UAlberta FoMD Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

The University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (FoMD) is known for its socially accountable MD program and a rigorous admissions process. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of what applicants should know when preparing for the UAlberta Medicine interview. It covers the interview format (a blend of traditional questions and Multiple Mini Interview-style stations), the school’s mission and values of community-centered care and excellence, key facts about the MD program (including its curriculum and special initiatives), relevant healthcare policy topics in Alberta and Canada, the non-academic qualities UAlberta looks for in applicants, competency frameworks like CanMEDS that shape physician training, common themes from past interview questions, and the timeline for the 2025–2026 application cycle. By understanding these elements, candidates can better align their preparation with the expectations and context of the UAlberta Medicine program.

The University of Alberta uses a hybrid interview format that combines traditional interview questions with Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)–type questions ualberta.ca. In practice, this means applicants may face some open-ended, conversational questions alongside timed scenario-based prompts. All interviews are conducted via videoconference (using platforms such as Kira Talent for virtual MMI stations) cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca, which allows remote participation. Interviewers have access to applicants’ files, so anything included in the application (from experiences to personal statements) can be discussed during the interview cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. As a result, candidates should be prepared to talk about and reflect on the activities and information they provided in their application. The program invites roughly 25% of applicants to interview medapplications.com—about two to three candidates for each of the 192 available seats cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca—so while the overall admission rate is competitive, a significant proportion of those who interview will ultimately be offered acceptance.

• Format: Virtual interviews comprising a mix of traditional questions and timed MMI-style scenario stations ualberta.ca. (Each MMI question typically allows ~2 minutes to read the scenario and 6 minutes to respond, often with follow-up questions from the interviewer ualberta.ca.)
• Style: The atmosphere is professional yet conversational. Interviewers may probe for clarity or depth with follow-up prompts, especially in traditional questions, to get to know the candidate beyond the surface.
• Open vs. Closed File: The UAlberta interview is essentially open-file – interviewers are aware of the contents of an applicant’s file. Anything listed in the application (volunteering, research, personal stories, etc.) is fair game for discussion cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca, so applicants should refresh themselves on their submitted experiences and be ready to elaborate on them.
• Post-Interview Odds: With 192 seats and a limited interview pool, roughly 40–50% of interviewed candidates may receive an offer. In other words, doing well in the interview is critical; once you reach this stage, the interview performance (along with reference letters and other factors) heavily influences final admissions decisions ualberta.ca ualberta.ca.

UAlberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry emphasizes a mission of serving community health needs through excellence, leadership, and social accountability. The MD program’s stated mission is to develop "diverse, competent, and compassionate physician leaders" who will meet the health needs of Alberta (including northern and rural communities) and Canada ualberta.ca. This mission reflects a commitment to patient-centered care, innovation in education, and responsiveness to societal needs. The faculty’s Vision 2025 strategic plan underscores core values such as putting patients and communities first, achieving excellence in education, research, and clinical care, and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work ualberta.ca ualberta.ca. Understanding these guiding principles can help applicants frame their own motivations and experiences in a way that resonates with the school’s ethos. For instance, demonstrating awareness of community health issues or showing a commitment to service aligns well with UAlberta’s focus on social accountability.

• Well-Being: Caring for the physical and mental health of others and oneself, including the communities the school serves ualberta.ca.
• Excellence: Striving for the highest quality in education, research, and patient care to make a positive impact ualberta.ca.
• Professionalism: Acting with integrity, respect, and accountability in all medical duties, and committing to ethical practice and responsibility to society ualberta.ca.
• Curiosity & Creativity: Embracing innovation, research, and lifelong learning to continually improve medical knowledge and practice ualberta.ca.
• Collaboration (Engagement): Working together and engaging meaningfully with colleagues, patients, and community partners for better outcomes ualberta.ca.
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Fostering an inclusive environment that respects the dignity of every individual and actively works to eliminate disparities in health care ualberta.ca.

These values permeate the MD program and admissions process. Interviewers may not quiz you directly on the mission statement, but they will be looking for evidence that your personal values and experiences align with the school’s ethos. Demonstrating traits like empathy, integrity, teamwork, and a genuine desire to serve the community will implicitly speak to UAlberta’s mission and values.

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at UAlberta is a four-year undergraduate medical education program designed to produce well-rounded generalist physicians. The class size has recently expanded, and UAlberta now admits approximately 192 students per year into the MD program cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. Of these seats, 85% are reserved for Alberta residents and 15% for non-Alberta (out-of-province) applicants, reflecting a mandate to train doctors who will serve the local region cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. The program prides itself on an innovative curriculum that integrates foundational science with clinical application and prioritizes social accountability. Students spend the first two years in “pre-clerkship” courses and the last two years in clinical clerkship rotations cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. Throughout, there is a strong emphasis on generalism – ensuring graduates have broad-based medical knowledge and skills to meet diverse healthcare needs ualberta.ca.

• The MD curriculum is systems-based and spiral in design: it begins with 13 weeks of foundational concepts and then covers all major organ systems one by one (e.g. cardiology, neurology, etc.), integrating important themes like ethics, evidence-based medicine, and professionalism throughout the pre-clerkship years cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. This ensures that students revisit key principles multiple times and in different contexts, reinforcing learning.
• Clinical training (Clerkship): In the third and fourth years, students rotate through core medical specialties – Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, and others – gaining hands-on experience in hospital and community settings cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. UAlberta’s clerkship is structured to give a balance between traditional inpatient training and innovative community-based experiences, often leveraging partnerships with a wide network of teaching sites.
• Class size and composition: The MD program admits ~192 students each year, making it one of the larger medical programs in Canada cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. A quota system ensures the majority of seats go to Albertans, which aligns with the school’s provincial responsibility. The program has a diverse student body, including dedicated pathways to encourage applicants from rural areas, Indigenous communities, and other underrepresented groups medapplications.com.
• Northern Alberta Medical Program (NAMP): UAlberta is expanding its footprint with a new distributed medical campus in Grande Prairie. Starting with the Fall 2025 intake, an additional 30 students will have the opportunity to complete their training in Grande Prairie and other northern communities as part of the NAMP ualberta.ca. This rural training initiative, in partnership with Northwestern Polytechnic, is aimed at addressing the shortage of rural physicians by allowing students to live and train in regional settings for the duration of medical school ualberta.ca ualberta.ca. It’s a unique offering that underscores UAlberta’s commitment to serving northern and Indigenous populations.
• Combined degree options: The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry offers joint programs for those interested in research or other fields. For example, there is an MD/PhD program for aspiring physician-scientists, and options for MD/MBA or MD/Master’s in certain areas (health sciences, public health) are available ualberta.ca. These programs allow students to pursue an additional graduate degree alongside their medical training, fostering leadership in academia, research, or healthcare management.

If invited to interview, applicants can use their knowledge of the program to their advantage. Being familiar with these program features not only helps in understanding what UAlberta offers but also provides material for insightful questions to ask the interviewers. For instance, candidates might inquire about the impact of the new Grande Prairie campus on training or ask how the curriculum’s focus on generalism and social accountability translates into daily learning experiences ualberta.ca cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. Showing curiosity about such aspects demonstrates genuine interest in UAlberta’s program and a desire to make the most of its opportunities.

Given UAlberta’s focus on community needs and the Canadian healthcare context, certain policy and healthcare topics are particularly pertinent. Interview scenarios or discussions may touch on broader issues affecting health care in Alberta and Canada. Being aware of these topics can help applicants demonstrate insight and preparedness if such issues come up. Here are a few key themes and policy-related topics relevant to UAlberta’s mission, region, and the national healthcare landscape:

• Rural Healthcare & Physician Distribution: Alberta faces challenges in ensuring adequate medical care in rural and remote areas. The provincial government has invested in programs (like UAlberta’s Rural Medical Education initiative) to address rural physician shortages ualberta.ca. Applicants should be aware of how training programs are evolving (e.g., the new Grande Prairie campus) to produce more family doctors for under-served communities, and the related discussions about incentives for doctors to practice in these areas.
• Indigenous Health and Reconciliation: In line with Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action, medical schools including UAlberta have placed greater emphasis on Indigenous health curricula and Indigenous student admissions journals.lww.com. Topics like improving healthcare access for Indigenous populations, cultural safety in medicine, and acknowledging historical healthcare inequities are highly relevant. UAlberta’s efforts (such as the Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program mentioned in its curriculum cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca) exemplify this focus. An interview scenario might involve Indigenous healthcare issues or ask how the applicant has engaged with Indigenous or other diverse communities.
• Social Accountability and Equity in Healthcare: UAlberta’s mission explicitly focuses on social accountability – meaning the school aims to direct education, research, and service to the pressing health needs of society ualberta.ca. Current policy discussions in this realm include how to provide equitable healthcare for marginalized groups, addressing social determinants of health, and ensuring diversity in the healthcare workforce. The faculty has pathways for Black and rural applicants, reflecting a policy of improving representation in medicine medapplications.com. A candidate who is informed about equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives (for example, provincial strategies to improve healthcare access for minority communities or reduce systemic biases in care) will be better prepared to discuss such issues.
• Primary Care and Preventive Health: Across Canada (and Alberta is no exception), strengthening primary care is a major policy priority. There is ongoing debate on how to improve access to family doctors and interdisciplinary primary care teams, reduce wait times for specialists, and enhance preventive health services. UAlberta’s curriculum, with its generalist focus, aligns with the idea that new physicians should be ready to serve as primary care providers and leaders in community health ualberta.ca ualberta.ca. Interview questions could touch on topics like public healthcare funding, the balance between hospital care and community care, or recent health system reforms in Alberta.

While applicants are not expected to be policy experts, demonstrating awareness of such issues shows that one is an informed, socially conscious candidate. In preparing for the interview, it would be wise to read up on current healthcare news in Alberta (for example, any recent provincial healthcare initiatives or debates) and reflect on how these broader issues connect to one’s desire to practice medicine.

Like most medical schools, UAlberta evaluates applicants holistically – beyond grades and test scores. In fact, the non-academic aspects of the application are heavily weighted in the selection process (they account for 35% of the pre-interview scoring) ualberta.ca. The admissions committee assesses a detailed "Personal Activities" section where applicants list and describe their experiences across several categories. The interview itself further probes an applicant’s personal qualities and interpersonal skills. UAlberta is looking for future physicians who have demonstrated qualities such as leadership, teamwork, service to others, resilience, and excellent communication. Below are the key non-academic criteria and experiences that UAlberta values in applicants:

• Leadership & Teamwork: Experience in leadership roles or collaborative team settings is highly regarded. Whether it’s leading a student club, coordinating a project, serving as a team captain, or any role that shows the ability to work with and guide others, UAlberta pays attention to these experiences ualberta.ca. The Personal Activities section explicitly asks about “Teamwork, Collaboration and Leadership,” indicating that the school values applicants who can cooperate and take initiative in group environments.
• Volunteer Service & Community Involvement: A strong commitment to service is a hallmark of UAlberta’s selection criteria. Applicants are expected to have engaged in volunteer work or community service that demonstrates altruism and a desire to help others ualberta.ca. This could include hospital volunteering, community outreach, mentorship, or any sustained involvement that shows you’ve made a positive impact. Quality and impact often matter more than sheer quantity – meaningful engagement and reflection on what you learned carry weight.
• Resilience & Life Experiences: UAlberta looks for individuals who have faced challenges and grown from them. In the application, there are Personal Highlights essay prompts asking about significant life experiences and how you handled challenges ualberta.ca. This is to gauge traits like resilience, adaptability, and self-awareness. An applicant who can articulate how they overcame a setback or learned from a difficult situation shows maturity. During interviews, you might be asked about a personal challenge or failure – having authentic examples to draw on from your life will help illustrate your character and perseverance.
• Research & Additional Achievements: While not mandatory, research experience and other notable achievements can strengthen your profile. UAlberta encourages scholarship and innovation; applicants who have participated in research projects, publications, or other scholarly work can highlight these in their activities. Moreover, completing graduate education (Master’s or PhD) before medical school is formally recognized – the admissions process grants additional points to candidates with advanced degrees cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. This reflects an appreciation for academic curiosity, scientific thinking, and the ability to balance rigorous intellectual endeavors. Even outside of formal research, any achievement that speaks to your dedication or excellence (such as awards, competitions, or significant work accomplishments) can be relevant under the "Life Experiences & Achievements" category.

In preparing for the interview, candidates should reflect on these areas of their background. Interviewers will often invite you to discuss your experiences (for example, “Tell me about a time you showed leadership” or “What volunteer experience has been most meaningful to you?”). It’s beneficial to revisit your own application and think about how you can convey the significance of your activities and what you learned from them. UAlberta’s focus on non-academic criteria means that who you are as a person – your empathy, ethics, teamwork, and dedication – is just as important as your academic metrics in the final selection medapplications.com.

The University of Alberta’s MD program is structured around established medical competency frameworks to ensure graduates meet high professional standards. In particular, UAlberta (like all Canadian medical schools) aligns its curriculum and evaluation with the CanMEDS framework journals.lww.com. CanMEDS, developed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, outlines the key roles and competencies of physicians. Familiarity with this framework can be useful for applicants: it provides insight into the qualities and skills that the program will ultimately expect students to develop, many of which are the same qualities sought during admissions and interviews. The seven CanMEDS roles are:

• Medical Expert
• Communicator
• Collaborator
• Leader
• Health Advocate
• Scholar
• Professional

In the CanMEDS model, the Medical Expert role is central (as it encompasses clinical expertise), but it is supported by the other intrinsic roles like Communicator, Collaborator, Leader, etc. For example, physicians must not only diagnose and treat effectively (Medical Expert) but also communicate well with patients/families, work collaboratively in healthcare teams, show leadership in the system, advocate for patient and community health, engage in lifelong learning as Scholars, and uphold professionalism. How does this relate to the interview? Interview questions often target these very qualities. A scenario assessing communication skills, a discussion about teamwork, or an ethical dilemma expecting a professionally responsible answer are all reflections of CanMEDS competencies. Understanding that UAlberta values these roles helps applicants appreciate why certain interview questions are asked. It reminds candidates to demonstrate a balance of qualities – not just medical knowledge or ambition, but also empathy, teamwork, advocacy, and integrity – which aligns with the kind of physician UAlberta seeks to train.

While specific interview questions at UAlberta can change from year to year, certain themes and question types tend to recur. These themes correspond to the attributes and skills the program values (as discussed above). Based on past interviews and common MMI scenarios, applicants can expect questions that fall into the following broad categories:

• Ethical Dilemmas: Scenarios that present a moral or ethical conflict are common. For instance, you might be asked how you would handle a situation involving patient confidentiality, resource allocation (such as distributing limited organs for transplant), or encountering unprofessional behavior in a colleague. These questions test integrity, ethical reasoning, and judgment medapplications.com. Applicants should be prepared to discuss how they would balance competing principles (e.g., patient autonomy vs. well-being, honesty vs. loyalty) in a healthcare context.
• Teamwork & Conflict Resolution: Many prompts focus on interpersonal dynamics, such as working effectively in a team or resolving a conflict. You could be asked to describe a time you had to handle a disagreement within a group, or how you would mediate a conflict between two peers on a project. These questions align with the value UAlberta places on collaboration and leadership ualberta.ca. They assess your communication skills, diplomacy, and ability to remain respectful and solution-oriented under stress.
• Communication and Empathy Scenarios: Communication skills are critical for physicians, so expect scenarios that require you to demonstrate empathy and clear communication ualberta.ca. For example, an MMI station might involve breaking bad news to a patient or responding to a friend who is upset (often with an actor). Alternatively, you might be asked how you would explain a complex medical issue to someone without a medical background. These situations test your ability to listen, show compassion, and convey information effectively – all core competencies for UAlberta’s program.
• Personal and Reflective Questions: UAlberta often includes questions that prompt reflection on your personal experiences and motivation. Interviewers might ask about challenges you have overcome, a meaningful experience from your personal activities, or why you are drawn to medicine. Be ready for a question like, “Tell me about a time you failed at something and what you learned,” or “What personal achievement are you most proud of?” ualberta.ca. They may also ask “Why do you want to be a doctor, and why at UAlberta?” in a traditional format. These questions allow you to demonstrate self-awareness, humility, resilience, and genuine passion for medicine.
• Health Policy or Social Issue Questions: Given the program’s social accountability focus, past interviews have sometimes touched on current healthcare issues. You may be asked your thoughts on a topical issue – for example, how should the healthcare system respond to the opioid crisis, or what are the challenges in providing healthcare in rural communities? ualberta.ca These questions aren’t looking for deep policy knowledge, but rather an ability to think critically about healthcare systems and recognize the broader context in which medicine is practiced. It’s fine to bring in a Canadian perspective (like referencing how universal healthcare works) and show awareness of issues affecting patients and doctors today.

In reviewing these themes, it becomes clear why earlier sections of this guide emphasized UAlberta’s values and the CanMEDS roles. The interview is designed to gauge how you think and behave in situations relevant to those competencies. When practicing for the interview, applicants should focus on structuring their answers clearly (identify the issue, state your approach, discuss factors or options, and conclude with your decision or insight) and on infusing their responses with the qualities that UAlberta is seeking (e.g., empathy in an ethical dilemma, teamwork in a conflict scenario, etc.). Remember that many questions, even if not explicitly about medicine, are meant to reveal your character and suitability for a career in healthcare.

Finally, it’s crucial to be aware of the application timeline. Missing a deadline can derail even the strongest application, and knowing the schedule also helps you anticipate when to prepare for each stage (such as interviews). Key dates for the 2025–2026 UAlberta MD admissions cycle are as follows:

1. July 1, 2025 – Application Opens. The online application (via the UAlberta Launchpad system) for Fall 2026 admission becomes available on July 1 cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. It’s advisable to start early to give yourself enough time to complete all sections and gather required documents.
2. October 2, 2025 – Application Deadline. This is the final date (1:00:00 PM Mountain Time) to submit the Application for Admission and all required checklist items and forms cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. By this deadline, applicants must have paid the application fee and uploaded all materials (including the completed secondary application sections like Personal Activities, transcripts, MCAT score, etc.). Late submissions are not accepted, so ensure everything (including references and transcripts) is in by this date.
3. February 2026 (mid-month) – Interview Invitations Sent. Around mid-February, UAlberta notifies applicants whether they have been invited to interview or not (invites and regrets are sent via the online portal) cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. If you receive an invitation, you’ll also get access to a Candidate Information package with details about the interview schedule and format. This lead time gives invited students a few weeks to prepare for the interviews in March.
4. March 2026 – Interview Weekend. The MD program interviews take place in March (for the 2025/2026 cycle, exact dates were to be determined, but typically mid-March) cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. Interviews are conducted virtually via Kira Talent or a similar platform over a designated weekend. Applicants will complete a series of interview stations as described earlier. It’s important to treat the virtual interview with the same seriousness as an in-person one – find a quiet space, test your internet connection, and practice with online video if possible.
5. Mid-May 2026 – Admission Decisions Released. The faculty releases final admission results by mid-May cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca. This includes offers of admission, waitlist positions, and rejections. Successful applicants usually have a limited time (often a couple of weeks) to accept the offer and pay a deposit. If you’re waitlisted, you may receive an offer later in May or June as spots open up. It’s a good idea to have an updated transcript ready around this time as well, since those accepted will need to submit final transcripts (showing completion of prerequisite degrees or courses) by the summer.

Always double-check the official UAlberta Medicine admissions webpage for any updates to these dates, as the university will post changes or specific interview dates as they are confirmed. Planning ahead for these milestones – for instance, knowing when you might hear about interviews and when you need to be available for them – will help reduce stress during the application cycle.

Preparing for the University of Alberta’s MD interview involves more than just practicing generic interview questions. It means understanding the format in which you’ll be assessed, the values and mission that the school holds dear, and the context of healthcare in the region you hope to serve. By familiarizing yourself with UAlberta’s interview structure (including the virtual MMI approach) ualberta.ca, reflecting on how your own experiences exemplify the non-academic qualities they seek, and staying knowledgeable about current medical issues and the program’s unique offerings, you equip yourself to present the best version of yourself. In essence, successful interview prep for UAlberta Medicine is about aligning your preparation with what the program stands for – excellence in education, social accountability, and compassionate, collaborative care ualberta.ca. With thorough preparation, confidence in your communication, and a clear understanding of why you and the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry are an excellent match, you will be well-prepared to navigate the interview and take a step closer to joining the 2025–2026 cohort.