Mock Interviews
Not all courses that you apply for will offer an interview.
The competitive ones will.
If they do not interview they may ask you to attend an Open Day style interview where you may not have a formal interview. Here you will be shown round the department and the campus etc.
Treat this style as you would a formal interview. Sometimes casual interviews reveal more than a formal one!
If you are applying for a course that definitely interviews then it is recommended that you arrange a mock interview. This should preferably be with someone you do not know and has a background in the type of courses you are applying for.
Hopefully you will have access to a form tutor or another person that can offer some form of mentoring in interview techniques and arrange a mock interview for you.
At the very least try and set up some mock interviews amongst your peers who are applying for similar courses. They should have also researched the possible questions and background research etc and will be well placed to test you.
It is also extremely useful to video your mock interview. The way you physically present yourself is crucial and although it may be initially embarrassing for you it can help you improve your presentation skills.
Feedback from these interviews can help you to correct any obvious mistakes and prepare for the actual interview more effectively.
Make sure that you re-read your personal statement. It may have been a few months since you wrote it. It is very embarrassing to be asked questions relating to your statement and you have forgotten what you have said!
It is essential that you have a sound knowledge of the university, department, subject, course, content, style of teaching etc that you are applying for.
It is useful to read subject related news articles in the months leading up to the actual interview.
The purpose of the interview is to look for the following features:
Communication skills (verbal and on-verbal).
Motivation for the course.
General suitability for the course including commitment.
The ability of the student to study the subject is determined from previous exam performances.
Try and find out what type of questions will be asked.
For example you can download the Medics example questions from this Higher Education main page.
It is better to make any mistakes in these mock interviews and not the actual ones.
Finally be confident in an interview but not cocky, and if you are asked if you have any questions for the interviewing team, have one prepared.
Best of luck!