Depending on the university and course choice, you might be required to appear for an interview. The interview gives the university you are applying to another opportunity to evaluate you and to decide whether to give you an offer or not. 

For international students, the interview will be conducted online. Each university may have a different policy about whether it will be a video or audio interview.

For example, SUTD usually conducts 20-minute interviews over Skype for all shortlisted candidates. Two admission officers will have a chat with you to get to know more about you and to answer any questions you may have regarding the course and the university. On the other hand, universities like NUS/NTU/SMU conduct interviews for certain courses only. If you have applied to study Law, then you will be required to give an interview.

You will also have to attend an interview if you have applied for a scholarship. 

Tips to Ace your Interview

The interview gives the university a chance to learn more about you, your interests, and how you’ll be able to contribute to the university. It also allows the university to give you more information about them and answer any questions that you may have.

Some tips to ace your interview are:  

Tip 1: The most commonly asked question in an interview is “Tell me about yourself”. This is a question that allows universities to gauge your personality so make sure you prepare well in advance. The key to nailing this question lies in the details. Be specific about your skills and qualities and make sure to back them up with solid examples. 

Tip 2: You will be asked about your reasons for applying to the university. Make sure you research your course choices and university choice. Again, back up your statements with examples and details. 

Tip 3: Remember to be confident about yourself and answer all the questions honestly. If at any time you get stuck then do not get stressed. It is okay to take a breath and then continue from there. 

Tip 4: Dress in appropriate attire for the interview – even though they may be online. Most universities ask you to dress in business casual attire. 

A university interview, in the end, is a platform for you to express yourself so be your natural self. Most importantly, it is crucial for you to remain calm, listen to the question carefully and answer honestly. 

At UniRely, our university-specific mentors train lots of students through mock interview rounds and help them ace their interviews to their dream universities in Singapore. Please visit our website unirely.com for more information.