Medicine at University of Newcastle Medical School & Interview Questions 2024
Overview of Newcastle Medical School
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Newcastle University is a prestigious world-leading university, dedicated to leading the way in innovation, creativity, and excellence. It seeks to find solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges, to pioneer new ways of thinking, and to provide students with the high-quality learning experience they need to start changing the world. Its campus is at the heart of a lively and cosmopolitan student city, famous for its arts and culture, sport, shopping and nightlife. The The Newscastle medsoc is one of the biggest in the country and organises many events throughout the year.
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Newcastle Medicine Course Structure
The Newcastle University Medicine programme uses a modern and innovative integrated case-led teaching approach, and you'll be taught in a vibrant learning environment. Medicine at Newcastle University provide case-led teaching, which means using clinical cases to help you make the links between your new knowledge and clinical practice. Years 1 and 2 In Years 1 and 2 you'll study key subject areas including medical sciences, clinical skills, ethics and professionalism. You'll cover a series of twenty-four clinical cases to put your learning into context and provide you with the essentials of medical practice. Years 3 to 5 In years 3 to 5 you'll gain clinical experience through placements in Newcastle’s clinical base units across the region. You'll undergo a series of rotations, clerkships, assistantships and placements that cover all relevant areas of medicine and surgery.
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Newcastle Medical School Entry Requirements
GCSE
A Levels
AAA
Excluding Use of Mathematics, World Development, Communication and Culture.
For Biology, Chemistry and Physics A Levels, we require a pass in the practical element.
Resits are acceptable if the score increases
IB
36 points
No subject graded less than 5. No requirement for science subjects.
Scottish Higher
- AAAAA at Higher Grade
- Scottish qualifications can be taken in more than one sitting.
Scottish Advanced
AA at Advanced Higher Grade.
Degree (Graduates)
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Newcastle Medical School Admission Tests
UCAT
Yes
How Does Newcastle Medical School Look At The UCAT?
A100 Newcastle Medicine Selection Process 2024 (2025 Entry) - NEW PROCESS
Newcastle's medicine selection process has changed in 2024 for all 2025 entry applicants. This is a summary of their process. Generally speaking there is a greater weighting to GCSE grades now.
Step 1: Academic screening (Score / 100)
All applicants are screened to see if their predicted or actual grades meet the minimum entry requirements. Those who don't meet the requirements are not considered further.
Applicants are scored out of 100 based on their Achieved Grades and UCAT results.
Either GCSE (/40) or Achieved A-Levels (/40) or Achieved Degree grades (/40) will be considered
Step 1a) GCSE Grades (Score / 40)
Best 8 GCSEs including: English language, English literature, mathematics, and science subjects
Grade 9 = 5 points
Grade 8 = 4 points
Grade 7 = 3points
Grade 6 = 1 points
Grade 5 = 0 points
or Step 1b) A-Level Grades (Score / 40)
A-Levels including Maths and Science subjects will be considered. Please note maximum 40 points even if you exceed this.
A* = 16 points
A = 12 points
B = 8 points
or Step 1c) Degree Grades (Score / 40)
1:1/1st Class Degree = 40 points
2:1 = 40 points
Step 2: UCAT Score (Score / 60 points)
Up to 60 points are awarded for the UCAT result on a sliding scale.
SJT Band 4 = Rejection
UCAT Score (rough idea of scoring points) - see here for more accurate scoring
3200 - 3600 = 60 points
3134 = 55 points
3067 = 50 points
3001 = 45 points
2934 = 40 points
2868 = 35 points
2801 = 30 points
2735 = 25 points
2668 = 21 points
2535 = 11 points
2419 = 2 points
Step 2: Interview
Approximately 1000 students are interviewed each year.
Interviews take place on campus between December and February.
The MMI format is used, with seven stations assessing different competencies.
Each station lasts 7 minutes, and one station involves a roleplay scenario.
Step 3: Offer
After interviews, all applications are reviewed and offers are made.
Both the academic screening score and the interview performance are considered equally.
Personal statements and references are checked at this point.
Successful applicants must meet the conditions of their offer.
The video also mentions that the entry requirements are three A's at A-level, but science subjects are not required. Applicants who are eligible for the contextual
Newcastle Medical School UCAT Cut Off 2023 for 2024 Entry (note this may not be relevant for 2025 entry onwards)
Applicants who meet the academic threshold are ranked based on their UCAT scores. A UCAT threshold is set depending on the number of interviews to be held. Applicants who meet the UCAT threshold will be invited to an interview. The UCAT threshold may differ from year to year as it is dependent on the scores achieved by those who apply to us in each admissions cycle.
Invitation to interview will be based on the ranking of applicants’ UCAT scores.
👉🏼 LOWEST UCAT Score INVITED TO INTERVIEW (ie Newcastle UCAT Cut Off Score/Interview Threshold)
2023 Entry: 2820 (Home), 2600 (International), 2510 [some resources state 2550) (PARTNERS)
2022 Entry: 2800 (Home), 2870 (International), 2710 (Partners)
2021 Entry: 2820, 2720 (Partners)
2020 Entry: 2730, 2620 (Partners)
2019 Entry: 2720, 2550 (Partners)
2018 Entry: 2580
👉🏼 AVERAGE UCAT Score of applicants INVITED TO INTERVIEW at Newcastle:
2023 Entry: 2943
2022 entry: 2952
👉🏼 LOWEST UCAT Score GIVEN AN OFFER
2023 Entry: 2740 (Home), 2550 (PARTNERS), 2600 (International)
🚩 SJT Band 4 = rejection.
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🎙️ Interviews - 1-1 Online Medicine Interview (Panel & MMI) Tutoring & Mocks tailored to Newcastle - 5⭐ Rated
👉🏼 Latest UCAT Cut Off Scores Per Medical School (Updated for 2024 Entry)
👉🏼 Where to apply with a low UCAT score in 2024 (2025 Entry)
BMAT
No
GAMSAT
No
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Course Information
Graduate Entry
Newcastle Graduate Medicine / accelerated program
- Length: 4 Years
- Type: Full Time
- The accelerated medicine and surgery programme enables you to complete the syllabus of years 1 and 2 of our five-year programme in one extended academic year (45 weeks).
- This course will prepare you to work as a doctor anywhere in the world, in both the clinical and academic arena.
Intercalation
Optional
Yes - offered.
Applications : Place
Application Statistics (Home)
6
Application Statistics (International)
15
Applications : Interview
2.5
4
International Student Tuition Fee
The international student fee per year is £42200
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Work Experience at Newcastle Medical School
Newcastle places an emphasis on applicants being able to show a commitment to caring which can be accomplished in a number of ways other than in a hospital or general practice setting, such as volunteering in an elderly care home, hospice, nursery or helping someone less fortunate. The medical school is also interested in individuals who have shown commitment to working as part of a team over a prolonged period of time in any area, including voluntary, sports, other extra-curricular activities.
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Personal Statement for Newcastle Medicine
Not used prior to or at the interview. Read prior to offers being made but is not scored.
👉🏼 Ultimate Medicine Personal Statement Guide 2024
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Does This Medical School Have A Gateway or Foundation Year?
Website
Description
Criteria
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University of Newcastle Medicine Interview Questions 2024
Key Details
MMI Interview
7 stations
7 minutes each
Extra 2 minute ice-breaker station in the first station
One roleplay station
Interview Dates
The Newcastle medical interview will be held from December 2023- March 2024 - with results provided after interviews are concluded
Key Aspects
🎓 Newcastle Medicine Interview Questions & Topics 2024
There are a number of topics that are more likely to come up at the University of Newcastle Medical School MMI Interview, which can be derived from past Newcastle MMI stations, where applicants meet different selectors to be assessed and graded on the following categories:
Integrity (honesty and probity)
Communication
Empathy and self-awareness
Motivation and commitment to be a doctor
Compatibility with the MBBS programme
Teamwork (including leadership)
Personal organisation
Persistence and resilience
Generally, each MMI station will begin with open questions, and then the interviewer will continually probe you and build upon what has been said.
There will always be one role play scenario (2025 entry)
💯 Newcastle Medical MMI Interview Questions Scoring 2024
After the interview, we rank applicants in order of merit. This determines who will receive an offer. At this stage personal statements and references are also reviewed, but we don't apply scores to these. We won't make any decisions until all the interviews in the cycle have been completed.
Candidates are rated on each behavioural indicator on a scale of 1-5 (5 being best). Communication is assessed throughout the interview.
Offers (2025 Entry)
Both the Academic Score (50%) + Interview Score (50%) are added together to determine who receives an offer.
Personal statements and references are checked here
❓ Newcastle Medical Interview Past Questions 2024 & Likely Topics
Please find below a list of suggested questions that could come up at your interview this year, created by our team to help guide your interview preparation for Newcastle.
Motivation to study medicine
Why medicine?
Why Newcastle?
What did you learn from your work experience?
What qualities of a doctor did you see from your work experience?
What do you know about the Newcastle Medicine course? How is it taught?
Why do you think you will be well suited to this course?
What is the role of a doctor within the MDT?
Why medicine and not dentistry or nursing?
Tell us about your volunteering
What is your understanding of good patient care?
What are your hobbies?
What are the positives and negatives of a career in medicine?
What aspects of a career in medicine will you enjoy?
What areas of medicine do you think you will find more difficult to embrace and flourish in?
Personal Insight
Why should patients trust you?
What are your best qualities?
How do you manage stress?
Tell us about a recent setback. How would you prevent the same thing from happening again?
What is empathy? Why is it important in medicine?
What are the qualities of a successful? Do you have them?
What is integrity? Why is it important in medicine?
Tell us about a project where you worked on your own. What would you do differently next time?
Can you provide us with an example of a time when you demonstrated resilience?
Tell us about a time when you communicated well in a difficult situation
Provide us with an example of when you had to compromise. Is this important as a doctor?
Give us an example of a time when you demonstrated teamwork.
Tell us about a time when you had lots to do at one time. How did you go about sorting this out? How did that make you feel?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Provide us with an example of a time when you made a mistake, why did this happen and how will you prevent this from happening again?
How would your friends describe you?
Tell us about a situation where you have dealt with uncertainty or change.
Tell us about an article that you have recently read.
NHS & Local Area
Tell us about something you have recently read that is related to medical ethics.
What changes would you make to the NHS if you could?
What is it like to be a doctor?
How do you deal with overpopulation?
What do you know about the local area here in Newcastle?
What are the main challenges that face the NHS?
How has COVID changed the way the NHS operates?
What do you think are going to be the long-term consequences of COVID on the NHS?
How does the healthcare system differ here compared to other areas in the UK?
Ethical Scenarios
Understanding of the four ethical principles
Understanding of the GMC’s good medical practice
What is the debate surrounding euthanasia, should it be legalised?
Who would you give this organ to? [Prioritisation]
If you notice that a colleague has turned up to work drunk, what would you do?
Who can you escalate concerns to within a hospital?
🗣️ Newcastle Medicine Interview Tips 2024
Have examples ready to use: many of the questions asked at Newcastle are example-based, ie, they require you to draw on certain examples from your personal life, medical work experience and medical volunteering to help make key points that the selectors are looking for. As such, it is paramount that you spend time learning about these examples and thinking about different scenarios that you can use at the interview. It is helpful if these scenarios are malleable and can be applied to a number of different questions e.g. being a football captain, deputy head girl or playing in the school orchestra.
Know what to expect - Remember interviews can be conducted by a range of professionals and you may not only be interviewed by a doctor. You may encounter careers professional, actors, professional support staff, and teaching staff, particularly in MMIs. Avoid using very technical terms, you may have more clinical knowledge than those assessing you.
Ethical Scenarios - Newcastle has provided several tips on answering ethical questions. They have mentioned that there is not a single right answer, use evidence or explanation to back up your answers, explain your thought processes, don’t assume prior knowledge on the interviewers’ part – not all interviewers will be medics, and show awareness and recognition of different viewpoints, don’t ‘sit on the fence’ – have an opinion and take a common sense approach
Personal Attributes - Newcastle is very likely to ask you about personal attributes during the MMI interview. As such it is paramount that you go through and learn these. Newcastle has repeatedly focussed on your strengths and weaknesses as a person, so make sure that you have suitable examples for this. Check out our 420+ interview question and answer guide for dealing with such interview questions.
Know the doctor training pathway: this is useful to mention in answers to show awareness about the career in medicine - and demonstrates that you have a considered approach, fortunately, we have a guide to the NHS and the doctor’s training pathway.
Read the MMI instructions carefully - you get enough time to read the instructions provided before the MMI station. Make sure that you don’t miss anything from this. Try and plan how you will structure your answer thereafter in the reading time that you get. Therefore it is really important that you practice MMI questions and ensure that you think about your structure for as many questions as possible before your interview.
MMI Stations - remember that each MMI station at Newcastle is independent of the other. Therefore it is paramount that you try to treat them as such, if you have a bad station, try to forget about it and reset for the next station, this gives you the best chance of scoring well overall. Read our ultimate guide to preparing for medicine MMIs here.
Know the Newcastle Course - we would always recommend doing this for every university that you plan to apply to. It is paramount that you know about the different topics covered each year. How does this differ from other universities? What is their policy on intercalation? Have you any idea about what you would plan to intercalate in at Newcastle? Remember there is very early clinical exposure at Newcastle - this can be an advantage!
Know the local area - Newcastle is a diverse region of England, with a number of local factors and diseases that differentiate the Newcastle region from the rest of the UK. Ensure that you research both communicable and non-communicable diseases in the area. How might this impact healthcare provision in the area?
Reflect Well - the Newcastle Medicine selectors love reflection, make sure that you are good at not just stating what you have learnt, but also how this helped and what you benefitted from, and what you will carry forward about this at medical school and in clinical medicine. This is especially true when reflecting on your medical work experience during the medicine interview.
Practice Role Plays: Role plays are unique to medicine MMI interviews as they do not tend to occur in panel interviews. The only way to ace these stations is to practice! There are so many different medicine role-play scenarios that can come up, such as breaking bad news in the medicine interview, it is paramount that you read about tips for answering role-play scenarios and practice MMI calculation stations. You might want to also consider practising this with a medicine interview tutor, or booking a 1-1 online mock interview.
Don’t over-rehearse - this is a common theme amongst interview students and is very obvious to a trained examiner. As such, we would recommend focusing on the structure of your answer, and then naturally letting it flow when speaking to the answers, concentrating on the delivery of your interview answers. Read about our top tips for medicine interviews here. If you are struggling with this, consider booking sessions with an expert medicine interview tutor.
Learn about the non-academic societies at Newcastle - this is really important and might augment your Why Medicine question as well as help you formulate an answer to how you will contribute to life at Newcastle University. Spend time on their website, or looking at their Instagram for ideas about societies that you could think about joining.
Learn Medical Ethics & NHS Hot Topics - it is extremely likely that you will be asked about medical ethics at a medicine interview at Newcastle, so there is no excuse not to brush up on your knowledge on these topics, especially the four pillars of medical ethics. Learn how to provide a balanced argument on this. Check out some of our free articles on NHS Hot Topics here. It is good if you have an opinion on them, as long as you present a balanced and well-reasoned argument, ultimately, which side you choose does not matter, but is helpful to have. Check out our bank of 200+ medicine interview questions.
Learn the NHS Core Values - This can be drawn into different answers about personal qualities or qualities of a doctor, which has formed a feature of stations in the past, and a good understanding of these core values will help you stand out against others. It is important to know about the NHS in general for your medical interviews - read our article here on this.
Good Medical Practice - Newcastle also puts emphasis on knowing the values and qualities of a good doctor, which can be found in this document and are likely to come up at the interview in the MMI stations. This is universal to many universities, and something that we always recommend students cover during their medicine interview preparation.
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Contact Details
Administrator for Admissions
Faculty Undergraduate Office
Medical School
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4HH
Tel: 0191 222 7005
Email: medic.ugadmin@ncl.ac.uk
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