Interview Preparation

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University Of Glasgow

MMI interview
  • 7 stations in total each 6 minutes long, including 1-minute reading time
  • The full MMI process lasts just under 45 minutes
  • Each station looks at a particular characteristic or competency deemed required for dentistry
  • 3 station types: role-play, discussion and practical

Sample MMI interview stations:

  • You the candidate are asked to assume you are a first year medical student and that on your way home from class you reach a bus stop. At the bus stop a class mate is sitting there looking glum, obviously upset. You don't know their name. Demonstrate how you would approach this situation. Your classmate will be waiting at the bus stop when you enter the station.
    This station has been designed to test the candidate’s ability to communicate and to demonstrate empathy.
  • You the candidate are asked to assume you are a first year medical student living in a student house with other students enrolled in a variety of courses. The neighbours have complained about noise coming from your house. What options do you have to deal with this situation?
    The assessor will ask you some questions.
    This station tests the ability of the candidate to communicate with the assessor and test their problem-solving skills.
  • Applicants need to demonstrate characteristics important for dental profession including being able to:
    • Be diligent and ethical
    • Demonstrate having a caring nature, are empathetic and respectful of the views of others
    • Demonstrate good communication skills
    • Work in a team and have the capacity to act as a leader
    • Be self-critical and self-motivating
    • Capable of independent thinking
    • Plan and think on the spot and enjoy problem solving
    • how strong evidence of manual dexterity, creativity and spatial awareness
  • Assessor at each station scores your performances (they won’t be aware of how you performed at other stations)
  • At the end, your scores for each station are added together
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Queen’s University Belfast

MMI interview
  • Test non-cognitive competence and applicants’ personal statement is considered within this process
  • Designed to test the following which have been identified by both patients and academic staff as key non-cognitive competencies for medicine:
    • Empathy
    • Problem-solving
    • Moral reasoning
    • Communication skills
  • Each station carries equal marks (your performance at one station will not be known by the others)

Sample MMI interview stations:

  • You the candidate are asked to assume you are a first year medical student and that on your way home from class you reach a bus stop. At the bus stop a class mate is sitting there looking glum, obviously upset. You don't know their name. Demonstrate how you would approach this situation. Your classmate will be waiting at the bus stop when you enter the station.
    This station has been designed to test the candidate’s ability to communicate and to demonstrate empathy.
  • You the candidate are asked to assume you are a first year medical student living in a student house with other students enrolled in a variety of courses. The neighbours have complained about noise coming from your house. What options do you have to deal with this situation? The assessor will ask you some questions.
    This station tests the ability of the candidate to communicate with the assessor and test their problem-solving skills.
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King's College London

Panel interview
  • Conducted remotely with two interviewers
  • Assess communication skills, exploring general social and ethical issues, normally health related
  • Assess interviewee’s general suitability for the programme and as a health professional, how they will contribute to the university as a whole
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University Of Plymouth

MMI interview
  • 5 interview stations each lasting 5 minutes long, with 2 minutes in-between stations
  • Interview will last approximately 55 minutes, with 15 minutes at the start for registration and questions
  • 3 interview styles: one to one traditional, role play, short practical task
  • You are no expected to showcase knowledge of scientific terminology
  • Attempts to identify whether a candidate has the personal attributes required to become a Dentist
  • Need to be able to demonstrate:
    • Integrity
    • Veracity and Honesty
    • Flexibility
    • Motivation and Commitment
    • Empathy
    • Communication Skills
    • Team Work
    • Reflectiveness
    • Students who know their limitations, their strengths and weakness
    • Insight into the roles and responsibilities of a Doctor, Dentist, Dental Care Professional or
    • Healthcare Scientist
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University Of Dundee

Panel interview
  • Consists of 3 interviewers
  • Asked to consider questions, situations and dilemmas
  • Often framed in clinical or dental context, however no prior dentistry knowledge is required to address them
  • Assess work experience, communication skills, and ability to work in a team (they are looking for caring and hardworking individuals)
  • Interview designed to assess thinking skills, personal values and ability to communicate
  • Lasts approximately 30 minutes
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Cardiff University

Panel interview
  • 10 stations, each lasting for 5 minutes
  • Interview topics include:
    • Work experience
    • Ability to communicate effectively
    • Ethical issues
    • Problem solving
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University Of Manchester

MMI interview
  • 4/5 station format with each station being marked by a separate interviewer
  • Each station lasts 7 minutes and there will be a 2-minute gap between stations
  • Each station lasts 7 minutes and there will be a 2-minute gap between stations
  • Determines if a candidate satisfies their non-academic criteria in terms of values and behaviours expected of a medical student
  • You are encouraged to talk naturally about yourself, your studies and experiences, to demonstrate that you have interpersonal skills to be able to communicate effectively, show you are a well-rounded individual

Sample areas that could be tested:

Ability to communicate

  • Be able to express their ideas clearly and coherently, be able to follow a reasoned argument
  • Candidates who give spontaneous yet well though out answers to questions are more likely to impress the interviewers

Why do you want to be a dentist?

  • Interviewers will seek specific evidence of the experiences that have influence your decision to study dentistry

Previous experience

  • Opportunity for candidates to relate not only the facts and details of their experiences, and their emotional responses to them and what they have gained from them

Ethical and other issues

  • Assess your ability to coherently summarise the issues at stake
  • No right answers, interviewers are not looking for a specific viewpoint
  • Expected to be tolerant, accepting and understanding of others
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University of Bristol

Online Interview Format
  • 2 preparation tasks
    • Matchbox task: prepare matchbox of specific dimensions (12cm x 6.5cm x 2.5cm), demonstrates manual dexterity by personalising and placing 5 things inside that you would bring to the University, need to be able to discuss the relevance of these items and personalisation choices (items are not expected to be dental-related)
    • ‘Tell me How’ task: one of interview questions will ask to give instructions on how to do a task of your choice, the answer must be prepared in advance, the task needs to be something simple that can be explained verbally within five minutes (without any props)
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Queen Mary University Of London

Panel interview
  • Consists of two members of senior academic or clinical staff, a dentistry student and sometimes a lay selector
  • Evaluates the following:
    • Motivation and realistic approach to dentistry as a career
    • Show initiative, resilience and maturity
    • Work well as part of a team
    • Be well organised and demonstrate problem solving abilities
    • Likely contribution to university life
    • Communicate effectively in a wide range of situations
  • Personal statement doesn’t form part of assessment to reach interview, supports the candidate during the interview process
  • Interviewers will consider interests, talents and contribution that can be made to the School
  • Consider suitability as a future member of the dental profession
  • Look for applicants who have participated as fully as possible in school or college life, and who have also contributed in some way to the outside community
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University Of Sheffield

Panel interview
  • Conducted using a semi-structured format and lasts up to 15 minutes
  • Consists of two members of academic staff and a senior dental student trained to assess you in the following areas:
    • Career exploration
    • Values, personal qualities and communication skills
    • Commitment to Sheffield
  • Assessed in these areas using the information provided in the personal statement to guide some of the interviewer’s questions
  • Interviewers expect you to be able to demonstrate that you are well informed about your decision to study dentistry and your decision to study at Sheffield.

    • Interpersonal skills test

  • A separate assessment after the interview will take place as part of the selection procedure where you will be asked to help a patient or colleague with a dilemma, difficult situation or task
  • Not expected to have any prior knowledge, but will be assessed on how you work, communicate or deal with the situation presented and on:
    • Empathy
    • Communication skills
    • Compassion
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Newcastle University

Panel interview
  • Conducted by two selectors and lasts approximately 20 minutes
  • Confirms whether the candidate has the aptitude, motivation and personal qualities to succeed as a dental student and dental professional
  • At the end, each selector will grade the candidate’s performance and complete an assessment form
  • The grades are used as the basis for the decision-making process for actual offers
  • Selectors will not tell these grades during or after the interview
  • Applicants will be assessed and graded under 6 main categories:
    • Preparation and motivation for dental school
    • Effective learning skills
    • Team working
    • Personal qualities/resilience
    • Interpersonal and communication skills
    • Empathy, integrity and professionalism
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University Of Birmingham

MMI interview
  • 5 – 10 mini- interviews lasting 5 to 10 minutes each
  • Designed to help assess suitability for a career in dentistry aside from academic excellence
  • Allows you to demonstrate skills you have which are relevant to studying dentistry such as:
    • Motivation for career
    • Communication
    • Empathy
    • Self-insight
    • Ethical reasoning
    • Manual dexterity
    • Leadership
  • Preparation for interview should include reflecting to relevant work experience, familiarising yourself with the professionalism and ethical standards dentists are held to, being confident in communication with a wide range of people