2026 entry · Medicine interview
University of St Andrews
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) · format, dates and preparation
At a glance: That's 2 fewer stations than the average UK MMI (6).
Each station is shorter than the 7-minute UK average: practise being concise and getting to the point fast.
Interview timeline
When are University of St Andrews medicine interviews?
| Invitations released | November to March |
|---|---|
| Interviews held | Early December, then January to March |
| Delivery | In person (home); online (other fee status) |
How interview waves work
Interview invitations are not sent in one batch. Schools release them in waves across the cycle, so the date you hear back depends as much on when your application was processed as on how strong it is.
- Most invitations go out in waves from November to January, with interviews held between late November and March.
- A quiet December does not mean a rejection. Later waves are normal, and some schools (Southampton, King's, Brunel) run well into the new year or beyond.
- When an invitation arrives you usually have to respond fast, often within two weeks, or the place is released.
- A handful of schools interview early: St George's from November, Oxford and Aberdeen in mid-December.
What changes year to year
The biggest change year to year is delivery mode. Many schools moved online during the pandemic; some have stayed online (Bristol, Glasgow, Keele, Nottingham, Plymouth, Aston), while others returned in person (Aberdeen, Leeds, Anglia Ruskin, St George's). Exact calendar dates move by a few weeks each cycle, but the month-level windows below have stayed stable.
Cross-checked for 2026 entry. Windows are month-level and describe the most recent (2026-entry) cycle. Exact dates shift by a few weeks each year and are confirmed only in a candidate's official invitation email. Always treat the invitation as the source of truth. The Medic Portal and Blue Peanut interview guides (2026 entry)
Assessment focus
What University of St Andrews looks for
Real experiences
What applicants actually say about the University of St Andrews interview
Gathered from applicant forums, weighted by how many independent sources agree. These are unverified community reports, not official university information, and can shift between cycles.
6 insights · 2 widely reported
Examiners are consistently described as friendly and non-intimidating rather than grilling candidates, including in the personal statement style stations where there is more room for relaxed conversation.
Widely reported · 3 sources(spans several cycles)
Examiners are consistently described as friendly and non-intimidating rather than grilling candidates, including in the personal statement style stations where there is more room for relaxed conversation.
"There were a variety of examiners, the majority being friendly and encouraging. The role play stations are typically laid back with friendly and accommodating actors."
Medic Mind, page framed as an actual St Andrews medical student's account of interview day"the interview was described as pretty chill, similar to panel interviews Glasgow does, with interviewers very casual and not expecting excessive detail"
TSR thread, Gateway Interview at St Andrews (snippet-derived, paraphrase)"the majority of examiners are friendly and encouraging, what really matters to St Andrews is that you're a nice person"
TSR thread, st andrews medicine interview (snippet-derived, paraphrase)The main A100 route uses a fast paced MMI circuit of 4 to 6 stations of about 5 to 8 minutes each with a bell marking start and end, while the separate Gateway to Medicine route interview is a much shorter 15 to 20 minute panel-style conversation of only 4 to 5 questions.
Widely reported · 3 sources(spans several cycles)
The main A100 route uses a fast paced MMI circuit of 4 to 6 stations of about 5 to 8 minutes each with a bell marking start and end, while the separate Gateway to Medicine route interview is a much shorter 15 to 20 minute panel-style conversation of only 4 to 5 questions.
"The circuit is relatively fast paced so try to be concise and to the point for the best result."
Medic Mind, student account"the interview was really short, maybe 15-20 mins, with about 4-5 questions asked"
TSR thread, Gateway Interview at St Andrews (snippet-derived, paraphrase)"the interview format is MMI with 4 stations and different interviewers at each one"
TSR thread, Any advice for St Andrews Medical School Interviews (snippet-derived, paraphrase)At least one MMI station is a role play with a trained actor, generally described by candidates as low-stakes and not testing medical knowledge, more about listening and natural conversation than performance.
Several reports · 2 sources(spans several cycles)
At least one MMI station is a role play with a trained actor, generally described by candidates as low-stakes and not testing medical knowledge, more about listening and natural conversation than performance.
"The role play stations are typically laid back with friendly and accommodating actors."
Medic Mind, student account"at least one station involves a role play with an actor"
TSR threads on St Andrews interview format (snippet-derived, paraphrase)Interview invites go out in rolling batches from November through as late as January or even into March rather than all at once, so a late invite or a gap of months between applying and hearing back is normal and not itself a bad sign.
Several reports · 2 sources(2026 entry)
Interview invites go out in rolling batches from November through as late as January or even into March rather than all at once, so a late invite or a gap of months between applying and hearing back is normal and not itself a bad sign.
"a new batch of interview invites was sent out for in-person interview on January 13 for 2026 entry"
TSR Official University of St Andrews A100 2026 Entry thread (snippet-derived, paraphrase)"first batch interviews are in the last days of November, with invites continuing into December and beyond depending on applicant profile"
TSR Official University of St Andrews A100 2025 Entry thread (snippet-derived, paraphrase)Applicants report the interview leans hard on why St Andrews specifically, including being ready to reframe the university's well known downsides (small isolated town, three year pre-clinical only structure) as reasons that suit you personally.
Single report(spans several cycles)
Applicants report the interview leans hard on why St Andrews specifically, including being ready to reframe the university's well known downsides (small isolated town, three year pre-clinical only structure) as reasons that suit you personally.
"students mention they've heard that St Andrews asks you quite a bit about why you want to study there, and advise making sure you know why you think the cons of St Andrews are pros for you"
TSR threads on St Andrews medicine interview prep (snippet-derived, paraphrase)Interview day practicalities for in-person candidates include a comfortable shared waiting room where family can wait during the interview, with candidates called through to a separate briefing room before stations begin; non-home applicants are instead interviewed remotely over Microsoft Teams.
Single report(spans several cycles)
Interview day practicalities for in-person candidates include a comfortable shared waiting room where family can wait during the interview, with candidates called through to a separate briefing room before stations begin; non-home applicants are instead interviewed remotely over Microsoft Teams.
"After registration, you will wait in the comfortable waiting room with your family member until you are called into a briefing room with applicants only."
Medic Mind, student account and prep guideFree prep guide
How to prepare for University of St Andrews
- Each station is scored independently by a different assessor: a weak station doesn't sink the ones before or after it, so reset your mindset walking into each one.
- At least one station uses a trained actor: practise staying natural and empathetic when responding to someone in character, not just answering a question.
Verified against the university's own admissions page.
University of St Andrews: official 'How students are selected' pageResearched 2026-07-03 for 2026 entry. Formats can change year to year: next check due 2026-09-01.
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