University of Sheffield Medical School Interview

Teaching Overview

Sheffield medical school adopts a predominantly systems-based approach, using a range of teaching methods throughout the programme, including:

• Lectures
• Research Projects
• Small group sessions
• Evidence-based learning
• Practical lessons – including dissection
• Clinical experience

There is also a focus on a 'patient-centred approach'. Learning and teaching is thought of from the perspective of patients, whilst skills and understanding are developed to enable you to respond to problems presented by patients.

Throughout the programme, you’ll undertake the following clinical placements:

Phase 1 (Year 1)

• A two-week hospital placement focusing on ‘multi professional experience’.
• Ten regular placements in General Practice throughout the year (starting in week 2 of the first term).

Phase 2 (Year 2 September – Year 3 December)

• 2a (Yeah 2 start – Year 2 June): ten half-days spent in general practice placements.
• 2b (Year 2 June – Year 3 December): you'll spend most of your time in hospital wards, operating theatres and outpatient clinics. You'll also undertake a twelve-week ‘longitudinal integrated clinical placement’ within a hospital setting.

Phase 3 (Year 3 January – Year 4 August/end)

• Clinically based – primary and secondary care.
• Primary care is focused on community placements within general practice settings.
• Secondary care is predominantly hospital placements focusing on sub-specialty rotations – including: child health (Paediatrics), women's health (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), mental health (Psychiatry) and General Practice.

Phase 4 (Year 5)

• Two ‘longitudinal integrated clinical placements’.
• A six-week ‘student assistantship’ placement – this is only guaranteed for students who will undertake their FY1 role within the local area.

You can find more information about the course structure and content here.

Extracurricular / Additional Opportunities

At different phases in the programme, you’ll undertake student selected components, which give you the opportunity to study areas of interest.

In addition to this, Sheffield Medical School also offers the option of an intercalated degree, which allows you to take one year out of your medical course to study for an additional qualification. Medical students have a choice to study a BSc Medical Sciences Research or a BSc Medical Sciences (surgery) or an intercalated master’s degree; you can find out more about the intercalated programme here.

Selling Points

There is also the option to study an accelerated four-year Graduate Entry Medicine MBChB, if you already have, or are expecting to obtain, a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate life sciences subject, with a minimum 2:1 grade.

Interview Information

Sheffield Medical School uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format for its interview. This consists of eight sections, with questions typically based around the following areas:

• Communication skills
• Depth and breadth of interests (achievements in specific fields)
• Evidence of commitment for caring
• Knowledge of and interest in study in Sheffield
• Medical work experience/Extended Project Qualification
• Motivation for medicine
• Information processing skills
• Understanding the nature of medicine
• Values and attitudes
• Outside interests

For 2025 entry, interviews will take place between December 2024 – January 2025. More information about the interview format used can be found here.

Admissions Exam

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

Admissions exam for Sheffield: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

The UCAT assesses your characteristics, attitudes and professional behaviours against those required for medical school. The exam is divided into 5 sections: Abstract Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Situational Judgement (SJT) and Verbal Reasoning.

Sheffield Med School specifies that applicants have to meet or exceed their minimum UCAT score threshold, which is 2430/3600. This threshold has been determined by calculating the 40th centile score attained by everyone who took the test for 2022, 2023 and 2024 entry.

To help you to successfully prepare for all sections, the free Medibuddy AI-powered, adaptive question bank carefully selects questions based on your strengths and weaknesses within the syllabus, to ensure that you’re focusing on areas which will have the biggest impact on your UCAT score.

You can also clearly see in the question bank dashboard the areas you have “mastered” and those which you need to focus more time on.

It’s crucial that you prepare well for all areas to ensure that you get the best UCAT score possible and secure your interview place!

For more information and guidance, see our complete guide to the UCAT and our UCAT preparation tips.