An intercalated degree gives you the opportunity to take a year out of the MBChB Programme to study on either an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree in a range of relevant bioscience and humanities subjects allied to medicine, or a three-year period to undertake a PhD.
A number of topics can be studied in depth during this time, with most programmes having a significant research component, often based on laboratory work, data analysis or a systematic literature review. This will enable you to explore an area of bioscience or an aspect of medicine that you may have encountered during your studies to date, or to investigate a new topic that sparks your interest.
Intercalation will enable you to gain new transferable skills, (depending on which option you choose), and to experience a different kind of study. An intercalated degree will also provide an excellent foundation for a career in academic medicine and will strengthen your CV for your future career.
Information about intercalation and how to apply is provided in the Intercalation Guidelines.
Students on the 5-year MBChB Programme may intercalate after years 2, 3 and 4 to complete a one-year undergraduate degree. Alternatively, after years 3 or 4, students may undertake a postgraduate degree. Most students prefer to intercalate after years 3 or 4.
Students on the Graduate entry (GEM) 4-year pathway are not eligible for undergraduate intercalated degree options, but are able to undertake a postgraduate degree after their 2nd or 3rd year of study, at the same stage as students on the 5-year pathway.
Intercalated PhD
A small number of students consider undertaking a fully funded PhD in Cancer Sciences or Inflammation as an intercalation from their MBChB; informally these are known as MBPhDs. PhD projects are research-focused and normally take 3 years to complete, starting between years 3 and 4 of the MBChB programme.
Fees and Funding
Up to date information about tuition fees and funding for intercalation is provided alongside the Intercalation Guidelines. A small number of students whose academic progress to date has been outstanding, as judged from MBChB assessments, will be nominated by the Programme for nationally awarded scholarships from external foundations. Other funding opportunities are advertised as they arise.
Intercalating Outside of the University of Manchester
Whilst the University of Manchester offers a wide range of intercalated degree options, a small number of students are permitted to undertake intercalated degree programmes at other UK institutions, if the programme is in an area not offered here. In this case, you must first seek permission from the Programme via the Intercalation administrative team (See Contacts). No financial help is available to students who intercalate externally, and normally an earlier application deadline for permission will apply. Manchester medical students are not permitted to intercalate with a research degree (e.g. MPhil, PhD) at institutions other than the University of Manchester or at institutions overseas.
Further Details
Further details about intercalated degrees, including the application process, selection issues, scholarship and funding opportunities, can be found in the Intercalated Degree Guidelines on 1Med. Queries should be addressed in the first instance to the Intercalation team (See Contacts)