Intercalated BSc
The Centre for Biomedical Sciences Education delivers undergraduate Bachelor of Science degrees in Biomedical Science and Human Biology, and Intercalated Degrees are part of this organization. The Intercalated BSc in Medical Sciences is a degree taken between two years of a medical or dental course. The year is equivalent to the final year of a degree in science or biomedical pathways. The degree awarded is a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and depending on performance, this is graded as a 1st Class Honours or Second Class Honours, Upper Division (2.1) or Second Class Honours, Lower Division (2.2) or 3rd Class Honours.
Timing of Intercalated BSc degrees
The first two years of a medical or dental course with the addition of the intercalated year fulfil the requirement of three years study for the award of an undergraduate BSc degree. Intercalated degrees are usually taken after the end of the 2nd or 3rd year of the medical or dental curriculum. It is also possible to do an intercalated degree between 4th and 5th year, but not usually recommended as this would break up the flow of the main clinical teaching.
Selection for Intercalated BSc degree courses
At the time when places are finally agreed (end June) for the following academic year, there should normally be no resit examinations outstanding. Acceptance onto a degree course is subject to the agreement of the relevant degree co-ordinator and final approval by the Head of School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences. Students will be informed of the decision in early July. Please refer to frequently asked questions for full application process and forms.
Project work: iBSc in Medical Science
Project work is carried out under the direct supervision of a member of academic staff, and on a day to day basis, research or technical personnel are available to provide support. The areas available for project work reflect the research interests of the academic staff in the teaching area involved. Most research is laboratory-based, but there are limited opportunities for clinical projects in a number of areas. Allocation of projects occurs prior to the beginning of the academic year, often during the summer vacation or much earlier if funding is sought (see later), and preliminary discussions should take place with supervisors during the previous academic year. In the organization of projects, particular interests of the student will be taken into consideration, if at all possible. If a particular project of interest has already been taken up, degree co-ordinators will suggest alternatives.
Details of project areas / specific projects for 2025-26 will be available in December 2024. Additional projects may become available as the academic year progresses and will be added to this list.
Assessment and examinations
The taught modules are assessed using a mixture of coursework and written examinations. Students will normally be allowed to present themselves once only for the examinations during the intercalated year of study. The research project is assessed by means of a dissertation and also by an oral presentation given as part of a research symposium. Dissertations are normally read by the external examiner in the subject.
Student mentoring
At the beginning of the year, each new student is put in contact with a student who has just completed an intercalated BSc. The student mentor will draw on their recent experience to give general support and guidance when required.
In the context of peer group mentoring, intercalated students are encouraged to develop and maintain a social network with a view to providing a mutual support structure and to share general knowledge and skills.
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Application Process and forms
The consent of the Course Co-ordinator concerned and the Head of the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences is required before enrolment.
Medical students should complete a permission to intercalate form no later than 31 January 2025, 4pm. Students should contact Ms Joanna Scott (Student Support and Guidance Officer, Centre for Medical Education, Whitla Medical Building) for further information and a link to the permission to intercalate form. Dental students should ensure that they have met with Professor Gerry McKenna (g.mckenna@qub.a.uk) to discuss their plans for intercalating and complete the application form.
QUB Medical students applying for permission for a year out of study following year 4: We are very supportive of students who wish to intercalate following year 4. Intercalating between year 4 and 5 works well with the C25 curriculum depending upon the results of the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT). If you have passed the AKT (which is the most likely scenario), then we would strongly encourage you to continue with your plans to intercalate. However, students who do not pass on 1st attempt will not be permitted to intercalate and instead should progress into final year in 2025/26. It will be challenging for a student to take a year away from clinical studies, then re-enter final year and take a second attempt at the AKT in January and a first attempt at the OSCE in early March.Application Form - With Funding - 2025-26
- Programme Specification and Module Information
The programme specification will contain further details on programmes including the educational aims, learning outcomes and module information. Programme Specifications for 2024-25 are held on Academic Affairs webpages.
Please note that programme specifications, modules offered and module content are subject to change prior to the 2024-25 academic year and should be used as a guide only.
Students must take the following compulsory module:
- Research Project
And a choice of two from:
- Cardiovascular Pathobiology and Treatment - cardiovascular biology and pathology and the evaluation of established and emerging therapies
- Embryology and Developmental Biology - mechanistic understanding of how the human body develops, including stem cells and epigenetics in development of major organ systems
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics - pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology
- What are the Entry requirements?
A QUB medical or dental student wishing to intercalate must have successfully completed the second or third year of their course and passed all assessments in the year in which they are applying.
Acceptance onto a degree course is subject to submission of an application form and the agreement of the relevant degree co-ordinator and final approval by the Head of School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences.
- I am currently not a student at Queen's University. Can I come to Queen's to study for the intercalated BSc Degree?
External applicants, in addition to providing the normal application form, must also complete a Direct Entry application form which will be provided by the School Office on request. This should be completed and submitted to the QUB Admissions Office.
As with internal applicants, there should be no outstanding examinations/assessments and written confirmation from the applicant's institution that they are permitted to undertake the intercalated degree at Queen's must also be provided.
- What subjects are available?
Please refer to the Intercalated BSc Project Booklet for details of project areas / specific projects for 2025-26. Additional projects may become available as the academic year progresses and will be added to this list.
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What is the closing date for applications?
The closing date for applicants also wishing to apply for funding is Friday 24th January 2025. However, the closing date for all the remaining applications is Friday 25 April 2025.
- What are the fees?
Please also refer to the QUB Fees and Funding webpages for guidance on student financial support.
- How do I get funding?
There are a small number of grants available as given below. If you wish to be considered for funding you must make a preliminary application, which includes a CV and outline of the research project. It is important to initiate discussion with the relevant degree co-ordinator by at least the beginning of January to obtain a suitable project and supervisor, and then submit a completed application by Friday 24th January 2025.
Scholarships are allocated by the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences. Those awards that are not project-related will be made strictly on merit. If a greater number of preliminary applications are received in any area than there are awards available, applications will be selected to go forward on the basis of the student’s marks in previous years. Only marks for core modules taken in 1st year (Semester I and II) and 2nd year (Semester I) will be taken into consideration. Selection will be made on rank order. Making an application does not, unfortunately, guarantee success.
If you do not wish to be considered for an award, the application deadline is Friday 25th April 2025, although later applications may be considered.
The Wolfson Foundation: The Wolfson Foundation Intercalated Awards Programme is open to medical and dental students, who can demonstrate outstanding academic performance in their previous career. Wolfson Foundation awards currently provide a maximum award of £5000, and only a small number (1 or 2) are granted to each university. Submissions to The Wolfson Foundation must include CV details and an outline of the research project to be carried out, which is enabled by a project supervisor. The deadline for application is normally the end of March each year.
The SK Chin Intercalated Degree Scholarship: The SK Chin Intercalated Degree Scholarship aims to provide financial assistance, and promote excellence, to medical students who are conducting an intercalated degree relating to simulation-based education. The SK Chin Intercalated Degree Scholarship is open to applications from undergraduate medical students registered at QUB that are enrolled in an intercalated degree at QUB · They must be carrying out a research project relating to simulation-based educational research. · Funding of £2000 will be made available to the successful candidate and is for the support of the student’s personal fees and maintenance during their extra year of study. Applicants are required to complete an application form with a nominated supervisor providing a reference in support of their application. They are required to provide a summary of their academic background to date, an overview of their research, highlighting how it relates to simulation-based education, describe how funding would enhance their studies and project, with a justification for the finance required and the intended impact of their research.
The Sir Colin Dollery Clinical Pharmacology Training Award: This cost of living bursary of £6000 aims to support the discipline of Clinical Pharmacology by encouraging medical students to pursue Clinical Pharmacology as a speciality and increasing basic pharmacology skills for medical students pursuing a career path within industry. The award is open to 3rd or 4th year medical students studying an intercalated degree that has strong pharmacology or industry components. Application requires submission of a motivation statement, full academic transcript and a statement from the supervisor confirming that funds are available to cover research costs, if applicable.
The Medical Undergraduate Intercalated Scholarship: This Award is open to medical students who have completed two years of their undergraduate degree and applying to do an intercalated BSc degree. Ideally this award will be made to a student who will find it difficult to finance an additional year of study in accordance with existing practice for ascertaining ‘hardship’. All applicants will submit a 500 word application as to why they want to undertake an intercalated degree and a summary of their chosen area of study. This Award can be made in conjunction with another award. In the event of a tie the Award can be split between candidates
Association of Physicians: One / two bursaries are available (not every year) and will be allocated on academic merit by the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences in June.
British Association of Dermatologists: Fellowships (£5,000 towards fees and living expenses) are awarded for the duration of projects that are relevant to dermatology and skin biology. Please refer to the British Association of Dermatologist for further information.
Pathological Society: Support is available (not every year) for students who wish to undertake a project in Pathology / Microbiology. Details can be obtained from the course coordinator.
Core (Digestive Disorders Foundation): Bursaries of £1000 are available for medical students doing a project in an area relevant to gastroenterology. The deadline for applications is normally January of each year, so it is necessary to make your intention known earlier than the usual deadline for general awards (see above).
Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS)
The DHSSPS will provide a bursary for every year of study beyond the 4th year. Students will be entitled to have their tuition fees paid, without means testing, and will be eligible to apply for means tested non-repayable bursaries towards living costs as well as supplementary grants. In addition, these students will continue to have access to reduced loans for the balance of their living costs.
Students will not receive final confirmation that they have been accepted for an intercalated degree until July when all the examination results are known. At this stage the School Office should know of the outcome of studentship funding applications. The Education and Library Boards will then be informed which students are taking intercalated degrees and whether they are in receipt of sponsorship.
Forms to apply for an intercalated degree with/without funding can be obtained from the end of November from this site and will also be emailed to all 2nd and 3rd year QUB medical and dental students.
Please also refer to the QUB Fees and Funding webpages for other University Scholarships and guidance on student financial support.
- Prizes for which intercalated students are eligible
British Pharmacological Society Prize: This prize of £1000 is awarded to the student obtaining the best performance in Pharmacology.
The Physiological Society Prize: This prize of £100 is awarded to the student obtaining the best performance in Physiology.
The Ann Green Bequest Prize (Anatomy): This prize of £50 is awarded to the student who produces the best Level 3 research project submission.
Shirodaria Prize (Microbiology): This prize is awarded for performance in the Level 3 course in Virology (BBC3028).
Foundation Scholarship: An amount of £200 is awarded on the basis of the best final mark used for degree classification purposes.
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Intercalated BSc Semester Dates
Please refer to the University’s webpages for up-to-date dates http://www.qub.ac.uk/about/Semester-dates/
- Who do I contact for more information?
General enquiries to:
Academic Co-ordinator: Dr Clare Foy for Intercalated BSc (Email: c.foy@qub.ac.uk)
Administrative Secretary: Mrs Anne O’Neill for Intercalated BSc (Email: BIOMEDSCI@qub.ac.uk)