Intercalated degrees

Why should I take an intercalated degree?

Courses leading to an intercalated degree offer students an excellent opportunity to think critically about, and to study more deeply, the scientific bases of the medical sciences.

Experience has shown that those who have undertaken an intercalated degree gain a deeper knowledge of the underlying science as well as a greater understanding of their clinical studies.

The medical and dental courses are by their very nature vocational, and therefore stress the basic aspects of the topics they cover. They aim to provide students with a set body of well-established knowledge on which they can rely during their training, without going into either the controversies or experimental evidence behind many of the areas of knowledge.

By studying for an intercalated course you will be encouraged to pursue such ideas in greater depth. You will be taught by staff who have personal research experience in the topics and, therefore, speak with authority. There are also lectures by outside speakers and workshops where you can talk about new work.

In addition, you will undertake a research project supervised by a member of staff. This will give you the chance to experience the excitements and the difficulties of research. This not only provides a stimulating and challenging period of your training, but the performance of a research project will give you a very good appreciation of whether you may wish to pursue a research career after the finish of your medical training.

What intercalated courses are available?

There are 10 intercalated degree courses available at QMUL:

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.

For the 2012 entry, the total number of intercalated places (approximately 150) will be much the same as last year.

The number of places available to students applying for intercalation after year 2 will be approximately 25, while the corresponding number available to those intercalating after years 3 and 4 will be 70 and 55 respectively.

These numbers will include (as last year) approximately 12 - 15 places at external medical schools which will be available to 3rd and 4th year students only.

For details of the selection procedure and guidelines for students intending to apply including those applying from other medical schools see how to apply.

External applicants

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

Guidelines and selection criteria for students applying from outside Queen Mary, University of London