Intercalated Degrees

[..Beth..]

Hi, I was wondering if any medics who are graduating this year/ have graduated could answer a few questions I have about intercalated degrees?
Basically I was wondering whether or not they are essential in order to get into more competitive specialties (e.g. cardiology, surgery,etc) - I understand that the transferable skills you'd learn from any intercalated degree are useful, and that there are extra points on the foundation application scheme for doing one (plus more from any publications/presentations from projects).
But in the long run, would it really stand against you if you didn't do one? Is there another way around not doing one; say for example, if you done a masters after graduation (i.e. after or during the foundation years)? Would your application be viewed negatively if you hadn't done one compared to those who have plus those who have done medicine as a graduate?


Any other info. or advice would be great thanks.

[Spencer Wells]

Intercalated degrees are by no means essential to landing a competitive ST programme. Most intercalated BScs don't include much clinical content, and so won't help much anyway (apart from the transferable skills and publication opportunities). A clinical masters would serve you much better.

[Gizmo says -]

or a phd

[Fried_Rice]

I think that possibly it's worth waiting until later ie. when you know what you want to do as a career a bit more. While publications and points on your F1 application are good, in the long run getting something published in the right area would be even better for your career. Thus, if you aren't 100% certain of what you want to do then I'd possibly wait.

(You also have larger chances of getting paid something if you do it later in your career when you can do research interspersed with work and whatnot, rather than adding to debt now.)

[Gizmo says -]

a few CDMs oughta impress the job interview panel and all.

[keiran91]

What's a CDM?

[Gizmo says -]

Cadbury's Dairy Milk, macca .



(sorri, sorri...)

[..Beth..]

Thanks for all your replies; that's been really helpful. I've been speaking to a few doctors recently and they've also suggested that doing a masters later on (once I've decided what I'd like to do) would definitely be the better option for me.
I feel a lot more reassured now, thank you all!

[rjm]

The only question is when do you intend to do this masters? iBSCs are not so much about F1 applications anymore, but about ST applications. Currently you apply for specialty training mid way through F2, you are unlikely to have done a masters between graduation and then, after that taking time out for research is not currently easy unless you are either in an academic programme, decide to leave you trainig programme/are somewhere where they agree to give you time out of programme, or are in an uncoupled specialty and you do it after ST2 and before applying to ST3.
On ST applications, you get points for having BSc, points for research, points for publication (doesnt even matter if in specialty or not) and points for conference presentations. A lot of people who havent done an iBSC will struggle to fill those boxes. And it isnt impossible to do clinical research for you BSc, I did, and know of many others who did, just got to chose the place and supervisor appropriately.

[Clarkey]

You can intercalate in a masters whilst still at medical school. I am, and I know there are other places that do it.