You probably have all heard by now that some medical schools do an intercalated medicine degree or that at some places intercalation is compulsory.
In this guide, I will be talking you through what is meant by intercalation in the context of a medicine degree.
Written by Rozh Akram
What is Intercalation?
Intercalation, in the context of medical school, is when you essentially take a year out to do a separate (but in most cases closely linked) additional degree. This means that in addition to your MBBS, you will also be receiving an iBSC (intercalated Bachelor of Science) or in some places, iBA (intercalated Bachelor of Art) in medical sciences with a specified area.
Intercalation Options
The options for intercalation are relatively broad but tend to stay within the typical STEM fields. For example, you can intercalate in:
These are a few common options, but there may be many more depending on where you’re studying.
Interestingly, some schools will let you intercalate in a master’s and not just a BSc or BA. However, such universities will require you to have done at least three years of pre-clinical medicine. So if your medical school will only allow you to intercalate in the third year then unfortunately you’d have to cross these off your list, unless you wanted to take another year out later on.
Compulsory Intercalation
Intercalation is compulsory at the following medical schools:
These are all six-year degrees as opposed to five years, in which most will see students completing their intercalated degree (sometimes referred to as integrated) in their third year. Imperial College London requires students to complete this in their fourth year instead.
It is optional in most other medical schools, bearing in mind some schools will not allow you to intercalate at all. Therefore, it’s important that you research the universities you’re interested in thoroughly to determine if you want to intercalate or not.
When Do Medicine Students Intercalate?
Depending on which university you go to, you will be intercalating either in the third year or fourth year. This will affect which universities and courses you can apply to if you don’t want to intercalate at the medical school you’re currently studying at.
These are a few common options, but there may be many more depending on where you’re studying.
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What Happens During An Intercalated Year?
During your intercalated year, you will acquire a range of new skills that make you a more competent scientist and a doctor, by providing you with knowledge in a specific area that would give you an edge over other medics when it comes to specialising and general skills set.
The common thing shared between all iBSCs is the research skills that you acquire, as you will be required to submit a research project at the end of your intercalated year. This is a key skill for doctors, but one that may not be as emphasised during your clinical studies. Having this opportunity lets you work on those skills without the stress of other projects or requirements.
The way your intercalated year is assessed will depend entirely on your department and the course you’re doing. Most will require you to submit a dissertation at the end of the year, and some will also require you to sit an exam and/or do a presentation as well.
Pros and Cons of Intercalation
Everything discussed so far seems pretty positive, but there are various pros and cons to consider in regards to doing an intercalated year.
Pros of Intercalating
- It provides an extra degree that you can work with, even if you were to leave the medicine degree before graduation.
- It offers a break from medicine which, in some cases, could be much needed, especially right before clinical years begin.
- The research skills you'll learn are extremely valuable in many different fields, not just medicine.
Cons of Intercalating
- It's an extra year of your medicine degree, meaning you will graduate one year later compared to people who do a 5-year course.
- The extra year means you'll be paying an extra year of tuition fees. which may not be viable.
- Some students may lose focus on their ultimate goal in their studies when they intercalate, making it harder re-intergrate with their medicine degree afterwards.
That’s what you need to know about intercalation in medical school. Now, you need to research the university options that appeal to you to find out if they offer intercalation, which year it takes place and what course options are available. Of course, you also need to decide if you actually want to intercalate.
Adding an additional year to your course is a big choice and can make a massive difference to your university experience, especially when medicine degrees are already 2 years longer than a standard course. Consider your options carefully and make your choice based on what you think would work best for you.
I hope this guide has been helpful to you, please check out our library of medical school guides to learn more about the application process, courses and much more. If you’re looking for effective support in getting your medical school offer, discover 6med’s Medicine Mastery Bundle, which offers one-to-one tuition, live courses and comprehensive resources, all delivered by medicine students like myself.
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