A Guide to Interview Prep for Postgraduate Courses

Postgraduate interviews can feel like a step into the unknown, especially if you have not faced an academic interview since your undergraduate application.

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Which Postgraduate Courses Require Interviews?

Not all postgraduate courses include an interview, but they are common where universities need to assess more than academic grades alone. Interviews are most likely when a course is competitive, professionally regulated, or closely linked to research.

Postgraduate interviews are frequently used for:

• Medicine, dentistry, and allied healthcare courses

• Psychology, counselling, and clinical programmes

• Law courses with a vocational or professional focus

• Education and teacher training programmes

• Business and management degrees at selective universities

• Research-based master’s and PhD programmes

In some cases, interviews are used to distinguish between academically strong candidates. In others, they are designed to confirm motivation, suitability for professional training, or alignment with a supervisor’s research interests.

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What UK Universities Are Assessing in Postgraduate Interviews

Postgraduate interviews are usually academic conversations rather than formal interrogations. Interviewers are trying to understand how you think, how well you know your subject, and whether you are ready for the level of independent study required at postgraduate level.

Most interviews assess a combination of the following:

• Academic preparedness: Your understanding of key concepts from your undergraduate degree and your ability to discuss them clearly.

• Motivation for the course: Why you have chosen this subject, this course, and this stage of study.

• Subject engagement: Evidence that you read beyond the syllabus, reflect critically, and can develop ideas in discussion.

• Course and research fit: How well your interests align with the course content, department strengths, or potential supervisors.

• Communication and reasoning: Your ability to explain your thinking, respond to questions, and engage in academic dialogue.

Interviewers are rarely looking for flawless answers. They are more interested in how you approach questions, justify your views, and adapt when challenged.

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Common Interview Formats You May Encounter

Postgraduate interviews come in a few familiar formats, though the tone is often more conversational than applicants expect. While it can feel daunting not knowing exactly what is coming, most interviews follow a clear structure and are designed to help candidates show how they think, not to catch them out.

You may be invited to:

• A one-to-one academic interview. This is the most common format. A member of academic staff will ask questions about your background, interests, and reasons for applying. Think of it as a guided academic conversation rather than a test.

• A panel interview. Usually, two or three interviewers, often from the same department. This can feel more formal, but questions are typically shared across the panel and focused on the course and subject area.

• An online interview. Many postgraduate interviews now take place via video call. The questions are usually the same as in-person interviews, though you may be asked to discuss written work or ideas you submitted in advance.

• A research-focused discussion. Common for research master’s and PhD applicants. You may be asked about your proposal, possible methodologies, or how your interests align with departmental research.

Whatever the format, interviewers are rarely looking for instant answers. Taking a moment to think befor responding is expected, and often encouraged.

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Preparing Your Academic and Subject Knowledge

A common worry before a postgraduate interview is whether you need to relearn your entire undergraduate degree.

The short answer is: no.

What matters more is being comfortable discussing the areas of the subject that led you to apply in the first place.

Start by revisiting key themes, modules, or ideas that relate directly to the course. If there were essays, projects, or dissertations you particularly enjoyed, make sure you can talk about them clearly. You do not need to remember every detail, but you should be able to explain what interested you and why.

It is also worth thinking about how your academic interests have developed. Many interview questions are less about what you know and more about how your thinking has evolved. Being able to say, “I became interested in this area because…” can be just as valuable as demonstrating technical knowledge.

If you are applying for a research-based course, spend time reviewing your proposal or research questions. Interviewers often want to explore how you arrived at your ideas and how open you are to refining them, rather than testing whether they are already perfect!

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Discussing Motivation, Research Interests, and Career Goals

This is often the part of the interview where applicants feel they need to sound impressive. In reality, interviewers are usually far more interested in whether what you are saying feels genuine and thought through.

At a minimum, you should be able to explain why you chose this course and why now feels like the right moment to apply. For some students, that comes from a module or project that really clicked during their undergraduate degree. For others, it might be a growing interest, a gap they want to fill, or a clear next step towards a particular career. All of these are valid starting points.

If the course has a research element, expect the conversation to turn to what you might like to explore. You do not need a perfectly polished research plan. Interviewers are usually keen to see curiosity, reflection, and a willingness to develop ideas through discussion.

When it comes to career goals, it is fine if things are still taking shape. Many postgraduate students are still working out exactly where they are headed. Being able to explain how the course fits into your thinking so far, even if that thinking is still evolving, is often more convincing than presenting a rigid long-term plan.

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Handling Technical, Scenario, or Case-Based Questions

Some postgraduate interviews go beyond discussion and ask you to work through a problem, scenario, or case. This is more common for subjects such as medicine, psychology, law, business, or applied sciences, but it can appear in other disciplines too.

These questions are rarely about getting a perfect answer. Interviewers are usually interested in how you approach the problem. Talking through your thinking, even if you are unsure, is often more important than reaching a final conclusion.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Take a moment before responding. It is fine to pause and think

• If something is unclear, say so and explain how you would clarify it

• Focus on structure and logic rather than speed

• If you make an assumption, explain why you are making it

It can feel uncomfortable not knowing whether you are “right”, but interviewers expect this! Staying calm, explaining your reasoning, and engaging with the question thoughtfully will usually work in your favour.

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Practical Interview Preparation Strategies

Here are a few practical ways to help you feel more confident and in control ahead of a postgraduate interview.

Begin by revisiting your personal statement, application form, and any written work you submitted. Interviewers often return to these, and it is important to be comfortable explaining not just what you wrote, but why you wrote it.

It also helps to practise talking through your interests out loud. Ideas that feel clear internally can come across as rushed or unfocused when spoken for the first time. Saying them out loud, even informally, helps sharpen your thinking.

A few other things that can really help:

• Practise explaining your academic work in clear, accessible language

• Have one or two strong examples ready, such as a project or essay you enjoyed

• Try a mock interview with someone who will ask follow-up questions and challenge your thinking

For students who want structured practice and targeted feedback, Ivy Education’s university entry mock interviews provide a realistic interview experience tailored to specific courses and institutions.

Good preparation should make you feel steadier, not scripted! A strong postgraduate interview often feels like a thoughtful academic discussion rather than a performance, and that is exactly what most interviewers are looking for.

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Common Mistakes in Postgraduate Interviews

Even strong candidates can trip themselves up in postgraduate interviews! And often for very avoidable reasons. Being aware of these pitfalls in advance can help you steer clear of them on the day. Here are some important ones:

• Over-rehearsing answers - Interviews can sound stiff when responses feel memorised. Interviewers are far more engaged by natural, thoughtful discussion.

• Being too vague about motivation - Saying you are “interested in the subject” is rarely enough. You should be able to explain what sparked that interest and how it has developed.

• Under-preparing academically- While you do not need to revise everything, struggling to discuss key areas of your subject can raise concerns.

• Panicking when you do not know an answer - Not knowing something is rarely the issue. How you respond, think aloud, and recover matters much more.

• Forgetting it is a conversation- Many applicants treat the interview like an exam. In reality, interviewers are often trying to see how you engage in academic discussion.

Avoiding these mistakes does not require perfection. A calm, reflective approach goes a long way.

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Final Thoughts

Remember, by the time you reach the postgraduate interview stage, you are already academically capable - you proved this much through your grades. The interview is therefore not about proving your academic knowledge; rather, it tests a different sort of intelligence. You need to showcase your critical thinking and communication skills, and be ready to engage with your subject in conversation.

With the right preparation, interviews become less intimidating and more manageable. Understanding what universities are assessing, practising how you explain your interests, and getting comfortable discussing your academic work can all make a real difference on the day.

At Ivy Education, postgraduate interview preparation focuses on helping students feel confident talking about their ideas in a clear, natural way. Through tailored guidance and realistic interview practice, students are supported in approaching interviews calmly and in presenting their academic strengths with confidence. If you would like support preparing for a postgraduate interview, Ivy Education’s advisors can guide you through the process.

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FAQs on Postgraduate Interview Preparation

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