Interview day

The interview day is a chance for us to find out more about you and you about us. Our student ambassadors will be your main hosts for the day, showing a small group of applicants around the campus.

We aim to put you in a group with an ambassador who is doing the same or a similar course to the one you have applied for.

You will talk to staff and a range of students as well as seeing some of the great facilities available within our Faculty and the University. Although we will conduct a formal interview with you, we aim to make the interview process as relaxed as possible.

Before the interview day

• Confirm whether you are attending through UCAS.
• Inform us of any disability or special requirements that you have for interview by emailing ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk.
• If you are also applying for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science or pharmacy, either at Manchester or any other university, please send your alternative personal statement to ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk.

What should I do if I can’t attend on the interview day I have been given?

Please indicate on UCAS that you cannot attend the interview on the date you have been allocated. We will then contact you to see whether it is possible to arrange an interview on an alternative day or in some circumstances we may be able to arrange a Skype interview.

We cannot guarantee these alternative options will be available.

What is an alternative personal statement?

If you are also applying for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science or pharmacy, either at The University of Manchester or elsewhere, then we are aware your personal statement will be tailored to that course.

You should write an additional personal statement that explains your interest in the biological or biomedical course you have applied for. This should include your UCAS ID number and be emailed to ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk no later than the Friday prior to your interview, so that your interviewer can read it before the day.

On the interview day

Arrival and registration

You will register from 12:45pm at the Stopford building - building number 79 on the campus map. Please note that the interview day is run over a full afternoon and will finish at approximately 4:30pm.

New traffic restrictions on Oxford Road

If you are travelling by car or motorbike, please be aware that sections of Oxford Road are closed to non-emergency traffic. Please view our map for details before making your journey, as the University will not accept liability for any fines incurred: view map (PDF). 

Parking

Please note that parking near the University is extremely limited. We recommend that you use public transport where possible. The nearest multistorey car park is at the Aquatics Centre (car park B on the campus map). The postcode for Aquatics Centre Car Park if you are using sat nav is M13 9SS.

We cannot guarantee there will be spaces there on the day, so please consider using one of the many car parks in the city centre, and either walk down Oxford Road or get one of the many buses.

Your specific time for the interview will be given to you at registration. It will NOT be possible to re-arrange an interview time on the day.

Interview

The interview lasts approximately 20 minutes. It is an opportunity for us to find out about what has motivated you to apply for your degree and for you to find out more about the faculty and your chosen course. You will only need to attend one interview if you have applied for multiple biosciences degree courses.

Questions we may ask

The interviewer is likely to ask questions related to your personal statement. Be prepared to discuss topics you have mentioned in your statement such as:

• why you are interested in this particular degree course
• any interests or experiences related to your degree course, such as outside reading or work experience
• your non-academic interests and achievements.

Questions you could ask

You can use this opportunity to interview your interviewer. You might, for example, ask about:

• available field courses or vocational training
• if there is a member of staff who will get to know you and be able to offer advice, and if you can change to another staff member
• how much of the degree is assessed by examination and how much by coursework
• the ratio of lectures to tutorials and practicals?

If you have special circumstances

You will have an opportunity to discuss any special circumstances, such as illness, family circumstance or problems with school facilities, that may affect your chances of attaining your predicted grades. Such circumstances may be taken into account in the formulation of a conditional offer, but are more likely to have an effect at later stages of the admissions process.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear?

The day will involve a tour of the campus, so you should wear suitable clothing and shoes for walking outdoors (such as flat shoes and waterproof clothing, or an umbrella) as well as ensuring you feel comfortable. We will be assessing your interest and motivation, not your dress sense.

Who can I bring with me?

You can bring one parent or guest over the age of 18. We offer a programme for parents and guests as indicated in the timetable, but we have limited numbers of places due to venue restrictions.

Will lunch be provided?

We will provide limited refreshments during the day, but we advise you to eat lunch before you register.

Can I visit accommodation as part of the interview day?

Accommodation tours are not included as part of the interview day. However, if you wish to see a student hall on the day of your visit, you can book separately for an accommodation visit.

Additionally, the University hosts an open house event in March each year when all the undergraduate halls of residence are open to prospective students and their guests.

See the Accommodation Office website for more information: Accommodation Office.

I have visited the University before. Can I attend for just the interview?

No, it is very important that you attend for the whole day. You will receive important information in the introductory talk and you will spend much of the day with student ambassadors, giving you the opportunity to ask questions about their experience of the course and university life.

As you are making a decision about where to spend the next three or four years of your life, it is of benefit to you to be as well informed as possible about the course and the University.

When do I find out if I am to be offered a place?

If we wish to make you an offer we will inform UCAS within two weeks of your interview day. You can check the status of your application on the UCAS website.