intercalated Bsc in medical school

[Muslim_89_15]

assalamualikum
i wanted to know if anyone has done an intercalated bsc during their time in med school, or know of others who have and if so, would you recommend it to other med students?

[Saj]

assalamualikum
i wanted to know if anyone has done an intercalated bsc during their time in med school, or know of others who have and if so, would you recommend it to other med students?

Wa-alikum-as-salaam

I personally did not do an intercalated BSc. but my husband did. In my time (ten years ago) about half the year tend to opt for it, and the other half don't. If you are very motivated and academic and want a bit of an edge (i.e applying to teaching hospitals etc.) it can be beneficial. If you are not particularly competitive or want to get through medical school as quickly as possile, or want to go down the GP route then you won't lose out a great deal - In any case jobs tend to come with or without the extra degree. With the Modernising Medical Careers - it may be an extra tick-box but I'm unsure how much of a difference it will make. If you want to stay in hospital medicine or go into research it will look good on the CV. But it is quite a difficult year because it is quite different to how medicine is structured. For the BSc you are pretty much on your own with your subject and have a supervisor to guide you through - if you don't like working independently too much then give it a miss. If you do decide to do it - look into getting a bursary from your university. I'm not sure about the expense involved - I went to uni before tuition fees and the medical course was all paid for, but I think the intercalated BSc had to be self-funded at that time.

The best thing to do is ask people in the years above and see what they recommend - what subjects, which tutors are good etc, whether you'll be well supported etc.

[Muslim_89_15]

assalamualikum
jazakallah for the advice; I'm not in the UK, but rather my university is offering us the opportunity to do the intercalated in the UK, in addition to paying for the tuition fees. As this is the first time they are doing this, and the fact that the degree is being offered elsewhere, there's no one in the years above who can give advice about the programme. However, I did find some information online and most of it corresponded to what you have mentioned, such as the focus on independent study, the fact that it can be a difficult year with a structure which is quite different from what you might be used to, and the importance of choosing an area that would interest you.