Intercalation
Intercalated degrees give you a chance to study a particular area of medicine in depth. This might be something you’ve already covered on your medical course or something new.
Students studying on our 5-year MBChB Medicine or BDS Dentistry programmes can apply to take an intercalated degree after their second, third or fourth year of their course. Students on the 4-year Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programme can apply for a postgraduate intercalated degree after the second or third year of their course.
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 University of Manchester students intercalate internally on another programme here at the University. However, you can intercalate externally on a programme at another UK institution if the content differs sufficiently from the one offered at The University of Manchester. Students who decide to intercalate externally may 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
Students studying our MBChB Medicine or BDS Dentistry programmes can intercalate on a BSc in a range of relevant science, law and humanities subjects allied to our medical courses. Some courses may require you to have studied at least one year of clinical medicine. They may specify that you can only apply after Year 3 or Year 4 of your current programme of study.
Several topics can be studied in depth during this year. Most courses have a significant research component based on either laboratory work or a literature review.
For students intercalating after Year 3 or 4 of our 5-year MBChB Medicine or BDS Dentistry programmes, and for those on our 4-year Graduate Entry Medicine programme, it is possible to study a master's degree during your intercalated year. The full range of programmes are only available to students studying our MBChB programme.
Available degrees
- BSc Biochemistry
- BSc Biomedical Sciences
- BSc Genetics
- BSc Global Health*
- BSc Immunology
- BSc Medical Biochemistry
- BSc Neuroscience
- BSc Medical Physiology
* Students on the University’s 5-year BDS programme can only intercalate internally on the BSc Global Health programme if they choose to intercalate on an undergraduate degree.
For intercalating students on BSc programmes, students will directly join the third year of their chosen programme.
MSc/MPH/MA courses
- MSc Audiology
- 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/PG Dip Medical Microbiology
- MSc Molecular Pathology of Cancer
- MSc Nanomedicine
- MSc Neuroimaging for Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience
- MSc Occupational Hygiene
- 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 (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 both MBChB and PhD degrees.
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 satisfy the general requirements for permission to intercalate, as well as meet one of the following criteria:
- already hold a BSc (Hons) 2.1 or above in a relevant subject, and are currently studying on Years 2 or 3 of the 5-year MBChB programme or Year 1 or 2 of the Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programme;
- are currently studying in Year 3 of the 5-year MBChB or Year 2 of the Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programme;
- be a University of Manchester St Andrews pathway student, holding or predicted, a BSc (Hons) 2.1 or above, and be intercalating between Year 3 and Year 4 of The University of Manchester’s 5-year MBChB programme;
- be a University of Leeds MBChB student intercalating onto the MB-PhD between Years 3 and 4 of their MBChB.
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 both MBChB and PhD degrees.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- are currently a Year 2 MBChB student and already hold an undergraduate degree 2.1 or above, in a relevant subject area;
- are currently a Year 3 MBChB student;
- are currently a Year 3 University of Manchester MBChB student who has obtained a BSc Medical Science (Hons) from The University of St Andrews.
Exceptionally, the programme will accept applications from medical students on other UK programmes. External applicants must demonstrate equivalent academic eligibility and institutional support which should evidence opportunities for integration with their undergraduate programme.
External applications will be subject to permission being received from your current university.
Applications from students on The University of Manchester’s MBChB programme, including those on the St Andrews Pathway, will receive priority for places on The Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD.
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
MBChB Medicine or BDS Dentistry students currently studying at The University of 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 and bursaries
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 students may be eligible for. These awards are offered by external institutions and may be subject to change.