Admissions Process

There are a number of key terms that will come up a lot as we describe our MMI process. This list should help you to understand these terms more clearly.

MMI Glossary 2025 

MMIs (Multiple Mini Interviews)

A series of short interviews, conducted across different “stations”, each focusing on different criteria that a candidate needs to demonstrate in order to be a successful student at Imperial. ICSM uses MMIs instead of more traditional ‘panel’ interviews. 

Station

A station is the term we use for one individual mini interview. ICSM uses seven stations for our MMIs: the Asynchronous interview consists of three stations; the Face-to-Face, or Live, interview consists of four stations. Stations will be coded 1A, 2A… 1F, 2F… etc. where “A” stands for “Asynchronous”, and “F” stands for “Face-to-Face”. 

Asynchronous

This is the first stage of your interview. Meaning “not at the same time”, the asynchronous stage involves a candidate recording their responses to questions that they will be shown on video; their answers will then be marked at a later date. We use a platform called Shortlister for the Asynchronous stage. 

Face-to-Face / Live

This is the second stage of your interview. This stage involves four stations, conducted over the video conferencing platform, Microsoft Teams. Candidates will be asked questions in real time by an interviewer, and the candidates will give their answers. The Interviewer is able to ask follow-up questions during the interview. 

Stage

A stage is the term we will use for the two different types of interviews you will need to complete. The two stages are “Asynchronous” and “Face-to-Face / Live”. 

Time Slot

This is the window of time during which your Live Interview will take place. It will either be the morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) of a particular day. This is not the same as the exact start and finish time of your interview, and you will need to be available for the whole of your Time Slot in case any changes have to be made to the schedule. 

Special Adjustments

Our interviews are designed to take care of learning disabilities (questions are displayed in the form of a video with captions). However, we can consider making further adjustments on account of a medical/health/learning issue, if evidence can be provided. These adjustments will have to be requested via an Interview Dates survey, which will be sent to all candidates. We won’t be able to accommodate any late requests. 

Special adjustments you may qualify for: 

• Extra time: 25% extra time can be given upon request for the Asynchronous interview on the platform Shortlister. 
• Additional rest break: an additional rest break can be accommodated during your Live Interview schedule. Any special adjustments must be requested prior to your interview using the Interview Dates survey. Where adjustments are made, assessors will be informed. 

Mitigating Circumstances

Any unpreventable circumstances that significantly disrupt your MMIs performance, such as an illness or bereavement. We will require our Mitigating Circumstances form to be completed, and evidence to be provided, for us to consider such circumstances. If approved, assessors will be notified of your circumstances. Please refer to the Mitigating Circumstances form for more information. 

Widening Participation (WP)

This is the term used for programmes used by ICSM to improve access to our Medicine programme for individuals from underrepresented groups, or those who might otherwise experience challenges in applying for Medicine or overcome barriers to do so. Please refer to the Imperial website for more information. Please note that the determination of eligibility for WP status for 2025 entry has already concluded. 

At Imperial, we believe that MMIs give fair and accurate results. Getting a number of different interviewer assessments means that a candidate who doesn’t do as well on one component can still be fairly assessed on other components. 

Although questions and stations may vary through the years, these are the main topics that you will be asked about:

• Team work and leadership
• Motivation to study medicine
• Understanding the role of a doctor
• Empathy and breaking bad news
• Ethics scenarios
• Imperial and contribution to the School of Medicine
• Resilience

While we require our applicants to have an understanding of the realities of working as a healthcare professional and to show they have the necessary skills and attributes for their chosen career, we understand that it can be challenging for our prospective applicants to gain practical experience in clinical settings. Have a look on the Work Experience page for more information. 

Online resources can give you valuable insight into working in the healthcare sector and outline the wide range of careers and courses available.

• NHS Health Careers website
• Working in Health YouTube Channel

Answers are marked out of six points for content (what you say) and out offour3 for communication (how you say it). Often there is no right or wrong answer – the interviewers are assessing your ability to explain your thinking. If you change your mind on a specific question half way through your answer, they will consider your ability to reflect on your ideas and how you think on your feet. 

Make sure you read the e-module we sent you thoroughly. 

Our tips:

Do:

• Control what you can control: be prepared on anything that you can prepare. For example, trial your video-recording skills ahead of time and check your microphone/speakers.
• Read this page and watch the instruction video carefully.
• Take your time to read the problem and clearly understand what is being asked. You have 5 minutes to answer the questions, so do not rush.
• Think about your answer before you start giving it. There are no trick questions, but it helps to think about what you are going to say before you say it.
• Give multiple examples to illustrate your points. Make sure you include your personal experience in your answers - for example, work experience.
• Watch your communication. Avoid colloquial terms, or repeating the same words.
• Prepare thoroughly. Many universities will want to know why you want to study with them in particular. And they will all want you to demonstrate that you have a good idea of what it’s like to work in your chosen profession.
• Keep up to date – questions will often reflect a current news story.

Don’t:

• Don’t panic! If you run out of things to say, take a moment to collect your thoughts and see if you have anything relevant to add. Remember that you can change your mind during an answer, as long as you explain your train of thought and show that you are reflective. If you think you’ve done badly on a particular station, put it out of your mind and move to the next interview with confidence.
• Don’t give memorised answers. Make sure you really listen to the question and don’t go off topic.
• Don’t try too hard to make an impression or stand out. You will be assessed on your friendly approach and professional responses.

Prepare for MMIs with Ayolola Eni-Olotu, Final Year Medical Student 

Medical school interviews can vary from university to university and change over time but one thing stays the same – they seem incredibly daunting! However, relatively stress-free success is possible, so here are 5 top tips for smashing your medical school interview.

1. Be confident – the fact that you’ve even received an invitation to be interviewed means you’re a strong applicant, and it’s already clear that you have a lot to offer. Remember that they essentially already want to offer you a place and are creating an opportunity to get to know you better, so let your application shine through!
2. Answer the question you’ve been asked, not the question you wish you were asked. For medical school interviews especially, people tend to anticipate specific questions and rehearse their answers, which is not necessarily a bad strategy. However, when people ask you a specific question, they are giving you the opportunity to demonstrate specific strengths and assets (as well as listening skills), so make sure you use this opportunity properly.
3. Where appropriate, have a structure for your answer. This may include signposting the structure (for example, stating that you’ll be making three key points) or using a specific framework such as STARR (situation, task, action, result, reflection) while speaking about previous experiences. Having a structured answer helps the interviewer follow what you’re saying, and know what to listen out for. It can also help you keep track of what you’re saying, which can prevent feeling frazzled and overwhelmed.
4. Answer as yourself. Again, the medical interview is a chance for your future medical school to get to know you. By relating questions to your personal experiences and traits, explaining why medical school at Imperial would be right for you and how you would be valuable to the medical profession, you show that your application is thoughtful and make it easier to justify a successful application. Remember this includes tailoring your answers both to yourself and to the University, so background reading is essential!
5. Try to relax afterwards! Medical school applications take a lot of time and effort, and interviews often feel like the culmination of all of that. Going through with the interview is a huge achievement in and of itself so take some time to acknowledge that and pat yourself on the back.

Good luck, and we’d love to have you join us at Imperial!