Frequently asked questions: Intercalated Degrees

Who can take an Intercalated Degree? 

Applications to study for an Intercalated Degree will be considered from second, third and fourth year medical and dental students.
(Please note that 2nd year students are not eligible to apply for the Sports and Exercise Medicine course.)
How to apply for an intercalated degree

External applicants

The School does not restrict these courses to its own students and welcomes applications from elsewhere in London, the UK and Europe.
Guidelines and selection criteria

What are the aims and objectives of Intercalated Degrees? 

The degrees provide an opportunity for in-depth study of selected biomedical technologies, health services research, and biomedical, and social sciences. They are aimed at those medical and dental students wishing to undertake a year of research-orientated study.

Students will develop:

  • In-depth knowledge of defined areas of the science that underpins modern medicine
  • Skills of critical evaluation in relation to relevant biomedical literature and data
  • The ability to communicate scientific information in a variety of formats
  • Research skills enabling design, execution, interpretation and reporting of experiments in an area of biomedical or social science.

What have previous students gained from the courses? 

"The year I spent at Barts was a unique experience, and quite distinct from the rest of my time at medical school. The core module built on the scientific foundations of biochemistry, immu­nology and computing, and included a number of practical sessions to familiarise us with techniques that we had previously only read of, bringing meaning to formerly abstract ideas such as PCR and ELISA. It equipped us with a wide range of skills, including information gathering using medical databases and the Internet, the critical analysis of that information using statistics, and ways to present our information effectively.

We learnt the theoretical basis of much of what we would go on to do as clinicians, including the familiar radiology imaging techniques. The laboratory-based projects proved a huge challenge, and for many were the high point of the course - everyone gained an insight into the joys and frustrations of real re­search.

We were given scope to design and carry out ambitious experiments in a relatively unexplored area of science after we had surveyed the literature on the subject ourselves. At the end of the course we produced a mini-thesis of our findings and presented them. Many of these were later published.

Since finishing the BMedSci I have successfully completed finals and house officer posts, and then returned to do a PhD in the same research area. I gained my Ph.D. in 2001 The skills and confidence attained in the BMedSci course have proved in­valuable in smoothing the course through finals and beyond, and I would recommend it un­hesitatingly to anyone. Above all else, it was fun." 

(Dr Susan Docherty - BMedSci 1996)

"The year spent doing an intercalated BSc made me look at the study of medicine in a new way. I was able to pursue a few subjects that interested me to much greater depth than would otherwise have been possible and to encounter, for the first time, one or two topics which I hadn't even heard of. Some of the material was hard to understand; all of it was interesting.
The experimental project gave me the opportunity to experience research at the sharp end. Progress was frustratingly slow at times, but when things went right it was a real and lasting pleasure. Presenting the results at a scientific meeting was a fitting, if somewhat stressful, conclusion to the work.
Subsequent presentations have been a doddle. In the year I did the course, one of my fellow students went on to do a PhD in the department before continuing his clinical studies and since then several others have done the same."

(Dr. M. Sheaff, Consultant Histopathologist)

"The Clinical Materials BSc has provided me with the opportunity to diversify my medical knowledge and research personal areas of interest. The materials team have been very welcoming and it has been a very enjoyable experience that I would highly recommend to anyone."

(Ben Bradley, Intercalated 2003-4)

What is the structure of the courses?

The degrees are based on a unit system, where you select courses from a list of options. All students must complete 8 units, although the timing and content of the units will depend on which degree you choose. All courses run over a 30 week period at least with respect to funding.

The Experimental Pathology, Biomedical Engineering, Oral Biology and Sports & Exercise Medicine BScs consist of 4 taught units (lectures, seminars etc.) and a 4 unit project. All the other courses consist of 5 taught units and 3 units of project work.

For the BMedSci degrees there are course units designed to familiarise students with relevant basic scientific concepts. These, which are designated as "core units", take place in the autumn term and all students must complete them.

Whichever of the BMedSci degrees you choose (Molecular Medicine or Molecular Therapeutics), the remaining course units will be selected in consultation with tutors, and students will therefore design a course of study themselves that best suits their interests.

Each course unit involves the same amount of contact time, but the allocation of this time between lectures, self-directed learning, seminars and practical work will vary from course to course.

What should guide my selection of courses?

Interest

You are considering studying for an Intercalated Degree because you want to learn more about particular areas of biomedical science, so it will be sensible to select courses that will fire your enthusiasm.

Relevance

This may be taken in two ways. First it is sensible to select a series of courses that address a particular area of biomedical science. Secondly, while some students may select courses with a very close clinical association, others may wish to take the opportunity of focusing on an area of pure research, which nevertheless, has considerable medical relevance.

Assessment

In the BMedSci course examinations will be held at the end of the Autumn Term in December and at the completion of the projects in June. In the BSc courses some final written examinations based on the taught course units take place in December but most examination including anan oral examination based on the project will take place in June. More details of the assessment procedures can be obtained from the individual course organisers.

Personal Tutors

Whilst Intercalating students will find that there is very strong personal support from within the School and the team within which they are working. Within each course there is also a system of Personal Tutors.

Medical and Dental Students' Association

There is a very active Medical Students' Association, with many clubs and societies. All intercalated students automatically become members of the Association if they join the Students' Union.

Fees

The fees for 20012/13 will not be announced until January 2012 .

What financial support can I expect?

The School has a good record of attracting charitable funds to support medical students, who undertake an intercalated degree within Barts and the London.

Special Awards

A range of awards were offered on a competitive basis for 2011/12. The maximum value of these awards was £9000 and the minimum around £1000 per student. Some awards are tied to specific areas of study such as cancer or musculoskeletal problems and the student must complete specific research topics. For others the award is on academic merit and you, in conjunction with the course tutors may need to make an additional application to the grant giving body. Special awards for dental students are available from The Health Foundation.

Access Funds and Student Loans 

All students who qualify for home fee status will be eligible to apply for Access Funds and a student loan. Students should also expect to receive NHS Bursaries. Further details will be provided on enrolment.

Prizes 

The Treasurer's Prize (£150) is awarded for the best overall performance in the BMedSci Degree. Similar prizes will be awarded to the best students in the other courses.

Paid Work

Many students will wish to undertake paid work during their intercalated year. Obviously it is essential that a job does not interfere either with your lectures or your project work. The School emphatically recommends that no student spends more than 10 hours per week engaged in paid or, indeed, unpaid work not connected with their course of study.

Accommodation

For information on accommodation in University Halls or the private sector market, please contact the
Residences Office,
Queen's Building,
Mile End Road,
London
E1 4NS

(Tel: 020 7882 5586 Monday to Friday 10-00am to 3-00pm)

email :residences@qmul.ac.uk

www: http://www.residences.qmul.ac.uk/

Interrupting / Rejoining the MB BS and BDS Course

Normally, students of the School will formally interrupt the MBBS degree course after completing the 2nd, 3rd or 4th year and BDS students, after the 2nd or 3rd year.
For Bart's/London MBBS students, SSM blocks for revision of clinical skills will be arranged for the beginning of year 5 and additional revision time and lectures before the year 5 exams will also be offered.

Non-Bart's/London students should make appropriate arrangements for interrupting and rejoining the MB BS degree course with their Registry.

All students accepted onto the courses and who receive a mandatory award for the MBBS degree course should write to their LEA in the Easter prior to starting the degree course to formally give the dates of interrupting/rejoining their medical course for one academic year (at the same time applying for a discretionary award for the degree course).

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure the details in this prospectus are correct. However, fees, course components and other details may change from time to time, both before and after a candidate's admission to the course.

This prospectus is intended solely for the guidance of those seeking admission to the Intercalated Degrees Program offered by The School of Medicine and Dentistry and does not constitute part of any contractual obligation expressed or implied on the part of The School.

Admission to the University of London and to the Medical School is subject to the requirement that the student will comply with the University's registration procedure and will duly observe the Statutes and Regulations of the University, of and of Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry.