Frequently asked questions for in-person interviews in Belfast
We hope that this will address any questions you, as the candidate, may have. Should you have any additional inquiries, please refer to the email address provided at the bottom of this page.
-
How many places are available for 2025 entry?
The number of places are allocated by the Department of Health N Ireland. For 2025 entry the number of places available are unchanged. There are 236 places for home fee applicants and 26 places for international applicants.
- I am an international fee candidate but want to travel to Belfast for an in-person MMI interview?
For 2025 entry all home fee applicants will be interviewed in-person in QUB, Belfast and are competing for the 236 home fees places. Only those applicants applying for the 26 international fee places will compete with an online interview.
- Are there any stations requiring data interpretation or Graphs?
There are no stations where you are required to interpret data or graphs.
- Are there any stations where I am required to write?
There is no station where you are asked to write anything down or make notes.
- Can I discuss my interview questions with others after the interview?
You have signed a confidentiality agreement that you will not share any information or questions after your interview. You should not:
- discuss questions you were asked (or scenarios in your interview) with others, either online or in-person, following your interview
- use any smartphone, electronic device or book during your interview.
-
Can I keep my phone with me during the interview?
You are not allowed your phone with you during the interview. We encourage you to leave your phone with your accompanying guests. You may leave it with your other belongings in the pre-interview room.
- Will my interview be recorded?
We do not give permission for any part of your interview to be electronically recorded and undertake to make no such recording ourselves. We will hold no record of your interview performance other than assessors' electronic score sheets.
- How long is there to read the candidate instructions before a station begins?
You are allowed 1 minute to read the candidate instructions. The candidate instructions are easily read in 20-30secs.
- How long does each station last?
Each station lasts 5 minutes. There is a warning when there is 1 minute left. The stations are tested to be easily completed in the timeframe allowed.
- How will I know the time for the station is coming to an end?
A warning is given to you when there is ‘1 minute left’ in the station. This is a loud voice over. To help you we also ask the interviewer to indicate there is ‘1 minute left’ by raising one finger so that you can see this. As this is silent it does not interrupt your conversation.
-
Can I ask the interviewer to repeat a question?
If you wish the interviewer to repeat a question, they will be very happy to do this for you. They will repeat the question exactly as it is. They cannot change the meaning of the question. This is so that each candidate is treated equally during the interview.
- What should I do if I finish the station before the 5 minutes are complete?
If you finish the station early remember the 5 minutes is all your time so if you think of something you would like to add to your answer please do this. The interviewer will not make conversation. Again, this ensures that each candidate has been treated equally during the interview. It is also so that you have the quiet time to review your answer.
- How do I move from one station to the next?
Stations are ordered 1- 12 and are clearly labelled. You move from 1 to 2, 2 to 3 etc. and from 12 to 1. This means that you will complete the full circuit of 12 stations. There are several invigilators on each circuit to shepherd you from one station to the next.
- Can I have someone in the pre-interview room with me?
Only candidates come to the actual interview area and pre-interview room. We have arranged a separate waiting area for your accompanying guests. They will also have an opportunity to attend a talk on studying and living at QUB.
- Should I come to the interview area earlier than my registration time?
Whilst we encourage you to ensure you arrive at the Medical Biology building earlier than your registration time, we ask you to come to the registration desk at the time specified for your registration on your interview letter. The registration time is set as 45 minutes prior to the start of your interview. It will take 45 minutes to register you, check your photographic ID and give you a short briefing to remind you how the MMI session will take place.