Intercalation
Intercalated degrees give you a chance to study a particular area of medicine in depth, whether you’ve already covered it on your medical course or want to study something new.
You can apply to take an intercalated degree after the second, third or fourth year of your course, but the majority of students intercalate after Years 3 or 4.
Intercalated degrees
Intercalation allows you to:
- gain new skills;
- experience a different kind of study;
- obtain an excellent foundation for a career in academic medicine;
- strengthen your CV;
- study on a BSc or master’s course;
- take advantage of scholarships and bursaries;
- undertake courses that have been specifically developed for intercalating students.
You will be supported in your decision to intercalate and have the opportunity to meet with staff across the University, who will inform you about the courses available. You can also talk to students who have already intercalated.
Most students intercalate on courses within The University of Manchester, but, as long as the content of the degree differs sufficiently from courses offered at Manchester, you can also intercalate at another institution. However, students who decide to intercalate externally will not be eligible for the full range of bursary funding offered.
We also welcome applications from medical students from other institutions. For more information, please see below for links to the courses and relevant contact details.
BSc and master's courses
For students intercalating after Year 2 or later, you can choose from BSc courses in a range of relevant science, law and humanities subjects allied to our medical courses. However, please note that some courses may require you to have studied at least one year of clinical medicine, and will specify that you can only apply after Years 3 and 4.
A number of topics can be studied in depth during this year, with most courses having a significant research component, based on either laboratory work or a literature review.
For students intercalating after Year 3 or 4, it is also possible to study on a master's course. Please note that the full range of courses is only available to students studying on the Manchester MBChB course.
Available degrees
- BSc Anatomical Sciences (PDF, login required) *
- BSc Biochemistry *
- BSc Biomedical Sciences *
- BSc Developmental Biology (PDF, login required) *
- BSc Genetics *
- BSc Global Health
- BSc Immunology *
- BSc Medical Biochemistry *
- BSc Neuroscience *
- BSc Pharmacology and Physiology (PDF, login required) *
- BSc Medical Physiology *
* Only available to intercalating students from Manchester's MBChB course.
For intercalating students on BSc programmes, students will join directly into course Year 3 of the 3-year BSc.
MSc/MPH/MA courses
- MSc Audiology
- MSc Biomedical Egyptology
- MSc Cardiovascular Health and Disease (Research)
- MSc Clinical Biochemistry
- MSc Clinical Immunology
- MSc Genomic Medicine
- MSc Healthcare Ethics and Law
- MA History of Science Technology and Medicine
- MSc Infection Biology
- MSc International Disaster Management
- MSc Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science
- MSc Medical and Molecular Virology
- MSc Medical Imaging Science
- MSc/PG Dip Medical Microbiology
- MSc Molecular Pathology of Cancer
- MSc Nanomedicine by Research
- MSc Neuroimaging for Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience
- MSc Occupational Medicine
- MSc Oncology Research
- MSc Precision Medicine
- MSc Reproduction and Pregnancy (Research)
- MSc Science and Health Communication
- MSc Tissue Engineering for Regenerative Medicine
- MPH Public Health (on campus)
- MPH Public Health (online)
- MA Humanitarianism and Conflict Response
MRes courses
Our Cancer Research UK-funded MB-PhD training route enables aspiring clinician-scientists to undertake the vocational training of a medical degree while gaining the research expertise of a cancer-focused PhD, leading to the awards of MBChB and PhD.
Our PhD projects span a range of disciplines, including basic biology, physics, genomics, data science, immunology, AI and clinical trials.
Eligibility criteria
To apply to intercalate onto a cancer-focused PhD, you must be a student on either the Manchester MBChB course, or the Manchester course pathway of the University of St Andrews Medicine BSc (Hons).
University of Manchester MBChB students must be:
- currently studying in Year 3; or
- currently studying in Year 2 and already holding a BSc (Hons) with an Upper Second (2:1) or above in a relevant subject; or
- intercalating after either Year 2 or Year 3 of the MBChB.
University of St Andrews Medicine BSc (Hons) students on the Manchester course pathway must be:
- currently studying on Year 3 of the Manchester MBChB, having already obtained a BSc classification of an Upper Second (2:1) or above from the University of St Andrews;
- predicted to obtain a BSc classification of an Upper Second (2:1) or above from the University of St Andrews.
Funding
This is a fully-funded studentship including a £21,000 annual stipend, PhD fees at the home rate (with bursaries for outstanding international applicants), project costs and reimbursement of your undergraduate tuition fees at the home rate (up to a maximum of £9,250 per year for 4 years including some applicable interest).
How can I find out more?
Interested candidates should contact the Manchester Cancer Research Centre by emailing: MCRCtraining@manchester.ac.uk.
You can also visit the CRUK Manchester Centre website.
The Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD is a funded three-year programme aimed at MBChB students who wish to intercalate to train as clinician scientists.
Our funded MB-PhD training route enables aspiring clinician-scientists to undertake the vocational training of a medical degree while gaining the research expertise of a PhD in Inflammation, leading to the awards of MBChB and PhD.
Eligibility criteria
To apply to intercalate onto the Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD, you must be a student on either the Manchester MBChB course, or the Manchester course pathway of the University of St Andrews Medicine BSc (Hons).
University of Manchester MBChB students must be:
- currently studying in Year 3; or
- currently studying in Year 2 and already holding a BSc (Hons) with an Upper Second (2:1) or above in a relevant subject; or
- intercalating after either Year 2 or Year 3 of the MBChB.
University of St Andrews Medicine BSc (Hons) students on the Manchester course pathway must be:
- Currently studying on Year 3 of the Manchester MBChB, having already obtained a BSc classification of an Upper Second (2:1) or above from the University of St Andrews.
Predicted to obtain a BSc classification of an Upper Second (2:1) or above from the University of St Andrews.
Exceptionally, the programme will accept applications from medical students on other UK programmes, external applicant must demonstrate equivalent academic eligibility and institutional support which should evidence opportunities for integration with their undergraduate programme that meet those of internal applicants.
How can I find out more?
Interested candidates should contact the team by emailing: jemma.fielding@manchester.ac.uk
You can also visit the website for further information: Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD.
How to apply
Current University of Manchester students
Intercalation candidates who are currently studying at Manchester should email us to apply or for further information.
Email: intercalation@manchester.ac.uk
Students at other universities
Applicants from other universities should contact the Admissions team for their chosen intercalated degree programme directly to apply or for further information.
Contact details can be found on the linked course pages listed above.
Funding
Students should consult with their funding body to confirm how they will finance their intercalated year.
Scholarships
The four highest-performing intercalation applicants within The University of Manchester will be invited to apply for the Wolfson Award, a grant administered by the Royal College of Physicians. There are also some course-specific awards.