Welcome to the School of Medicine Virtual Open Day webpage for our MBBS/BSc programme. We have compiled these resources to help you make an informed choice about your next steps, and to see whether Imperial is the right place for you and, more specifically, if our School of Medicine is the community you would like to join.
We also collated frequently asked questions during previous Open Days. If you cannot find the answers to your questions there, please do not hesitate to contact us at feo-admissions-interviews@imperial.ac.uk
If you are looking for more information on the in-person Open Days and wish to book a session, please refer to the Open Day webpage.
Virtual Open Day
Open Days
Keep up-to-date with all Open days' dates on this page.
Your take-home resources
We have created a platform for you to find all the relevant information from both our in-person and virtual Open Days. Access the platform here.
Why Imperial College School of Medicine?
Curriculum
Admissions Selection Process
- Admissions Selection Process
- What do we assess you on?
- What are our Entry Requirements?
- Admissions Schemes
Your dedicated School of Medicine Students' Union
One of the most amazing things about School of Medicine is the bespoke Student Union – you get access to a dedicated Student Union focused on the needs of students within the School of Medicine, with student officers elected by you to work with the Faculty and College to make positive change to your student experience.
This builds a clear camaraderie and closeness amongst our students. We have a thriving community full of amazing clubs or societies for everyone to find their niche. There is a phenomenal level of peer-to-peer support, especially with education, where we have several academic societies organising phenomenally useful tutorials, lecture series and mock exams.
Student Experience and our Community
A significant aspect of the Medicine programme is the sense of community amongst our students and faculty members. Even in times of unprecented crisis, the School of Medicine community comes together. Throughout COVID-19, faculty, students and administrative staff have continued (and continue) to work tirelessly to ensure the best for ICSM students.
We're Still Here!
At the School of Medicine, we take your wellbeing support extremely seriously. From day one of the course, you will be allocated to a tutor who will be your point of contact for academic and wellbeing support. Meeting in small tutor groups and on a one-to-one basis, they will work with you to hone key skills which will allow you to perform at the best of your ability – through reinforcing study skills teaching, reviewing your academic performance and checking in on your wellbeing, and being someone who is interested in you. All of our tutors have a passion for mentoring and coaching and have many years of experience, so you are in safe hands.
As you move through the phases of the curriculum, the type of tutor you need can change. Our tutoring system reflects this, and we ensure that your tutors are the best fit for where you are on the course.
We know that sometimes circumstances beyond our control happen, you can get ill, financial problems occur or you hit a crisis, in these situations, the School has a team of Senior Tutors who support students going through these more complex stages. Acting confidentially, the Senior Tutor and the Welfare team are advocates for you, making the reasonable adjustments you need a reality.
The School of Medicine invests highly in your student experience. We work with your student-elected reps (for both academia and wellbeing) to hear the student voice – your concerns, your successes and what you want the course to be, have or do. We work on regular wellbeing campaigns and support many student-led initiatives.
Imperial College prioritises looking after its students, and the Student Support Zone is your first resource for success.
Top tips for your medical school interview
By 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 College, so background reading is essential!
- 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!
