Clinical Science MSci Intercalated Degree

The intercalated Clinical Science degrees are an opportunity for students of medicine to take one year out to study an aspect of medicine in much greater depth. Note this course is only for those students studying Medicine.

The Clinical Sciences degree introduces you to translational research; clinical and laboratory research that is aimed at moving laboratory research to the bedside. In particular, the course involves a seven month extended research project allowing you to gain substantial, direct experience of modern medical research. You will receive a range of lectures that highlight topics of current debate, undertake a 7 month research project in a laboratory or Trials Unit, and acquire skills for analysing and interpreting research papers.

To be considered for the programme you will have to demonstrate that your performance in the first three years of the medical degree is equivalent to a 1 or 2.1 in a standard classified degree.

• Other intercalation programmes are also available. Find out more about our full range of Intercalated Degree programmes.
  

The Intercalated degree in Clinical Sciences provides training in translational research combining a broad teaching programme with the opportunity to undertake a 7 month project with researchers from one of the College’s Research Institutes.

This degree should benefit you both in the short term, in relation to career progression, but also in the long term by broadening your understanding of academic medicine.

Upon successful completion of both taught elements and the research project, students will be able to graduate with MSci Clinical Sciences.

Students whose 120 successfully completed credits include a 20 credit specialist module and corresponding 60 credit specialist project may qualify for a specialist stream.

The specialist streams currently available are:

• MSci Clinical Sciences (Endocrinology and Metabolism)
• MSci Clinical Sciences (Reproduction and Women's Health)
• MSci Clinical Sciences (Cardiovascular Sciences)
• MSci Clinical Sciences (Cancer Sciences)
• MSci Clinical Sciences (Geriatric Medicine and the Biology of Ageing)
• MSci Clinical Sciences (Immunotherapy)
• MSci Clinical Sciences (Microbiology & Infectious Diseases)
• MSci Clinical Sciences (Ophthalmology)

The degree offers optional modules for study and the student will select two of these according to their interest together with a compulsory module and research project. This degree should benefit you both in the short term, in relation to career progression, but also in the long term by broadening your understanding of academic medicine.

The learning builds on that already provided in Clinical Sciences in the third year of the MBChB programme, which, in itself, builds on extensive learning about normal structure and function in the first two years.

In the MSci Clinical Sciences programme students are required to deepen and advance their understanding, becoming familiar with the major directions of current research in each of the major disciplines. Through the application of critical and analytical skills, they are required to identify the implications of research for the overall body of knowledge of the scientific disciplines in terms of both new knowledge and new uncertainties. This emphasis on the knowledge base of each discipline as a developing rather than a stable entity is reflected in the assessment criteria.

The course consists of:

• a research project which leads to a thesis to be submitted in March/April. Students spend approximately 60% of their time on their research projects
• a choice of 2 20 credit taught modules in the various disciplines of Clinical Sciences

You will also follow a compulsory 20 credit taught module (Clinical Bioinformatics and Statistics) which will provide you with training in analysis of large clinical and laboratory data sets, including genomics.

The intercalated Clinical Science degree introduces you to translational research; clinical and laboratory research that is aimed at moving laboratory research to the bedside.

Building on work already undertaken within the MBChB, you may take the programme between the third and fourth, or fourth and fifth years of the MBChB.

To be considered for the programme you will have to demonstrate that your performance in years 2 and 3 of the medical degree is equivalent to a 1 or 2.1 in a standard classified degree.

Transcripts are reviewed to confirm student academic achievement. Students are expected to have achieved 65% or above (or have extenuating circumstances which were accepted for the academic year in question) for all completed years with the exception of year 1. In exceptional circumstances students who have failed to achieve this will be considered if a clear and strong case for academic progression can be made. If your academic achievement in year 2 and above of your medical studies has fallen below 60% (or equivalent for external candidates) year mean in the absence of extenuating circumstances, please detail any evidence which supports your academic ability to engage with the chosen programme of study.

If you are interested in a particular project you are advised to contact the supervisor. Further information and application forms can be obtained from Fiona Collard (Programme Administrator), email: intercalclinscience@contacts.bham.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)121 414 8190