Get help with your university decisions here! TSR Decisions Drop In 2025

Online Interview Tips for Course Applicants

Ever since COVID, lots of universities have shifted away from interviewing applicants in-person and moved towards online interviews. Whilst this is an easier process for some students - especially those who might have had to travel quite far to attend their interviews - online interviews can still present their own worries/anxieties. Here's a list of some of my basic tips on how to prepare for online interviews.

Double-check what you need to bring.
Although universities typically won't ask you to bring much along to the interview itself, it's still a good idea to have a pen and some paper beside you to scribble down any notes or questions you might have throughout. If your interview has a numeracy/maths-based component to it, make sure to check whether or not you're allowed a calculator. On the other hand, if your interview is for a more arts-based degree, find out whether or not you’ll be expected to share any images of your work/portfolio pieces - e.g. does your interviewer already have access to your portfolio, will you be screen-sharing, etc.

The university may also ask you to provide some form of photographic ID - such as a passport or driver’s license - either before or during your interview. This is standard practice; it's usually just to double-check your identity and make sure the admissions teams have the correct applicant information.

Test out your internet connection!
We all have that fear - we're in the middle of an important meeting, and suddenly our internet cuts out. To help avoid this, I always like to quickly test out my connection before I join a call. The best way I've found to do this is to actually host a Teams/Zoom meeting with myself; this way, I can check if my internet, camera and microphone are working all in one go! :biggrin:

Find a quiet place to set-up.
You don't need a perfect webcam or a completely plain environment to complete your interview - however, it does help to have some peace and quiet! If your interview is during school hours, reach out to your tutor or Head of Year and ask if you can possibly use a spare classroom or meeting room for the length of your interview. If you're at home, inform your family that you have an interview about to start, and find a quiet corner to set-up.

If you're struggling to find a quiet place, consider heading to your local library or public study space. Most libraries have very strong WiFi connections, and won't mind helping you out if you ask!

Glance over some common interview questions and prepare your answers.
Whilst it's impossible to predict the exact questions you’ll be asked in your interview, there are some common themes/questions. Make sure to consider why you chose to apply to this particular university, why you chose this course/subject field, and what your favourite A-Level/A-Level equivalent subject is and why.

Hope this was helpful, and if you have any questions, feel free to drop them down below. :smile: