Innovative intercalated degrees at a modern medical school in the United Kingdom

Dear Sir

In the UK, medical students have the opportunity to undertake a separate degree during their undergraduate medical curriculum. As the competition for specialty training posts increases, the quintessential medical student will be expected to have an additional degree when applying for competitive specialties (McManus et al. 1999). The UK foundation programme application awards extra points for having additional degrees, therefore increasing the chances of obtaining a desired postgraduate post (UK Foundation Programme Office 2012).

Typically, medical students opt to undertake a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in order to gain a further understanding in a subject of their choice. At Keele University, a modern medical school that recently received full accreditation in 2012, a major initiative was set out to redefine the medical school's image nationally based on current trends in education and career progression. The implementation of a unique Masters intercalated degree programme including the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) marks the first set of intercalated degrees of its kind in the UK. Keele Medical School offers 13 intercalated degree programmes – 12 of which (92%) are Masters programmes.

We believe that Keele's innovative intercalated degrees provide unparalleled benefits to the modern medical student:

• MPhil degrees achieved at the undergraduate level can facilitate the transition to a career in academia and serve as an excellent lead-on to a PhD if desired.

• MPhil degrees are recognised internationally, including in the USA, when compared to Masters of Research (MRes) degrees.

• Research-based Masters degrees serve to bridge the gap between the clinician and the academic, providing foundation doctors with applicable research skills.

With the introduction of these new degrees to medical students all across the UK, we envisage more opportunities to conduct research amidst the increasingly competitive nature of medicine are provided. As medical students become more aware of the benefits, the establishment of a new era of modern intercalated degrees should foster higher academic research merits and a fruitful career in either academia or one that is integrated with a clinical career.

Declaration of interest: No declarations or conflicts of interest to report. The article has not been submitted in part or in whole anywhere else.