview Platform They Will Be Using
Perfect Your Body Language
Put Away Any Notes You Have
Hone Your Computer Set-Up
Prepare Your Internet Connection
Expect Lag In Your Virtual Interview
Practice With A Mock Virtual Medical School Interview
Login Earlier Than Necessary To Ensure All Is Okay!
The University Are There To Help You
1. Know How Your Online Interview Will Run
The last thing you want on the day of your virtual MMI interview is to be confused with the format of the day, and not know what’s happening. Luckily this can be prevented through preparation!
The best preparation for this is through information given to you by the medical school itself. Read through any briefing material about how the day will run, and what is expected of you.
Synchronous interviews are similar to the format you will be familiar with, where each virtual MMI station is formed from a virtual room on the video platform.
This room will contain an interviewer and relevant staff, such as roleplayers. Either the interviewers or yourself will be moved between virtual rooms at the end of each station, for the next station to begin.
Alternatively, you may stay in one virtual room with a panel of interviewers who will assess all of the stations of your MMI interview.
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Asynchronous interviews do not have interviewers assessing you live, rather your answers to each station are recorded via webcam.
The information for each station and the associated questions will be presented on screen to you. These are then assessed by an interviewer over the following weeks.
2. Practice Using The Interview Platform They Will Be Using
Different medical schools will use different online conferencing platforms, and unfortunately, these have different interfaces to each other and can be confusing to use!
The most common platforms UK medical schools use for online interviews include:
Zoom
Microsoft Teams
Blackboard for Collaboration
Skype for Business
Although some of the above can work through your internet browser, we recommend downloading their apps before your interview, as these are more reliable.
Spend a few minutes using the software, and get to know where the most important buttons are for yourself, such as mute, camera on/off, microphone and audio settings.
If the university you’ve applied to offers any training or briefing on how to use the platform, ensure that you utilise this.
Zoom Medicine Interviews
Many medical schools in the past have used Zoom for their interviews. This includes Bristol, Brunel, Exeter, Glasgow, Plymouth and Sheffield (but may not do the same this year).
Here is some useful information on using Zoom:
What is Zoom? Cloud-based video and audio conferencing tool with recording ability.
How Do You Join Meetings? Requires an invitation with a unique 9-11 digit meeting ID.
How To Prepare For a Zoom Interview? Advisable to download the Zoom app on a computer device before the meeting.
Do I Need To Download The App: Option to join through a Chrome web browser using the meeting ID.
Practice Option:Test meeting available for users to familiarise themselves with Zoom's features.
MS Teams Medical School Interviews
Many medical schools in the past have used MS Teams for their interviews. This includes Keele, Aston and Nottingham (but may not do the same this year).
How Do I Access MS Teams? You can either download the MS Teams app, or via your web browser
Do I Need To Login? Possible for non-account holders, subject to the organiser's settings.
How Do I Join A Meeting? Through the invitation, there will be an option to Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
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Even in an online MMI interview, positive body language is vital and can make or break your interview. Students often make the mistake of thinking that interviewers can see less than they can, and forget to sit up straight and professionally.
Along with our body language tips from our in-person MMI guide, we recommend practising maintaining eye contact with your camera.
With your computer screen showing the interviewer's face, it can be difficult to remember that maintaining eye contact will require you to look at your webcam’s lens.
If you do not do this, it will look like you're making eye contact slightly lower than is ideal.
Try positioning your camera close to the screen, at eye level if possible. If not, we recommend using a brightly coloured sticker around your camera lens to remind yourself where you should be looking!
Combine this with your active listening techniques and warm smiles to portray your interest and enthusiasm to your interviewer.
It may be tempting to use notes in your online MMI interview, especially if it has been announced as an open-book interview. Whilst a post-it note reminder of mnemonics or key ideas may be useful, we highly dissuade students from using sheets of notes during their interview!
Interviewers can see when you’re looking down and reading notes, and it may suggest to them that you’re underprepared for your interview. Reading your notes after being asked a question will eat into the time you have to communicate your answer, and this could lead to you running out of time in your MMI station.
These concerns can be overcome by thorough preparation, such that you are confident with NHS hot topics and medical ethics that you don’t require notes to help you!
A computer, laptop, tablet or phone capable of running the interview platform software
A microphone & maybe some headphones
A stable internet connection
If you are struggling to acquire any of the above, it may be worth contacting your school or local library to see if they can lend you this equipment.
We recommend using a device or external webcam with reasonable quality. The quality found on laptops or phones may be satisfactory, but it’s worth considering that interviewers need to be able to see your facial expressions during the interview!
Likewise, the audio quality of your microphone should be reasonable enough for your interviewers to hear you clearly, with minimal static noise, and over or under-sensitivity.
We recommend setting up your camera at a distance which allows your head and neck to be seen in the interview. This will help convey your body language to your interviewers and will improve your chances of success.
Ensure the background of your video is tidy and professional. We recommend using the blur background filter if this is not possible.
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Wi-fi issues are one of the biggest concerns of medical school applicants facing their online MMI interviews.
Online conferencing platforms require a strong and stable internet connection to perform at their best.
You can check whether your internet connection is strong enough for your interview through websites such as SpeedTest to check your internet speed.
Most video conference websites require a minimum upload speed of 1.5mbps, however, from experience, we recommend a speed of at least 5mbps for MMI interviews.
If possible, we recommend connecting to your wi-fi router with an ethernet cable, to give you a more stable internet connection.
7. Expect Lag and Know What to Do if Your Connection Fails
Unfortunately, internet connections aren’t always predictable, and unfortunately during your MMI interview, you may experience some lag.
You need to prepare yourself to deal with this and be comfortable with coping with it on the spot.
Your interviewers will understand connection issues, and if you miss part of the question they’ve asked due to your internet cutting out, it is perfectly acceptable to ask your interviewer to repeat the question.
Likewise, if the interviewer misses part of your answer to the question, you need to demonstrate patience. Ask them at what point the internet cut out, and simply repeat your answer from that point onwards.
8. Practice With A Mock Virtual Medical School Interview
Nothing can prepare you better for a virtual interview than practising!
Run a mock interview with your friends or family using the online interview platform.
We recommend using the record function, to record yourself during the interview to revisit afterwards.
Some students notice patterns in their speaking, behaviour or body language on the recordings, which they were unaware of before! This is a great way to prepare for your virtual medical school interview.
9. Login Earlier Than Necessary To Ensure All Is Okay!
When arriving at a virtual MMI interview, it is preferable to log on earlier rather than later. If early, you will be placed in a virtual waiting room, and when the interview begins, you will be let into the main interview room.
If interviewers are waiting for you in the main interview room, it will reflect poorly on your professional conduct and may suggest that you are unreliable and unorganised.
With online video conference software, sometimes updates are required before joining a meeting. Therefore we recommend joining your interview at least 5 minutes before the start time, to ensure that any updates required can be completed before your interview starts!
If you have any problems in the process of preparing or setting up for your virtual MMI interview, it may be necessary to contact the medical school to which you have applied.
Medical schools may be able to offer resources, advice or equipment to help you complete your interview if brought to their attention in advance.
This will be more beneficial than raising concerns after your interview - as the med school has a chance of fixing this during the interview.
Are medical school interviews still online in 2026?
Some are. Many UK medical schools have returned to in-person interviews, but online MMIs remain common at certain schools, for first-round or screening interviews, and for widening-access or international applicants. Formats change each cycle, so always check the current interview policy on the medical school's own admissions page before assuming whether yours will be virtual or on campus.
How do virtual MMI interviews work?
A virtual MMI runs several short, timed stations over a video platform such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. In a synchronous format you move between virtual rooms (or stay in one with a panel), answering an interviewer live at each station. Software prompts or staff manage the timing, signalling when each station starts and ends.
What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous MMI interviews?
In a synchronous MMI, interviewers assess you live over video, moving you between virtual stations in real time. In an asynchronous MMI, there are no live interviewers: questions appear on screen and your answers are recorded via webcam, then reviewed by assessors over the following weeks. Check which format your school uses, as preparation differs slightly.
What technology do you need for an online MMI?
You need a laptop, desktop, tablet or phone able to run the conferencing software, a working webcam, a clear microphone (headphones help), and a stable internet connection. A wired ethernet connection is more reliable than Wi-Fi. If you lack any equipment, ask the medical school or your local library, as many can lend devices or offer a quiet space.
Which platforms do medical schools use for online interviews?
Zoom and Microsoft Teams are the most common, with some schools using Blackboard Collaborate or Skype for Business. Each school chooses its own platform and may change it between cycles, so confirm which one yours will use from your invitation or briefing material, then download the app in advance and practise with it.
Should you use Zoom or Teams in your browser or the app?
Download and use the desktop app where possible. Although Zoom, Teams and Blackboard Collaborate can run in a web browser, the apps are generally more stable and give you full access to controls like mute, camera and audio settings. Install and update the app before interview day so a forced update can't delay you when you log in.
How do you show good body language on camera in an online MMI?
Look into the webcam lens, not the screen, so you appear to make eye contact. Sit up straight, keep your head and shoulders in frame, and use natural nods and warm smiles to show engagement. Position the camera at eye level, and a small sticker beside the lens can remind you where to look while you speak.
What should you do if your internet or connection fails during the interview?
Stay calm; interviewers expect occasional connection issues. If you miss part of a question, politely ask the interviewer to repeat it. If they miss your answer, ask where the audio cut out and continue from that point. Reconnect promptly if dropped, and have the school's contact details to hand in case the problem persists.
How fast does your internet need to be for a virtual MMI?
Most conferencing platforms list a minimum upload speed of around 1.5 Mbps, but for a reliable MMI we recommend at least 5 Mbps. Test your connection on a tool like SpeedTest beforehand. If you can, plug into your router with an ethernet cable and ask others in the house to pause heavy downloads or streaming during your interview.
What time should you log in for an online MMI interview?
Log in at least 5 minutes early. Arriving early lets any software updates install and leaves time to fix audio or video problems before you're admitted. You'll usually wait in a virtual waiting room until the panel is ready. Keeping interviewers waiting for you can look disorganised, so treat the start time as a hard deadline.
Can you use notes during an online MMI?
Avoid relying on notes, even if the interview is described as open-book. Interviewers can see when you glance down, which can look underprepared, and reading eats into your limited answer time. A single post-it with a mnemonic is fine, but thorough preparation on ethics and NHS hot topics means you shouldn't need pages of notes.
How should you set up your room and background for a virtual interview?
Choose a quiet, well-lit room where you won't be interrupted. Sit facing a light source so your face is clearly visible, and keep the background tidy and professional, using a blur filter if needed. Frame the camera so your head and shoulders show, and silence phone and computer notifications before you begin.
How can you practise for an online MMI?
Run mock interviews on the same platform your school will use, with friends, family or a tutor playing the interviewer. Record yourself so you can review your body language, eye contact and speaking habits afterwards. Practising on the actual software also flags technical issues early, so you fix camera, microphone and lighting before the real day.
What should you wear for a virtual medical school interview?
Dress in full smart, professional clothing exactly as you would for an in-person interview, not just from the waist up. Standing or reaching may reveal casual lower-half clothing, and dressing the part also helps you feel focused and confident. Avoid busy patterns or bright colours that can distract on camera or clash with your background.
Ultimate Package students from our 2025/26 cycle, with their UCAT scores and offers, who trained with us for the UCAT, personal statements and interviews.
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Sophie
Medicine, King's College London
2025 UCAT2,590 / 2,700
“Harry got my UCAT up to 2,590, working through the sections I kept dropping marks on week by week. Gemma then ran my interview practice so the MMI stations didn't catch me out, and Dr Akash mentored me the whole way through. I'm off to King's for Medicine.”
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Daniel
Medicine, University College London
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“The interview prep was the part that actually moved the needle. Proper mock MMIs, not just lists of questions, and feedback that was honest about what I was getting wrong. I ended up with four offers and firmed UCL.”
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Aisha
Dentistry, University of Birmingham
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“The Ultimate Package kept me organised from UCAT through to interviews. They knew what dental schools actually ask and tightened up my personal statement. Four offers in the end, and I'm going to Birmingham.”
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Charlotte
Veterinary Medicine, Royal Veterinary College
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“Vet applications come down to the written SAQs as much as the interview. Dr Rebecca went through my SAQs line by line, sharpened my answers and prepped me for the panels. I came away with four offers and chose the RVC.”
