Q: 

Why did you choose The University?

 Interested in the university
 Some peer relation was enrolled in the university which was now here working with good
company.
 Any important detail/Acheievemnt of the University
 Ranking comparison.
Answer preparation: Think about why you chose the UK rather than your home country, other
English-speaking country or country which other students of your nationality choose to study in. You
may find it useful to refer to the university profile on our website. 
Interviewers will check how interested you are in the university you’re applying to
guarantee that you’ll accept the slot given to you. They’ll also want to know if you know
some of the most important details about the university.
You can share how the university has the best people, approach, and facilities for the
course you’ll take. It shouldn’t be because it’s popular, cheaper than others, or the
university your parents graduated in.

 
Q: Why did you choose your course?
 Studying marketing is my passion.
 It will boost my level of interest as I am studying something which I am interested in.

Answer preparation: There may be many courses in the same subject area as the one you plan to
study at Sheffield. What is it specifically about the Sheffield course which you prefer and which suits
you over other course choices? Think about your decision process. Did you apply for other courses -
why did you choose Sheffield over them?
You’ll want to study something you’re interested in. Let the interviewer know how you’re
excited to take the course. You can say how essential it is to your dream career or say
how it’s the subject you enjoy studying.

What can you bring to the university?

 My interpersonal skills can bring a good name to university.

 I am a team player

A university won’t accept you if you’ve got nothing to contribute to it. This is the time to highlight
your traits which make you a student worth having.
Are you a good speaker? Creative in making presentations? Have good leadership skills? Show them
what you’ve got for them without sounding exaggerated.

 
Q: How do your studies fit into your career plans?
 As I have told that management is my area of interest, I can implement my theoretical
knowledge into my professional field.

Answer preparation: Think about what your plans are after you graduate - how will the knowledge
and skills you gain from your course at Sheffield University help you with the type of work you hope
to do. Does your course lead to any professional exemptions or qualifications and are these
recognised in your country? Do you know what others graduating from the course you will be
following went on to do eg the types of roles and organisations they work for? If the course you plan
to study is at a similar academic level to previous studies, how does it represent progression and does
it have a vocational focus? If this is the case, be prepared to explain this.
 
Q: If the costs of pursuing your course of study are higher in the UK than in your home
country, why have you decided to incur the extra costs involved with studying in the UK?
 I am financially stable, my family has sound income to support my accommodation and
university expanses.
 It’s my vision to study abroad, which I am fulfilling coming abroad.
Answer preparation: Think about the advantages that a degree from the UK might give you and why
you and/or your family are prepared to make this investment. Have you made a realistic assessment
of all the costs involved and how you plan to pay for them? These costs include the course fees and
living costs, including accommodation.
 
  
Q: Do you plan to work in the UK?
 I don’t have plans to work, because my ultimate focus is to obtain quality studies.
 I will think on working in allowed working hours if I will get free time from my studies.
Answer preparation: You cannot rely on funds from working to pay your course fees and living costs
so you need to be aware of this. The main purpose for being in the UK is your studies, so if you do
hope to work, think about how this would enhance your academic studies. You also need to
demonstrate an understanding of the hours you are allowed to work and typical rates of pay.
 

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

 Strengths= Team Players, Active listener, Quick Learner

  Weakness= “I’m a total perfectionist – I sometimes spend too long agonizing over work to
get it just right.”

This question – although one of the most common – can get you thinking for more than a minute.
Better know what your strengths and weaknesses through your life experiences.
What did you (or your colleagues) think about yourself during a project? How do you study? How do
you take criticisms inside the classroom? List down all your positive and negative traits that you can
think of and know the examples related to each.
For weaknesses, better share the traits you think are negative but doesn’t seem to be that bad. This
could include you being an overachiever or a glutton for ideas related to the course you want to take.

What achievement are you most proud of?

 School Co-Curricular activities.

 Win a gold madal in athletics.


Talk about your most recent school achievement. You can also talk about that unforgettable moment
you’ve reached a non-academic goal. Share how these achievements affected you.
Don’t get stressed if you don’t have gold medals or trophies. Achievements can be big or small and it
depends on what made you feel great about your own efforts.
Prepare as early as you can for the interview. Of course, always expect the unexpected questions to
come in. These common university admission questions are good enough to get you started and think
of the best answers in advanced.
The whole point of the admission interview is to get to know you and your genuine interest in this
new chapter you want to get into. Do a mock interview with a friend or even by yourself to help you
gain more confidence in your upcoming interview.

What can you bring to the university?

 “As an enthusiastic member of my school debating society, I enjoy academic debate, so I

think I’d be able to contribute a lot to class discussions.”
 I’m good at organising things, and keen to get involved with running events for the
department.”

What achievement are you most proud of?

Talk about your most recent school achievement. You can also talk about that unforgettable moment
you’ve reached a non-academic goal. Share how these achievements affected you.
Don’t get stressed if you don’t have gold medals or trophies. Achievements can be big or small and it
depends on what made you feel great about your own efforts.
Prepare as early as you can for the interview. Of course, always expect the unexpected questions to
come in. These common university admission questions are good enough to get you started and think
of the best answers in advanced.
The whole point of the admission interview is to get to know you and your genuine interest in this
new chapter you want to get into. Do a mock interview with a friend or even by yourself to help you
gain more confidence in your upcoming interview.

9. What achievement are you most proud of?

This is another chance to highlight your suitability for and interest in the
course, so try to make it subject-relevant if possible.

What to say:
“I felt proud to be awarded first place in a poetry competition with a sonnet I
wrote about…” (if you’re applying for English)
“I recently won the Senior Challenge for the UK Mathematics Trust.”
“Achieving a 100% mark in my AS-level History and English exams – an
achievement I hope to emulate at A2.”

What not to say:

“Getting a Guinness World Record for having spending the longest time in a
bath filled with Baked Beans.”
“Being made Prom Queen at my Year 11 Leavers’ Ball.”

10. Why should we offer you a place?

Finally, the question every student dreads. Try to keep your answer short and
sweet; if this question comes last, it’s probably designed to wrap up the
interview.

What to say:
This is a good opportunity to recap what you’ve highlighted already – your
strengths, career aims, what you can contribute and so on.
At the very end, if you judge that the interviewers would respond well, you
could also lighten the tone and end on a note that injects some of your
personality, by saying something like “Also, I’m told I bake a good cake!” (with
a grin).

What not to say:

“Because I’m better than all the other applicants” – trashing your fellow
applicants is ungracious, and making an unsupported statement like this is
unlikely to convince your interviewers.
Armed with these model answers (which are only suggestions, by the way –
feel free to add your own), adapted for your own purposes, you should now
be well prepared for tackling the most common interview questions. Good
luck!