NHS Doctor-Led Education

Unlock Your Medical School Interview

Doctor-led MMI preparation, clinical insight workshops and work experience support — built by NHS doctors who have been exactly where you are.

100%
Personalised feedback and coaching for every student, every session
3+ Offers
Every student at our November 2025 workshop received at least three university offers
NHS Doctors
Founded and led by practising NHS doctors
What We Do

Preparing students at every stage

We help aspiring medical students from work experience all the way to interview day.

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Our Guide to Get In

The essential booklet covering everything from personal statements to MMI ethics — written by NHS doctors.

Learn more
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MMI Mock Workshops

Realistic timed MMI circuits with personalised dual feedback and coaching from NHS doctors.

Learn more
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Experience Talks at Schools

Our doctors visit schools to deliver engaging talks on the medical school application process, life as a doctor, and how to stand out at interview.

Enquire
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Clinical Insight Workshops

NHS-based experience designed to give students genuine insight into life as a doctor.

Learn more
Why BicepMedGuide

Getting into medicine is not just about grades.

The MMI is unlike anything students have encountered before. Work experience is dominated by who you know. Interview coaching is expensive and inaccessible to many. BicepMedGuide was built to change this — giving every student, regardless of background, access to the preparation that makes the difference.

Fair access — not just for those who can afford private tuition
We work with grammar schools, state schools and private schools
Work experience placements are always free — we charge for coaching only
"The MMI tests insight, not facts — and insight comes from reflection."
What Schools Say

Results that speak for themselves

"This has been a really useful experience for me, and I'm so grateful for your help."

Workshop Student, 2025

"Our Guide to Get In booklet is formatted very nicely and contains lots of useful information."

Workshop Student, 2025

"A detailed breakdown of my responses was invaluable. The feedback highlighted what I was missing AND what I was doing well."

Workshop Student, 2025
How It Works

From first enquiry to interview day

1

Register Your Interest

Contact us directly or ask your school to get in touch.

2

We Match You

We identify the right service for your current stage of application.

3

Attend & Engage

Attend your workshop or download your free resources.

4

Leave Prepared

Receive personalised written feedback and a clear action plan.

Ready to take the next step?

Book an MMI workshop or get in touch today. We typically respond within two working days.

Book Now
Who We Are

One Mission. A Growing Team.

We know what it takes to get into medicine — because we've done it ourselves.

Dr Jack Thomson, Dr Bhavika Parmanand and Dr Firas Nasr graduating as doctors
Dr Jack Thomson Dr Bhavika Parmanand Dr Firas Nasr
Our Story

Built by doctors, for aspiring doctors.

BicepMedGuide was founded by practising NHS doctors who navigated the demands of medical school application — including the MMI — themselves. We experienced first-hand how much access to quality preparation matters.

We saw students with exceptional potential struggle not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked access to the right support. BicepMedGuide exists to fix that — for students from every background, at every school.

"We didn't have this when we applied. That's exactly why we built it."
Our Team

A growing network of NHS clinicians

BicepMedGuide is built on more than its founders. Our team is a growing community of practising NHS doctors, foundation year doctors, registrars and medical students — all committed to the same mission of widening access to medicine.

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Practising Clinicians

Every session is delivered by NHS doctors with current clinical experience — people who know what good medical practice looks, feels and sounds like.

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Educators & Area Leads

Our educators and regional leads are recruited from across the UK, enabling BicepMedGuide to reach schools nationally with consistent, high-quality delivery.

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Want to Join Us?

We are always looking for motivated doctors and medical students to join the team as educators, area leads, or organisational network members.

Find out more
Our Values

What we stand for

Fairness

Access to excellent interview preparation should not depend on who you know or what school you attend.

Authenticity

Our feedback comes from doctors who have sat in the interviewer's chair — not from a script.

Depth

We prioritise genuine reflective insight over surface-level coaching. The MMI tests character, not facts.

Community

BicepMedGuide is building a network of doctors, educators and students committed to widening access to medicine.

Our Network

Area Leads across the UK

BicepMedGuide has a growing network of medical students, foundation doctors, registrars and consultants. Our Area Leads coordinate services in their regions.

Hampshire
Dr George Bibby
BSc, MBBS  ·  Area Lead
London
Dr Meg Bhogal
BSc, MBChB  ·  Area Lead
Join Our Team
What We Offer

Everything you need to get in

From first work experience to interview day — built around what actually makes a difference.

Look for the For Students and For Schools labels below to see who each service is for.

For Students & Schools
📖

Our Guide to Get In

The BicepMedGuide booklet — a comprehensive guide to medical school applications and interviews written by NHS doctors. Covers UCAT, personal statements, all MMI station types, ethics, the NHS, and more.

Also available in bulk for schools — mention this when you contact us.

For Students
🧠

Interview Question Bank

200+ MMI practice stations, tailored prep for all 47 UK medical schools, and a full panel-interview question bank — try two stations free, unlock the rest with a subscription.

Free to try — full access with subscription
Start practising
For Schools
🎯

MMI Mock Workshops

Realistic timed MMI circuits with 4–6 stations per student, followed by personalised dual feedback and coaching from two practising NHS doctors. A detailed written report is provided after every session. Booked directly with schools only.

Get in touch to discuss dates and pricing
Full details
For Students
🗣️

Individual Mock Interviews

A private one-to-one mock MMI or panel interview with an NHS doctor, for students and parents booking on their own behalf — separate from our school workshops.

Subscribers get 10% off their first session
Book a 1-2-1 interview
For Schools
🎤

Experience Talks at Schools

Our NHS doctors visit schools to deliver engaging talks on the medical school application process, life as a junior doctor, and how to approach the MMI with confidence. A great entry point for Year 12 students beginning their journey.

Get in touch to arrange
Enquire
For Schools
🏥

Clinical Insight Workshops

NHS-based sessions giving students a genuine window into clinical life. Structured around the GMC's expectations for medical students and designed to generate rich reflective material for interview answers.

Get in touch to arrange
Enquire
For Students & Schools
🔬

Work Experience Network

BicepMedGuide connects aspiring medical students with clinical work experience opportunities. The placement is always free — we believe access to experience should not be determined by family connections.

Free to students
Find out more
Free Resources

Our Clinical Reflective Diary

A free resource for Year 12 and 13 students to log and reflect on work experience, volunteering, and clinical placements — and build a bank of powerful interview examples.

View the Free Reflective Diary →
Free Resource

Our Free Reflective Diary

A free resource for Year 12 and 13 students to log and reflect on work experience, volunteering, and clinical placements — and build a bank of powerful interview examples.

What's inside the Reflective Diary

  • Why reflective practice matters — and how interviewers assess it
  • Gibbs Reflective Cycle and Driscoll's What/So What/Now What model
  • Memory prompts and quick-capture tools for busy placement days
  • A worked example: MDT communication and the role of the doctor
  • 8 blank reflection entries for clinical, volunteering and paid work
  • Interview preparation examples bank — 17 qualities and skills

Thank you

We've received your request and will send the Reflective Diary to your email shortly.

For Schools Only — Whole-Group Bookings

MMI Mock Interview Workshops

Realistic, timed MMI circuits with personalised coaching from two practising NHS doctors. The most comprehensive mock interview experience available.

These mock MMI workshops are booked by schools for groups of students. If you're a student or parent looking to book a private one-to-one mock interview, visit our Individual Mock Interviews page instead.

Enquire About a Workshop Get in Touch
Understanding the MMI

What is a Multiple Mini Interview?

The Multiple Mini Interview is now used by the majority of UK medical schools. It consists of a series of short timed stations — typically 5 to 10 — each assessed by a different interviewer. No two stations are the same.

Stations test communication, empathy, ethical reasoning, teamwork, NHS knowledge and your motivation for medicine. Most students have never experienced anything like it before. That is exactly why preparation matters.

"The MMI does not test what you know. It tests who you are under pressure, and how clearly you can think and communicate."

Workshop at a glance

  • 4–6 MMI stations per student
  • Realistic timed circuit format
  • Ethical scenarios, role-play, motivation stations
  • NHS and current affairs stations
  • Personalised dual feedback per student
  • Group Q&A (parents welcome)
  • Detailed written feedback report after the session
  • Delivered by two practising NHS doctors
Arrange a Workshop

Tailored to your school

Every workshop is arranged directly with us to suit your school's needs, student numbers, and availability. Get in touch and we will work out the right format together.

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What every workshop includes

  • 4–8 MMI stations per student, realistically timed
  • Ethical, communication, roleplay and motivation stations
  • Personalised dual feedback and coaching per student
  • Group Q&A session (parents welcome)
  • Detailed written feedback report for every student
  • Delivered by two practising NHS doctors throughout
✉️

Get in touch to arrange

We work flexibly around your school calendar. Contact us to discuss student numbers, preferred dates and any questions about the format.

Enquire Now
Proven Results

What schools and students say

"This has been a really useful experience for me, and I'm so grateful for your help."

Workshop Student, 2025

"A detailed breakdown of my responses was invaluable. The feedback highlighted what I was missing AND what I was doing well."

Workshop Student, 2025

"Kessan attended a BicepMedGuide workshop for the 2025 application cycle. He received 3 offers and has now started medical school."

Verified Outcome, 2025
For Schools Only

Ready to book a workshop for your school?

Get in touch and we will be in contact within two working days to discuss dates and arrangements. Individual students/parents — please use our Individual Mock Interviews page instead.

Schools & Organisations
Enquiring about a workshop, talk or partnership for your school? Use this form.

Thank you

We'll be in touch within two working days. If you'd like to follow up sooner, email us at info@bicepmedguide.com

For Individual Students & Parents

Individual Mock Interviews

A private, one-to-one mock MMI or panel interview with a practising NHS doctor — booked directly by you, not through a school. This is separate from our school MMI workshops, which are booked by schools for groups of students.

If you're a teacher booking on behalf of a whole cohort, see our MMI Workshops page instead.

Book a 1-2-1 Interview See Subscription Plans
What to Expect

A full mock interview, tailored to you

Run one-to-one with a practising NHS doctor, in the same format as your real interview — MMI circuit or panel style — followed by detailed, personalised feedback so you know exactly what to work on before the real thing.

Private sessions are arranged flexibly around your schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Session at a glance

  • One-to-one with a practising NHS doctor
  • MMI circuit or panel-style format — your choice
  • Personalised, detailed feedback
  • Flexible scheduling, including evenings and weekends
  • Available remotely or in person

✦ Active subscribers get 10% off their first 1-2-1 interview — just mention your subscription when you contact us.

Students & Parents

Book your private mock interview

Tell us a little about what you need and we'll be in touch within two working days. Remember to mention if you're an active subscriber for your 10% discount.

Students & Parents
Booking a private 1-2-1 mock interview? Use this form.

Thank you

We'll be in touch within two working days.

Get in Touch

Contact Us

We typically respond within two working days. For urgent enquiries please email us directly.

Schools & Organisations
Enquiring about a workshop, talk or partnership for your school? Use this form.

Thank you

We'll be in touch within two working days. If you'd like to follow up sooner, email us at info@bicepmedguide.com

Students & Parents
Asking about workshops, the booklet, or private sessions? We'd love to hear from you.

Thank you

We'll be in touch within two working days.

✉️
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Instagram
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Website
www.bicepmedguide.com
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Bulk Orders for Schools
Our Guide to Get In booklet is available in bulk for schools — just mention this when you get in touch.
Subscriber Offer
Active subscribers get 10% off their first 1-2-1 interview — mention your subscription when you enquire.
Work With Us

Join Our Team

BicepMedGuide is a growing network of NHS doctors, medical students and clinicians committed to widening access to medicine. Join us.

Who We're Looking For

Grow with us

At BicepMedGuide, we are passionate about building a team that genuinely reflects the breadth and diversity of the medical profession. We are keen to expand our network and welcome interest from doctors and medical students at every stage of their career — from first-year medical students all the way through to consultants.

We believe that the more varied the experience and skill set within our team, the richer the support we can offer to students. Whether your background is in surgery, general practice, psychiatry, academic medicine, or anything in between — there is a place for you in our network, and a contribution you can make that no one else can.

If you share our commitment to widening access to medicine and want to be part of something that makes a genuine difference, we would love to hear from you. Please use the form below to get in touch and tell us a little about yourself.

Educator

Workshop Doctor

Deliver MMI workshops and Clinical Insight sessions as a BicepMedGuide educator. Open to foundation doctors, core trainees, registrars and consultants.

Pay Rate
£30 / hour
Requirements
Enhanced DBS · Safeguarding training · GMC registration
Benefits
  • Teaching portfolio evidence for ARCP
  • Specialty portfolio material
  • Organisational network access
Leadership

Area Lead

Take on regional leadership — coordinating educators and school relationships in your area. A senior role with direct impact on BicepMedGuide's reach.

Pay Rate
£30/hr educator pay + milestone fee per school cycle
Responsibilities
Logistics · Educator assignment · School relationships
Benefits
  • Leadership and management portfolio evidence
  • Career progression pathway
  • Network access and collaboration
Apply

Express your interest

Tell us a bit about yourself and which pathway interests you. We'll be in touch within two working days.

Application received

Thank you for your interest in joining BicepMedGuide. We'll be in touch within two working days.

Practise Online

Interview Question Bank

Run your own mock MMI circuit with friends or family, using the same structure and mark schemes our doctors use in workshops. Try two stations for free below.

How to Run a Group Practice Session

  1. Get into groups of three: one Candidate, one Examiner, one Observer.
  2. The Candidate looks away from the screen while the Examiner selects the "Examiner" tab, reads the question aloud, and starts the timer.
  3. The Examiner and Observer each follow the checklist independently and tick points as the Candidate covers them.
  4. When time is up, score the station out of 5 and discuss feedback together — always start with what went well.
  5. Swap roles after every station so everyone gets a turn as Candidate.

On most roleplay stations, the third role becomes Actor instead of Observer — they play a character in the scenario using the brief provided, while the Examiner assesses both content and delivery.

How to Give Effective Feedback →
Choose a Station

Question Bank

Subscribe

Unlock the full question bank & guide

One subscription unlocks our complete set of 200+ MMI practice stations — covering motivation, dedication & insight, work experience, personal qualities, empathy, medical ethics, NHS & public health, roleplay, prioritisation & critical thinking, and data interpretation & calculation — plus tailored interview prep for all 47 UK medical schools, the full Interview Panel question bank, and full access to Our Guide to Get In ebook, included free for the length of your subscription.

What's included in every plan

  • 200+ MMI practice stations across all question categories
  • Tailored interview prep for all 47 UK medical schools
  • The full Interview Panel question bank
  • Our Guide to Get In ebook, included free for the length of your subscription
  • 10% off your first individual 1-2-1 mock interview, while your subscription is active
1 Month
£23.99
Full access for 1 month — inc. VAT
Best Value
6 Months
£65.99
≈ £11.00 / month — inc. VAT
For Examiners & Observers

How to Give Effective Feedback

The same structured feedback method used in NHS clinical training, adapted for MMI practice sessions — it keeps feedback specific, fair, and easy to act on.

The Method

Self-assessment first, then feedback

This sequence is based on Pendleton's Rules, a feedback model developed for UK clinical training and still widely used to teach doctors how to give feedback. The Candidate reflects first — what they think went well, and what they'd improve — before anyone else speaks. It keeps the Candidate from becoming defensive, and it practises exactly the reflective skill medical schools are testing for in a real MMI.

Run It This Way

The four-step feedback sequence

1

Candidate Reflects

"What do you think went well? What would you change?" The Candidate speaks first, before hearing anyone else's view.

2

Examiner Responds

Feedback on the structure and content of the answer, working through the station checklist and what was covered.

3

Observer Responds

Feedback on tone, body language, positioning and delivery — how the answer came across, not just what was said.

4

Agree Next Steps

Pick one or two specific, concrete things to work on before the next station — not a long list.

Principles

Ground rules for good feedback

Be specific, not vague

"Good structure, especially your closing summary" is useful. "Well done" is not — the Candidate has nothing to repeat or fix.

Describe behaviour, not personality

Talk about what was said or done, not what kind of person the Candidate seems to be. Behaviour can be changed; personality feels like an attack.

One thing at a time

Pick the two or three points that will make the most difference next time, rather than listing everything that could be improved.

Balance it honestly

Lead with real strengths — but don't manufacture praise. False positives are as unhelpful to a Candidate as pure criticism.

Keep it timely

Give feedback immediately after the station, while the answer is still fresh for the Candidate, Examiner and Observer alike.

Make it actionable

End every point with what to actually do differently next time — feedback should leave the Candidate with a clear next step.

Watch Out For

Common feedback mistakes

  1. Jumping straight to criticism before the Candidate has had a chance to self-assess.
  2. Vague praise such as "good job" with nothing concrete behind it.
  3. Focusing only on what was said, and ignoring tone, body language and delivery.
  4. Piling on five or six points at once instead of prioritising the two that matter most.
  5. Comparing the Candidate to other people, rather than to the station's checklist.
Our Book

Our Guide to Get In

Everything to know about getting into medical school — 75 pages drawing on over three decades of our combined experience as medical school applicants, medical students and doctors. Previously only available as a printed copy — now available to read online too.

What's Inside

75 pages, three sections

General Advice

Academics, the UCAT and BMAT, choosing where to apply, personal statements, extracurricular activities, a recommended reading list, and how to reflect properly using Driscoll's and Gibbs' models — each with a worked example.

The Interview

How to prepare, positive and negative body language, the tone of your voice, and two structures for answering any question — S-E-E and S-T-A-R-R — each demonstrated with a full worked example.

Typical Stations

Motivation, dedication, insight, qualities of a good doctor, empathy, self-awareness, the four pillars of medical ethics, NHS & public health, roleplay, university-specific questions and data interpretation — with worked examples throughout.

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Read it online

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Prefer a printed copy?

The same 75-page guide, printed and posted to your door.

£25

Also available in bulk for schools — please mention this in the form below.

⚠️ Please include your full postal address — we can't post your booklet without it.

Thank you

We've received your request and will be in touch about payment and delivery shortly.

Our Guide to Get In
Guide page
Page 1 of 75

This copy is for your personal use only — please don't screenshot, photograph or share pages from the guide.

Useful Information

Get ready for medical school — for free

A hand-picked library of official, free resources to help you prepare for interview and find work experience. Every link below is free to access — we don't link to paid tutoring or coaching companies. Links open in a new tab.

Essential Reading

GMC Guidance & Professional Standards

Interviewers expect you to know what's expected of a doctor and a medical student. These are the primary sources — read them, don't just read about them.

Free GMC

Good Medical Practice 2024

The core standards of care and behaviour expected of every doctor in the UK, organised into four domains. The single most-quoted document in MMI ethics stations.

Read the guidance
Free GMC

Achieving Good Medical Practice

The GMC's guidance written specifically for medical students, showing how the principles of Good Medical Practice apply to you before you've even started your course.

Download PDF
Free GMC

Outcomes for Graduates

Sets out exactly what a newly-qualified UK doctor must know and be able to do — useful for understanding what medical school is actually training you for.

Read the guidance
Free Department of Health & Social Care

The NHS Constitution for England

The founding principles, values and pledges of the NHS. Essential background for any question about the NHS, its challenges, or why you want to work within it.

Read the constitution
Free The King's Fund

How Does the NHS in England Work?

A short, clear animation explaining how NHS organisations fit together and are funded — a common gap in applicants' knowledge that's easy to fix.

Watch the animation
Free BMA

Ethics Toolkit for Medical Students

An accessible introduction to consent, confidentiality, capacity and other ethical dilemmas — exactly the territory MMI ethics stations draw on.

Explore the toolkit
Free UCAT Consortium

Official UCAT Preparation Resources

The UCAT Consortium's own free question banks, tutorials and full practice tests. The Consortium and Medical Schools Council explicitly say paid UCAT courses aren't needed.

Start preparing
Work Experience

Getting a Placement

Official guidance on finding, arranging and making the most of in-person work experience — for students and for the GPs hosting them.

Free RCGP

GP Work Experience

The Royal College of GPs' guide to finding relevant experience, plus details of its Widening Participation work experience programme run through medical schools.

Visit RCGP
Free BMA

Getting Medical Work Experience

Practical advice on how to approach practices and hospitals, what to expect on placement, and organisations that can help you find a voluntary caring role.

Read the guidance
Free Medical Schools Council

Work Experience: What Counts

Busts the myth that only clinical shadowing counts — explains how paid jobs, volunteering and reading around medicine can all form part of a strong application.

Read more
Free Health Education England

GP Work Experience Toolkit

Written for GP practices hosting students, but worth reading yourself — it shows exactly what a well-run placement looks like, which is useful when you're the one asking for one.

Download PDF
Can't Get a Placement In Person?

Free Virtual Work Experience

Fully online alternatives that are recognised by medical schools as valid relevant experience — ideal if you're struggling to find an in-person placement.

Free Brighton & Sussex Medical School

BSMS Virtual Work Experience

A self-paced online course covering six medical specialties, built around reflection tasks. Includes a certificate of completion once your reflective piece is reviewed.

Start the course
Free RCGP

Observe GP

An interactive video platform following a GP surgery team, supported by the Medical Schools Council as valid relevant experience. For aspiring medics aged 16+.

Register for Observe GP
Free NHS Talent Academy / HEE

Dr You

Myth-busting videos and resources on becoming a doctor, built by Health Education England, including content aimed specifically at Year 12+ students and their parents.

Explore Dr You
Free Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Virtual Work Experience Programme

A live, interactive virtual programme including a simulated trauma call, real patient consultations and Q&A with resident doctors and medical students.

Find out more
Widening Access

Free Mentoring & Funded Programmes

Free, long-running charity and university programmes offering mentoring, work experience and application support — most have specific eligibility criteria, so check before applying.

Free In2MedSchool

1-to-1 Mentorship Programme

A registered charity offering free 1-to-1 mentoring from a UK medical student or doctor, plus events and work experience opportunities for underrepresented students.

Visit In2MedSchool
Free The Sutton Trust

Pathways to Medicine

A free two-year programme (including travel) combining work experience placements, skills workshops, mentoring and a summer residential for Year 12 students.

Check eligibility
Free Social Mobility Foundation

Aspiring Professionals Programme

Free mentoring, skills workshops and work experience for Year 12 students meeting the Foundation's eligibility criteria, with all travel and costs covered.

Check eligibility
Free Medical Schools Council

Free Summer Schools for Medicine & Dentistry

A list of free, MSC-endorsed summer schools run by UK medical schools, giving a taste of university life alongside application and interview support.

View summer schools

Know a great free resource we've missed?

This page only links to free, official resources — we don't include paid tutoring, coaching or admissions companies. If you know of another free resource that should be here, let us know.

Free to Read

Recommended Reading

The full reading list from Our Guide to Get In, plus further titles we recommend — free for everyone to browse, no subscription needed. Books marked Must Read are the ones we think are exceptionally useful; everything else is a strong Good Read.

From Our Guide to Get In

Must Reads

Straight from the booklet's own reading list — the books we think every medical school applicant should read.

Must Read Atul Gawande

Being Mortal

A personal take on the morals of taking care of the elderly — super interesting and thought-provoking.

Must Read Henry Marsh

Do No Harm

A world-famous neurosurgeon describes his time in the operation room — a balanced account of what life as a surgeon can be like.

Must Read Rachel Clarke

Your Life in My Hands

An insight into the functioning of the NHS and some of the pressures faced by doctors.

Must Read Paul Kalanithi

When Breath Becomes Air

A moving book as Kalanithi reflects on life, medicine and family after a terminal cancer diagnosis.

From Our Guide to Get In

Good Reads

Also from the booklet's reading list — all genuinely worth your time, just slightly more niche or specialised than the Must Reads above.

Good Read Adam Kay

This is Going to Hurt

An easy book to read which is entertaining and doesn't require too much concentration. Equally, just watch the TV show!

Good Read Atul Gawande

Better

Explores our responsibilities to society and how to balance the desire to perform at our best amongst obstacles.

Good Read Atul Gawande

Complications

A collection of his surgical notes exploring the uncertainties in medicine — eye-opening reflections.

Good Read John Launer

How Not to be a Doctor

Short stories of a doctor, showcasing personal and professional insights and reflections.

Good Read Dylan Evans

Placebo

Explains the psychological phenomenon that is the placebo effect and how it can impact medicine.

Good Read Tony Hope

Medical Ethics: A Very Short Introduction

A short introduction to the origins and understanding of medical ethics — covers a lot of what we talk about in our guide under medical ethics.

Good Read William Bynum

The History of Medicine: A Very Short Introduction

A walk along the timeline of medicine, giving a nice overview.

Good Read Meyer Friedman & Gerald Friedland

Medicine's 10 Greatest Discoveries

A nice overview of some of the most famous historical discoveries — good to know as they underpin modern medicine.

Good Read Richard Dawkins

The Selfish Gene

Describes the importance of the gene in the evolution of man.

Good Read Caroline Elton

Also Human

Highlights some of the potential struggles within the vocation of being a doctor — this insight is invaluable.

Good Read Rahul Jandial

Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon

An interesting read that will enable you to optimise your brain's potential!

Good Read David Nott

War Doctor

Highlights the moral foundation of medicine and describes one of many unique environments you can devote your future work to.

Good Read Ben Goldacre

Bad Science

Reveals how science can be manipulated and portrayed to suit the target audience — helps you see through the fiction to the facts.

Further Titles

More Books We Recommend

Beyond our own booklet's list, these are further titles widely recommended for medical school applicants — researched and ranked by us using the same Must Read / Good Read system.

Must Read Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Emperor of All Maladies

A Pulitzer Prize-winning "biography of cancer" — traces the history of oncology from its earliest treatments to modern research. Dense but exceptional, and a favourite reference point in ethics and NHS stations.

Must Read Rebecca Skloot

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The true story of a Black woman whose cells were taken without consent and used to found the HeLa cell line, still used in research today. One of the strongest single books for understanding consent, race and exploitation in medical research.

Good Read Atul Gawande

The Checklist Manifesto

Makes the case for simple checklists in reducing error in complex fields like surgery — a different angle on patient safety to his other books above.

Good Read Max Pemberton

Trust Me, I'm a Junior Doctor

A diary-style memoir of life as an NHS junior doctor — a good companion piece to This is Going to Hurt, with its own distinct voice.

Good Read Christie Watson

The Language of Kindness

A nursing memoir spanning twenty years on the wards — a valuable counterweight to a reading list that otherwise leans heavily towards doctors' perspectives.

Good Read Abraham Verghese

Cutting for Stone

A widely-acclaimed novel following twin brothers born to a surgeon nun in Ethiopia who both become doctors. Fiction, but full of genuine insight into the vocation of medicine.

Good Read Lindsey Fitzharris

The Butchering Art

The story of Joseph Lister and the bloody, dangerous world of Victorian surgery before antiseptics — a gripping, easy way to pick up medical history.

Good Read Kevin Fong

Extreme Medicine

Explores how doctors and scientists have learned to keep people alive in the most extreme conditions imaginable — space, deep sea, war zones — and what it teaches us about ordinary medicine.

Good Read Oliver Sacks

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

A classic collection of neurological case studies, told with warmth and curiosity — a masterclass in seeing the person behind the condition.

Get the Most Out of Reading

Once you've read a book…

Reading books and tallying up how many you've got through feels productive, but that's not really the point. Everything you do while preparing to apply for medicine is something to reflect on — so once you finish a book, ask yourself:

  • How did the book make you feel?
  • Has it given you a better idea of what being a doctor is actually like?
  • Is there anything you've read that has put you off medicine — and why?
  • How has it prepared you for life as a med student?

Highlight the key points a book taught you — it might reveal a skill you'll need or a challenge you'll likely face. Our Guide to Get In walks through exactly how to turn reading like this into strong, structured reflection using Driscoll's and Gibbs' models, with worked examples.

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Video Interview Tips

An asynchronous, self-recorded video interview is exactly what it sounds like: you log into an online platform, watch or read a set of pre-recorded questions, and record your answers to your own webcam within a strict time limit — no interviewer, no follow-ups, usually no second attempt.

Format

How an Asynchronous Interview Works

A small but growing number of UK medical schools use this format, usually because it lets them screen large numbers of applicants fairly and consistently, without the cost and logistical strain of a full interview day. If you've never heard of it before receiving an interview invite, that's completely normal — but it rewards a different kind of preparation to a live interview.

From Invite to Submission

  1. You receive an email invite with a login link and a window of time (sometimes a single day, sometimes several days) in which you must complete the interview.
  2. You log in, complete a device and "check-in" step that tests your camera, microphone and internet connection, and confirm your identity.
  3. Most platforms offer one or more practice questions so you can see exactly how the timer, recording and playback work before anything counts.
  4. For each real question, a pre-recorded prompt plays (or text appears on screen) and a short preparation timer starts, typically 30 seconds to a couple of minutes.
  5. Recording then begins automatically for a fixed response window, usually 1 to 3 minutes per question, and stops itself when time runs out — you generally cannot pause, rewind or redo a submitted answer.
  6. Once you've answered every question, you submit the full set of recordings, and your responses are sent off to be scored later by human reviewers, often several people marking independently against a rubric.
Preparation

Top Tips for Succeeding

Tip 1

Look at the camera lens, not the screen

Watching your own face on screen while you talk creates an odd, self-conscious feedback loop and reads as shifty eye contact on playback. Put a small sticky dot right next to your camera lens and train your eyes to land on it — this simulates natural eye contact far better than looking at the video preview.

Tip 2

Test your full tech set-up the day before

Check your camera, microphone, lighting and internet connection well in advance, not five minutes before your slot opens. If the platform offers a device check or practice question, use it properly to confirm your set-up actually works, since most schools won't offer technical retakes once you've started.

Tip 3

Choose a quiet, plain, well-lit space

Sit facing a window or lamp so light falls on your face rather than behind you, which causes you to appear as a dark silhouette. Pick a plain wall or tidy background, and warn anyone at home that you can't be interrupted for the length of your session.

Tip 4

Rehearse the format, not just the settings

If the platform gives you unlimited practice attempts, use several of them to get used to the rhythm of a countdown timer, the switch from prep to recording, and speaking without any human reaction to guide you. This matters as much as content prep — the mechanics themselves feel strange the first few times.

Tip 5

Use prep time for a skeleton, not a script

In your 30–60 seconds of prep, jot down three or four key words or a rough structure (for example: situation, action, reflection) rather than full sentences. Reviewers can often tell when a candidate is reading a script off-screen, and it makes your answer sound stilted rather than genuine.

Tip 6

Make every answer complete in itself

In a live interview, an interviewer can nudge you with a follow-up question if you miss something important. Here, they can't — so treat each response as your one shot to fully answer the question, including a brief conclusion, rather than assuming you'll get a chance to add more.

Tip 7

Pace yourself against the clock — but don't panic

Glance at the timer occasionally so you're not caught off guard, and start moving towards your conclusion when you have roughly 15–20 seconds left. If you do get cut off mid-sentence, don't worry — reviewers know the platform enforces a hard stop and will judge you on the substance you did deliver.

Tip 8

Treat the camera as a person, not a machine

It's easy to sound flat or robotic when talking to a lens with no reaction. Imagine a friendly, engaged interviewer sitting just behind the camera, and let your tone, pace and facial expression reflect that you're having a conversation, not reciting an answer into a void.

Tip 9

Record full practice run-throughs beforehand

Use your phone or laptop to record yourself answering typical MMI-style questions under timed conditions, then watch them back. You'll quickly spot habits like speaking too fast, mumbling, fidgeting or trailing off — far easier to fix before the real thing than during it.

Tip 10

Avoid sounding over-rehearsed

Because there's more temptation to over-prepare set-piece answers when there's no interviewer to react to you, guard against sounding like you're reciting a monologue. Vary your sentence structure, allow natural pauses, and prioritise sounding like yourself over sounding polished.

Who Uses This Format

Universities Currently Using Video Interviews

Interview formats at UK medical schools change from cycle to cycle, and some schools alternate between asynchronous, live-online and face-to-face formats year on year — always confirm the current format directly on each school's own admissions or interview webpage before you prepare.

Confirmed Kira Talent / Panopto

Imperial College London

For recent entry cycles, Imperial's MMI process has included a fully asynchronous section where candidates record and upload a video (around 20 minutes) answering pre-set questions on a third-party platform, alongside a separate set of live interview stations.

Confirmed SAMMI

City St George's, University of London

Both the standard A100 and Graduate Entry Medicine routes have moved to the SAMMI (Scalable Automated Multiple Mini Interviews) platform for recent entry cycles — a fully asynchronous MMI where applicants answer pre-recorded questions with no live interviewer and no follow-up questions.

Confirmed SAMMI

St Mary's University, Twickenham

MBBS interviews are conducted fully online via the SAMMI asynchronous platform, with applicants completing a set of pre-recorded MMI-style questions at any point within a specified multi-day window (currently open to international applicants for undergraduate entry).

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Medical School Info

A full profile for every UK medical school in one place — interview format, teaching style, anatomy teaching, entry requirements, key facts and what makes each university unique, split into Undergraduate and Graduate Entry where a school offers both routes.

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All UK Medical Schools

Select a university below for its full profile, or head to University Specific Questions to practise questions matched to that school.

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Panel Interview University Styles

A deep-dive into the specific panel interview style used by each UK medical school that runs a traditional panel format rather than an MMI — based on their own current admissions information.

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Panel-Interview Universities

Select a university below for its panel structure and style, or head to Panel Style Questions to practise a mock panel script.