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St George’s, University of London PA Interview Questions

Advice & Insight From PA Application Specialists

General Interview Information

St George’s requires at least a 2.2 degree. If you are a healthcare graduate, you must have a Pass. The following degrees are acceptable: Anatomical Science, Applied Medical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biological Science, Biomedical Science, Human Anatomy, Human Biology, Human Physiology, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Pharmacy, Psychology, Allied Health Professions, inc. Audiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Physiotherapy, Paramedic Studies, Radiotherapy, Dentistry, Health Sciences, Midwifery, Nursing, Optometry, Sport and Exercise Science.

Additionally, all candidates must sit the UCAT. The UCAT is an online aptitude test designed to assess key areas of performance, such as verbal reasoning and abstract reasoning, as well as containing a situational judgement test. You must score at least 500 in each section. The UCAT is used to rank applicants who will be invited to interview, and may be used to rank applicants who are put on the waiting list after interview. You should therefore prepare for the UCAT well in advance using a question bank.

You must also have paid or voluntary healthcare or social work experience.

St George’s will generate a cut-off score using the UCAT and then invite applicnats to MMI after this process is complete. They expect to invite around 250 applicants per year.

MMIs are ranked after they are completed and the highest performing candidates will be offered places.

Interview Format for Physician Associate Studies at St George’s

The interview at St George’s uses the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format. There are six stations, each of which will take five minutes. You will rotate through the stations and each will feature a different assessor. The MMI is designed to be objective and will be scored according to predetermined criteria. Each station will feature a different theme.

Key Dates

The course takes two years, and applications must be filed by January 29th. The course starts in August. The final deadline for booking the UCAT is the 28th of September.

Sample & Recent Interview Questions

Insight and Motivation

  • What is the role of a Physician Associate?
  • How long has the role of PA been established?
  • Why are you interested in becoming a PA rather than an NP?
  • Can a PA work alone (independent of a physician)?
  • What do you think a typical day looks like for a PA?
  • What are the 6Cs?
  • What area of care are you interested in working in as a PA?
  • What do you think healthcare will look like in 20 years?
  • What body is responsible for regulating physician associates?

Work Experience

  • Do you think that your work experience has been a fair reflection of what it is like being a PA?
  • Talk to me about your work experience.
  • Tell me about something that impressed you during your work experience?
  • Tell me about a volunteering role that you have taken on.
  • Tell me how you found a wide range of work experience.
  • What challenging situations have you seen during your work experience?
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Empathy

  • Explain the difference between empathy and sympathy.
  • What mentoring roles have you had?
  • Tell me about a time when you showed empathy and how that empathy helped someone else.

Teamwork & Communication

  • Do you work well in a team?
  • What kind of team do physician associates work in?
  • Tell us about your leadership ability.
  • Why is teamwork important to those working in healthcare?
  • How would you deal with an aggressive and verbally abusive patient?
  • Tell me about a time that you succeeded as part of a team.
  • Tell me how you would discuss a difficult topic with a patient.

Ethics

  • Is sexism from a patient excusable if that patient has an entirely different cultural upbringing?
  • What is more important, quality of life or length of life?
  • Should physician-assisted suicide be permitted in the UL?
  • Should those who are less well-off be allowed to use a greater amount of NHS services than the rich? I.E should the rich have to pay for some of their healthcare?
  • What would you do if you caught a friend looking at confidential patient’s notes?

The Course

  • Why are you interested in studying at this university?
  • Do you think that our course fits your learning style?
  • Are you prepared for living in London?
  • What attracts you about the range of placements and hospitals here?
  • What do you think you will bring to our university?
  • How will you deal with the amount of independent studying on the course?

Your Personality

  • What would you like your impact to be in the PA field?
  • How would your parents describe you?
  • Tell me your greatest ambition.
  • Tell me your five greatest strengths.

St George’s, University of London PA Interview Questions

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