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We recently caught up with one of our inspiring A2 Level students at Kings Bournemouth, Zain, who dreams of becoming a doctor and is already making impressive progress toward her goal. She has received offers from several prestigious universities, including:
- University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) – Ranked in the top 7% of universities worldwide (CWUR 2024)
- Hull York Medical School – Top 10 for student satisfaction in Medicine (NSS 2023)
- Newcastle University – Ranked in the top 125 universities globally (QS World University Rankings 2024)
- Buckingham University – Well-regarded for its small group teaching and intensive medical curriculum (interview round 2 pending)
We sat down with her to hear more about her recent 5-hour interview at UCLan, and what future applicants can expect from the process.
Q: First of all, how did the interview go?
It went really well! The interview was quite long – around five hours – and was divided into two main parts.
Q: Can you walk us through the structure of the interview?
Sure! The first part involved two maths questions and a writing task. I was given a scenario with a student’s notes and had to turn them into a well-written paragraph, as if I were presenting the information. We had about 10 minutes for the maths and 15 minutes for the writing.
Then we moved into the MMI (Multiple Mini Interviews) section. That was made up of six different stations. Each one had a question or a scenario – things like interpreting graphs, responding to ethical dilemmas, or explaining how I would behave in a medical situation. One task included watching a video of a doctor and identifying what they did well and what could have been improved.
Q: What stood out to you about UCLan’s medical programme?
I was really impressed with the structure of their Medicine degree. It’s a five-year programme, and what makes it unique is that students begin clinical placements from Year 1. That early exposure to patients is so important for building real doctor-patient communication skills.
They also put a lot of emphasis on academic support, which is something I truly value. It made me feel like I wouldn’t be just a number there – they’re very supportive of their students.
Q: Any final thoughts on UCLan or the interview process?
Honestly, I really liked the university. The staff were welcoming, the curriculum is strong, and the facilities – especially the labs and clinical practice areas – were impressive. The interview was challenging, but fair, and I felt like it gave me a great opportunity to show who I am as a future medical student.
We’re incredibly proud of our student and excited to follow her journey as she takes her next steps toward becoming a doctor.
Stay tuned for more updates and student stories from Kings Bournemouth!
