Imperial College London School of Medicine Interview

Teaching Overview

Imperial College London School of Medicine offers a spiral curriculum, which is delivered through a range of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures
• Small group teaching
• Computer workshops
• Laboratory classes
• Problem-based learning

You will undertake the following clinical placements:

Phase 1 (Year 1–3):

• An integrated curriculum is supported by case-based learning and early clinical contact.
• Experience within a variety of health community settings, with community-based placements in GP settings across London.
• Year 3 – the majority of time is spent in clinical practice, with ten week attachments in each of the following: primary care, medicine and surgery.

Phase 2 (Year 4):

• Undertake a BSc, and learn how to interpret and inform best practice, and to extend boundaries of current thinking and advance medicine.
• Develop research skills in an area of particular scientific/medical interest.

Phase 3 (Year 5–6):

• Experience across hospital and community settings.
• Exposure to a range of speciality areas.
• Undertake an ‘apprenticeship’ role towards the end of the programme to prepare you for clinical practice.

More information about the course structure and delivery at Imperial College London can be found here. The website also notes that there may be limited circumstances in which changes to the course may be made, due to a college wide review; any updates will be made online, so you can access them via the same link.

Teaching Hospitals / Clinical Partnerships

The Imperial College provides a sample of teaching hospitals which you may undertake clinical attachments in; these are as follows:

• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
• London North West Healthcare NHS Trust – Ealing Hospital
• Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust – Charing Cross, Hammersmith, St Mary's and Western Eye Hospitals
• London North West Healthcare NHS Trust – Northwick Park
• Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust
• West Middlesex University Hospital

Extracurricular / Additional Opportunities

During your studies, you’ll have opportunities to explore your areas of interest with speciality choice placements and an elective period.

The programme at Imperial College London is a six-year dual qualification course; meaning you’ll achieve a BSc degree in addition to your MBBS. Whereas some medical schools offer an intercalated degree as an additional option, at Imperial College London this is included within the programme of study, and forms the ‘Phase 2’ (Year 4) portion of your course. During your fourth year, you’ll undertake a series of modules and a research project in an area of your choice, from a range of options. You can find out more about ‘Phase 2’ and the range of subject options available here.

Selling Points

The Imperial College offers the option of an intercalated PhD for 'exceptional students' studying standard entry medicine. This consists of three years' research following completion of your medical degree. You can find more information here.

A MBBS Graduate Medicine course is also offered at Imperial College London, which you can view here. As of 2025, those applying to this course will need to sit the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT).

Interview Information

Imperial College London School of Medicine uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format for its interview. The following are identified on their website as the main topics which will be covered:

• Evidence of commitment to the values of the NHS Constitution motivation and understanding of medicine as a career
• Empathy and resilience
• Community activities
• Leadership and teamwork
• Extracurricular interests

For 2025 entry, the MMI is split into two parts:

• Asynchronous-online stations – requiring you to upload a video on the day of the interview.
• Face-to-face stations – using an online platform which allows you to interact with assessors.

You can find more information about each element here.

Admissions Exam

Most medical schools require you to pass an admissions exam before you’ll be invited for interview.

Admissions exam for Imperial College London: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

The UCAT assesses the characteristics, attitudes and professional behaviours that you require for medical school. The exam includes 5 subtests: Abstract Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Situational Judgement (SJT) and Verbal Reasoning.

The free Medibuddy  UCAT question bank will help you to effectively prepare for all sections of the exam. By continuously assessing your strengths and weaknesses, it can carefully select questions that focus on the areas which you need to develop, to improve your overall UCAT score.

With the question bank dashboard you can quickly identify the areas which you have “mastered” and those which you need to dedicate more time to.

The question bank dashboard clearly shows how you’re performing, with your calculated skill level, the total number of questions answered and correctly, and your response time, to make it easier to judge if you’ll meet the minimum requirements for your chosen medical school.

For advice on how to prepare for the UCAT and more information about the exam, including test dates and fees, visit our UCAT page.