Skip to navigation | Skip to main content | Skip to footer
The University of Manchester home
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
  • Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
  • Study
  • Dentistry
  • BDS interviews
    • Interview day structure
    • The interview
    • Required documents
    • Dress code
    • Special requirements
    • Frequently asked questions
  • Home
  • Study

    Subject areas

    • Audiology
    • Biosciences
    • Dentistry
    • Medicine
    • Midwifery
    • Nursing
    • Optometry
    • Pharmacy
    • Psychology
    • Public health and data
    • Social work
    • Speech and language therapy

     

    Undergraduate

    • Courses (2026 entry)
    • Courses (2025 entry)
    • Global futures

    Taught master's

    • Courses

    NHS Scientist Training Programme

    Postgraduate research

    • Getting started and applying
    • Projects, programmes and degrees
    • Funding and fees
    • Funded programmes
    • Supervisors
    • Events

    Continuing professional development (CPD)

    • Courses

    Open days

    Student blog

    Choosing university

  • Research

    Impact and innovation

    Technology platforms

    Support for researchers

    Research staff

     

    Research by school and division

    Centres, institutes and networks

    PhD opportunities

    Doctoral Academy

    University Research Explorer

  • Connect

    Social responsibility

    • Patients, staff and the public
    • For students
    • Service learning
    • Environment
    • Research with impact
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion

    Global health

    • International partnerships

    Business engagement

    • Medical education consultancy

    Teachers and advisers

    • Widening participation
    • Educational resources
    • Choosing university

    Support the faculty

    Social media

    Contact us

    News blog

    Events

  • About

    Our schools and divisions

    People

    • Leadership team

    Equality, diversity and inclusion

    • Athena SWAN
    • Addressing differential attainment

    History and heritage

    • Museum of Medicine and Health

    Stories

    News

    Contact us

  • Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
  • Study
  • Dentistry
  • BDS interviews
  • Dress code
  • Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
  • Study
  • Dentistry
  • BDS interviews
    • Interview day structure
    • The interview
    • Required documents
    • Dress code
    • Special requirements
    • Frequently asked questions

Dress code

What to wear for your interview

Some applicants become quite nervous about picking the right outfit for their interview, but the most important thing is that you feel comfortable on the day.

Use common sense

We're not going to penalise you if you don't come in your best suit.

In general, applicants should be clean and smartly dressed, whether the interview is online or in person.

An interviewee choosing an outfit to wear to an interview.

What you choose to wear is important

Studies have shown that non-verbal communication is at least as important as verbal communication, so how a student or health and social care professional appears to patients, clients, service users, relatives, professionals or colleagues may communicate as much as what is said.

A smartly dressed college student.

What to avoid wearing

Extremes of dress compromise communication channels between health and social care students and other patients and professionals, regardless of either party's gender, or cultural or ethnic background. 

Styles of dress or articles of clothing that introduce barriers to communication or that compromise or could potentially compromise hygiene must be avoided.

Styles of dress should inspire confidence and add to, not detract from, effective and sensitive communication.

Avoid wearing...

  • T-shirts with slogans.
  • Revealing clothing.
  • Trainers.
  • Clothing that covers most of the face*.

 

*This applies not only in clinical settings but also in educational elements of the course where communication skills are relevant, such as some types of group work and role-play exercises.

We reserve the right to check the identity of students who wear clothing that covers most of the face (as defined above) on key occasions such as examinations.

« Back to top

Contact us

  • +44 (0) 161 306 6000
  • Contact details

Find us

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK

Connect with us

  • Facebook page for Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
  • Bluesky page for Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
  • YouTube page for Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
  • Instagram page for Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
  • LinkedIn page for Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

  • Disclaimer
  • Data Protection
  • Copyright notice
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of information
  • Charitable status
  • Royal Charter Number: RC000797