Dundee medicine interview: the group discussion format
Dundee does not use a standard MMI. Its interview is built around a structured group discussion: six applicants discuss a scenario while an assessor observes, then the group moves to a second room where a different assessor directs the conversation. Dundee says communication and teamwork are the most important skills a doctor needs, and its format is designed to show them. This guide covers the format, what is assessed and Dundee's requirements.
Facts checked against Dundee's official pages on .
Independent service: Key2MD is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the University of Dundee. 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 Dundee's official pages.
Read facts and coaching advice separately. Facts on this page are taken from Dundee'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 Dundee takes precedence over anything here.
On this page
Published selection and interview guidance
Dundee looks at academic ability and UCAT to decide who to interview, then uses the interview to assess the characteristics it says every doctor needs. It does not publish a weighting between these parts.
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Application
UCAS deadline 15 October 2026 at 18:00 UK time.
- UCAT is required in the year you apply. There is no minimum cut-off score.
- Applicants must have completed academic study in the three years before starting the course.
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Invitation
By email in phases, with at least two weeks' notice where possible.
- Invitations come to the email on your application, not through UCAS.
- Interviews are held in January, so Dundee advises not to plan holidays then.
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Decisions
Some early decisions after each set of interviews; most after all interviews.
- Final decisions are made by the UCAS decision date and sent through UCAS and by email.
- All offer conditions must be met by 31 August.
- Pathway covered
- Five-year MBChB (A100)
- Entry cycle / source status
- 2027 entry
- Published format
- Group interview in two parts: an observed preparatory group discussion (six applicants, about 30 minutes), then a structured interaction with a different assessor. In person at Ninewells for UK applicants; online option for international applicants
- Assessed
- Communication, working within a group, personal values and professionalism
- UCAT
- Required; no minimum cut-off
Official sources: University of Dundee: interview for Medicine MBChB; University of Dundee: Medicine entry requirements.
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.
How the group interview works
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Preparatory group discussion
About 30 minutes, observed.
- You join five other applicants to discuss a specific scenario, with some broad points to help structure the discussion.
- An assessor observes without interacting with the group.
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Assessor discussion
A different assessor directs the conversation.
- Your group moves to another room. The new assessor frames the discussion around some of the bullet points you were given.
| What is assessed | Your ability to communicate effectively, to work within a group, your personal values and your professionalism. |
|---|---|
| Who interviews | Staff and students from the School of Medicine. |
| Where | In person at the Ninewells campus for UK-based applicants (online requests reviewed case by case). International applicants can choose a remote interview on Blackboard Collaborate. |
| How long | 1 hour 40 minutes including registration and a welcome, plus an optional 30-minute tour and Q&A. |
| Bring | Government or professional photo ID (driving licence, passport, national ID card or Young Scot card). Smart dress; school uniform is fine. |
| Confidentiality | Dundee asks applicants not to share the topics or tasks with others or online. |
Published by Dundee
- The two-stage group format
- Group size and discussion length
- The four qualities assessed
- Interview month and length
- Historic admissions statistics
Not published
- How applicants are ranked for interview
- How each stage is scored
- Current-cycle UCAT data on the 2700 scale
Admissions statistics
Dundee's most recent published statistics (updated April 2024) cover entry up to 2023/24, on the old UCAT scale out of 3600. Dundee warns they are not directly comparable with scores from 2025 onwards, when the maximum became 2700.
| Entry year | Applications | Invited to interview | Average UCAT (interviewed) | Lowest UCAT (interviewed) | Offers | Matriculations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 2,226 | 891 | 2715 | 2090 | 380 | 169 |
| 2022/23 | 2,306 | 862 | 2691 | 1940 | 375 | 176 |
| 2023/24 | 1,951 | 844 | 2675 | 1900 | 570 | 218 |
Places are set by the Scottish Funding Council. For context, the 2026 UCAT national mean on the current scale was 1918.
Entry requirements
| Scottish Highers | AAAAB in one sitting (widening access: AAABB), including Chemistry or Biology and another science (Maths counts). Biology and Chemistry at National 5 grade A, and Maths and English at National 5 grade B, if not taken at Higher. S6: BB at Advanced Higher. |
|---|---|
| A-levels | AAA including Chemistry or Biology and another science (Maths counts). All prior qualifications are taken into account. |
| IB | 37 points with HL 666, including Chemistry or Biology and another science at HL (Maths counts). |
| Graduates | At least a 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant life science, which must be your first degree. Further degrees do not replace this. Academic study in the last three years is required; there is no entry to Year 2. |
| Current undergraduates | Only final-year students applying through the graduate route are considered. |
| UCAT | Required in the year of application. No minimum cut-off. |
Dan's preparation advice for Dundee
The following is independent coaching advice, not Dundee's rubric.
- Group work is assessed, not winning the debate. Invite quieter people in, build on others' points and summarise where the group has got to. Talking most is not the same as communicating best.
- Use the bullet points. Dundee gives broad points to structure the discussion, and the second assessor returns to them. Make sure the group covers each one.
- Practise in a group. Most interview practice is one to one. Get four or five friends to discuss a medical ethics scenario for 30 minutes while someone observes and gives feedback.
- Show your values in what you say. Personal values and professionalism are assessed; respect for others in the group shows both.
Fees and funding
| Scottish students | Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is normally funded through the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). |
|---|---|
| Rest of UK and international students | Check Dundee's fees and funding page for current fees. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Dundee medicine interview like?
A group interview in two parts: an observed 30-minute discussion of a scenario with five other applicants, then a discussion directed by a different assessor. It lasts 1 hour 40 minutes including registration.
What does the Dundee interview assess?
Effective communication, working within a group, personal values and professionalism.
Is the Dundee interview online?
UK applicants interview in person at Ninewells, with online requests reviewed case by case. International applicants can choose an online interview.
When are Dundee medicine interviews?
In January. Invitations are sent by email in phases, with at least two weeks' notice where possible.
What UCAT do I need for Dundee?
Dundee has no minimum cut-off. Its latest published statistics (2023/24 entry, old scale) showed a lowest interviewed UCAT of 1900 out of 3600.
What grades do I need for Dundee medicine?
AAAAB in Highers (AAABB widening access), AAA at A-level or 37 points in the IB, including Chemistry or Biology and another science.
How Key2MD fits
Key2MD is independent practice for the skills an interview rewards, not a copy of Dundee's interview.
- 255 MMI stations and 100 CASPer scenarios across ethics, teamwork, communication, professionalism and current health topics.
- Ethics and teamwork scenarios you can use to run a practice group discussion.
- Communication feedback on how clearly you explain your reasoning.
- 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 Dundee: interview for Medicine MBChB: format, assessment, timings, dates
- University of Dundee: entry requirements: Highers, UCAT, academic study rule
- University of Dundee: all entry requirements: A-level, IB, graduate entry
- University of Dundee: medicine admissions statistics: historic data
- University of Dundee: how to apply: deadline, offers
- Student Awards Agency Scotland: tuition funding for Scottish students
Practise discussing scenarios out loud
Key2MD offers independent practice and feedback. Its stations and scores do not reproduce Dundee's interview, questions or selection rubric.
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