How to prepare for a university admission interview

The short answer

An interview is a chance to show that you know the programme, that you can think and speak clearly, and that you are serious. Prepare by researching the course, practising answers to common questions with real examples, and arriving early and calm.

Before the interview

1. Read the prospectus and the website pages for the programme. Note the subjects, the staff and anything that interests you.
2. Read your own application again, including your personal statement. You may be asked about anything in it.
3. Revise the main topics of your school subjects that relate to the programme, because some interviewers ask a technical question.
4. Find out the date, the time, the place and the documents to bring, and plan your route so that you arrive at least 20 minutes early.

Questions that are often asked

• Tell us about yourself.
• Why do you want to study this subject, and why at this university?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Tell us about a challenge that you have faced and how you dealt with it.
• What are your plans for the future?
• Do you have any questions for us?

How to answer

1. Keep each answer short, about one to two minutes, and answer the question that was asked.
2. Give a real example from your life, such as a project, a result or a responsibility, instead of saying only that you are hard working.
3. Be honest about a weakness, and say what you are doing to improve it.
4. If you do not know the answer to a technical question, say so, then explain how you would think about it.

On the day

• Wear clean, simple and formal clothes.
• Greet the panel politely, sit upright and keep eye contact.
• Listen to the whole question before you start to answer.
• Switch off your phone.
• Prepare one or two questions of your own, for example about the course or the facilities.

Mistakes to avoid

• Memorising long speeches. They sound unnatural.
• Saying things that are not true. You may be asked about them.
• Criticising your school or other universities.
• Speaking too fast because of nerves. Take a breath before you answer.
• Forgetting to thank the panel at the end.

Where this comes from

• The invitation and the instructions of the university that is interviewing you. Always follow its official guidance.