Bristol medicine interview and selection guide
Bristol's selection is unusually simple to describe. Meet the academic requirements and you are ranked for interview on your UCAT score alone. Offers then go to the strongest interview performances, with UCAT breaking ties. Grades and the personal statement are not weighted. This guide explains each step, the online interview format and Bristol's entry requirements.
Facts checked against Bristol's official pages on .
Independent service: Key2MD is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the University of Bristol. Everything below is general guidance drawn from publicly available information, may change between cycles, and is not official advice. Always confirm current requirements, fees and program details on Bristol's official pages.
Read facts and coaching advice separately. Facts on this page are taken from Bristol's published pages and linked in the sources list. Preparation advice is Dan's independent guidance. This page does not reproduce confidential interview questions, and your invitation from Bristol takes precedence over anything here.
On this page
Published selection and interview guidance
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Academic check
You must be predicted (or have achieved) the full entry requirements.
- Bristol does not weight A-levels or GCSEs. Once you meet the minimum, grades play no further part in ranking.
- The personal statement is not a weighted part of selection.
- You must be at least 18 by 1 September of the year you start.
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Interview selection
100% UCAT.
- Bristol uses the combined score of the cognitive subtests, not the Situational Judgement Test, and treats all test scores equally.
- There is no fixed cut-off. The threshold changes each year with the strength of the cohort.
- UCAT must be taken in the same calendar year as your UCAS application, including by applicants with a guaranteed interview.
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Interview and offers
Offers go to the strongest interview performances.
- Interviews are online for the 2026/27 cycle. Applicants must be available for interview from November to April.
- Assessors ask questions and mark responses separately. Those with the strongest overall performance receive offers; UCAT is the first tiebreaker, then academic history.
- Previous years' interview performance is not considered. Bristol may hold applications until later in the cycle, so decisions can take time.
- Pathway covered
- Five-year MBChB (A100); Gateway to Medicine (A108) noted separately
- Entry cycle / source status
- 2027 entry (admissions statement dated 14 May 2026)
- Published format
- Online structured interview on Zoom. The most recent published format: about 30 minutes, six stations, each scored by three assessors
- Interview selection
- UCAT total (excluding the Situational Judgement Test), once academic requirements are met; no fixed cut-off
- Offers
- Ranked on interview performance; UCAT breaks ties, then academic history
Official sources: University of Bristol: Medicine admissions statement 2027; University of Bristol: Medicine interviews.
Selection facts checked: . This check covers the pathway and interview summary above. Fees, eligibility exceptions and course details must be checked separately. Your university invitation takes precedence for your assessment.
The interview format
Bristol's interview page describes the format used in its most recent cycle (December 2025 to February 2026). Check your invitation for any changes this cycle.
| Platform | Zoom, joined from a browser or the desktop app. Bristol recommends at least 1.5 Mbps up and down and a quiet, well-lit room. It provides a template letter to request a room at school or college. |
|---|---|
| Structure | A structured interview of about 30 minutes with six stations. Each station is scored by three assessors, and you see six assessors in total (two groups of three, each marking three stations). The six station scores make up your final score. |
| Before the interview | Bristol asks you to read the GMC's Achieving good medical practice carefully. It says the guidance will help with some questions and scenarios. |
| On the day | Your stated time is your arrival time; the interview starts about 10 minutes later after a briefing and technical checks. Photo ID is checked on camera. |
| Rules | No phones, other devices, AI tools, books or prepared notes. You may make written notes to help with your answers. Do not record the interview or discuss its content afterwards. |
| Responding | Reply to your invitation within two weeks, or your application is made unsuccessful. If you cannot attend any date, say so on the form; another slot is not guaranteed. |
| Connection problems | You are not penalised; Bristol will try to reconnect or reschedule. |
Published by Bristol
- The selection steps and weightings
- Interview length, stations and number of assessors
- Required reading (GMC guidance)
- Tiebreak rules
Not published
- The UCAT threshold for interview
- The station topics
- Applications, interview and offer numbers
Entry requirements
| A-levels | AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths. Biology and Human Biology cannot both be offered. |
|---|---|
| Contextual offer | ABB, with A in Chemistry and B in Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths. |
| IB | 36 points with 18 at Higher Level, including 6, 6 in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Maths. Contextual: 32 points with 16 at HL (6 in Chemistry, 5 in the second subject). |
| Scottish | Advanced Higher AA in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Maths, plus Highers AAAAB. |
| GCSE | Grade 7 (or A) in Maths and grade 4 (or C) in English. |
| Graduates | A 2:1 degree plus BBB at A-level including Chemistry and Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths. |
| Mature applicants | Evidence of recent scientific study, including chemistry, in the past five years at A-level standard or above. |
| Resits | Considered. If you apply with grades already achieved, you must meet the Chemistry requirement; Bristol will not make exceptions. |
| UCAT | Required in the same calendar year as your application. |
Gateway to Medicine and contextual offers
| Contextual offers | Usually two grades lower than the typical offer, for applicants who meet Bristol's contextual criteria. |
|---|---|
| Gateway to Medicine (A108) | A six-year route with a foundation (gateway) year, for UK students who meet specific widening participation criteria and do not meet the standard academic requirements. Completing the gateway year leads automatically into the five-year MBChB. Applicants with grades at or above the standard level cannot be considered for Gateway. |
Dan's preparation advice for Bristol
The following is independent coaching advice, not Bristol's rubric.
- Read the GMC guidance properly. Bristol tells you to. Know the main duties (honesty, confidentiality, raising concerns, consent) well enough to apply them to a scenario without quoting.
- Your interview score decides your offer. Grades and personal statement no longer help once you are interviewed. Put your effort into answering well.
- Five minutes a station. With six stations in about 30 minutes, keep answers tight: a clear point, one specific example, and a reflection.
- Set up for Zoom like an exam. Test your connection, light your face from the front and use headphones. Book a room at school if home is noisy.
- Expect assessors to mark separately. Speak to the whole panel, not just whoever asked the question.
Fees and funding
| Home students | £10,050 for Year 1 (2027 entry). Home fees follow UK government policy and may change each year. |
|---|---|
| International students | £47,600 for Year 1 (2027 entry), rising annually with expected inflation. |
| Intercalation | An optional extra year between Years 3 and 4 to take a bachelor's or master's degree. |
Frequently asked questions
How does Bristol select for medicine interviews?
Once you meet the academic requirements, Bristol ranks applicants 100% on UCAT, using the total of the cognitive subtests. There is no fixed cut-off.
Is the Bristol medicine interview online?
Yes. Bristol's 2027 admissions statement says interviews are online for the 2026/27 cycle, on Zoom.
What is the Bristol medicine interview format?
In its most recent published format, a structured interview of about 30 minutes with six stations, each scored by three assessors.
How are Bristol medicine offers made?
Offers go to applicants with the strongest interview performance. UCAT breaks ties, followed by academic history.
Does Bristol use the personal statement?
No. Bristol no longer uses the personal statement as a weighted part of selection.
What A-levels do I need for Bristol medicine?
AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths. The contextual offer is ABB.
What should I read before a Bristol interview?
Bristol asks interviewees to read the GMC's Achieving good medical practice: guidance for medical students.
How Key2MD fits
Key2MD is independent practice for the skills an interview rewards, not a copy of Bristol's interview.
- 255 MMI stations and 100 CASPer scenarios across ethics, teamwork, communication, professionalism and current health topics.
- On-camera practice for Bristol's Zoom interview.
- Professionalism and ethics stations built around the duties in GMC guidance.
- Feedback on six criteria, including communication, reasoning and empathy, with your progress tracked over time. Your first AI-marked review is free.
Sources
Facts on this page come from the sources below, checked on .
- University of Bristol: Medicine admissions statement 2027: selection steps, UCAT use, interviews, offers, contextual offers
- University of Bristol: Medicine interviews: format, preparation, rules
- University of Bristol: MB ChB Medicine (2027): entry requirements, fees
- University of Bristol: Gateway to Medicine (2027): eligibility and progression
- GMC: Achieving good medical practice: required pre-interview reading
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