Intercalation is an extra year of study that is undertaken during the MBChB Medicine degree, either after Year 3 or Year 4. It's a great opportunity to get involved in research.
If you're interested in developing an academic career, intercalation lets you explore an area of interest and gain new knowledge and skills.
Even if you're not considering an academic career at this stage, intercalating offers other benefits. These include finding an area of interest, and developing skills in communication, networking, and academic writing/critical appraisal.
There may also be opportunities to present your work at conferences or produce publication(s). The end result is the award of either a BSc or Masters degree.
When you start studying at the School of Medicine, you can find out more about criteria for intercalation, as well as the application process.
Yes, and you can find external intercalation courses on intercalate.co.uk.
In 2024, we were successful in securing NIHR Funding for our Internal Intercalation opportunities. We are pleased to offer limited spaces for fully funded intercalation courses, with the funding covering full tuition fees as well as monthly living cost stipend for students.
Outside of this funding, to help you navigate available financial support, the School of Medicine together with the ARU Money Advice Team has produced a detailed funding guide. It's available for students to review.
"My research experiences have significantly shaped the way I think about healthcare and leadership, giving me the tools to approach problems with both analytical rigour and strategic perspective. Working on my dissertation taught me how to critically evaluate complex international evidence, synthesise insights, and translate them into practical recommendations for the NHS. On a personal level, it strengthened my confidence as a researcher and problem-solver, showing me how I can use my medical background alongside business knowledge to drive meaningful change in healthcare systems."
Ambreem Chowdhury, intercalating student