School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine

• The breadth of subjects covered in the BVMS programme can often restrict a more focussed in-depth learning experience in a particular subject area. An intercalated degree will provide the opportunity to study a scientific subject you are interested in more depth and to a higher level.
• You may have an interest in a subject which you would like to develop after you have qualified as a veterinary surgeon (e.g. specialisation). There can be a great deal of competition to undertake further post-graduate qualifications in such a specialisation. Holding an additional qualification as the result of an intercalated degree in the relevant or a related course may help your chances of achieving your future career ambitions. A survey from Bristol University has demonstrated that students who undertake an intercalated degree are more likely to undertake a specialist clinical job in a hospital or veterinary school. These include residency or internship positions.
• Given the current rise in number of veterinary undergraduates combined with more undergraduates undertaking intercalated degrees (in some institutions up to ~25-30 people per year), competition for a particular job in veterinary practice will become even more difficult and may rely heavily on your CV. Addition of an intercalated degree on your CV could be a major asset in this respect.
• A component of your intercalated degree will involve research. This will provide you an ideal opportunity to explore whether a research-based career is for you. Post-graduate PhD placements are highly sought after and competitive to obtain. An intercalated degree are extremely beneficial to a PhD studentship application. A survey by Bristol University has demonstrated that students who undertake an intercalated degree are more likely to undertake a subsequent post-graduate degree in research.
• The skills obtained during an intercalated degree (including self-directed learning) can differ from those learned whilst undertaking the BVMS programme. These skills can be vital to your continuing professional development as a veterinary surgeon.
• The intercalated degree does not necessarily need to take place in Glasgow. Several degree programmes are offered by different Universities. This provides a valuable opportunity to experience University life in another institute and to make contacts outside of your BVMS year group.

Some of the courses have limited number of places and therefore good grades in your professional exams is highly desirable. Passes at first attempt is a pre-requisite for some intercalated degrees. However, we recognise that different types of learning environment suit some students better and so we encourage all interested students to discuss the potential for intercalation.

This depends on the course you would like to take but in essence is either 1 or 2 years. At the University of Glasgow, there are two intercalated degree programme options at Bachelors levels and one at Masters level:

(i) BSc (VetSci) Hons

Conferred by: School of Veterinary Medicine

When taken: After third year of the BVMS course

Duration: One year

Every candidate must pursue advanced studies for one year in the University of Glasgow in one of the following principal subjects of study: a) Biochemistry, b) Cell Biology, c) Microbiology, d) Molecular Biology, e) Genetics, f) Pharmacology, g) Anatomical Sciences, h) Physiology, i) Marine and Freshwater Biology or j) Zoology or in such principal scientific subjects of study in the University of Glasgow as may be approved by the Senate on the recommendation of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Such a candidate will normally resume the BVMS programme in the session immediately following that in which he or she completed or terminated the programme leading to the Degree of BSc (VetSci).

(ii) BSc Hons

Conferred by: School of Life Sciences

When taken: End of second or third year of the BVMS course

Duration: Two years

Such a candidate will be re-admitted to the BVMS programme provided he or she resumes study in the session immediately following that in which he or she completed or terminated study in the School of Life Sciences.

iii) MSc (VetSci)

Conferred by: School of Veterinary Medicine

When taken: Usually after third year of the BVMS course (for undergraduate BVMS students) although students with a prior BSc can take an MSc at other times e.g. after BVMS2.

Duration: One year

There are several subjects which can be studied as an intercalated degree at the University of Glasgow (see above), as well at several other Universities in the UK. External courses include a BSc in Comparative Pathology at the Royal Veterinary College, and a BSc in Veterinary Conservation Medicine. Please find details and links to websites through the University of Glasgow Intercalated Degree Mahara page and the BVMS INSPIRE website. If you have a particular interest in a subject that is not listed in the website, please contact Dr. Kathryn Allan (Kathryn.Allan@glasgow.ac.uk) who will be able to help advise you. However, please note that intercalated degrees can usually only be taken in scientific subjects due to the content covered in the BVMS programme.

Most students seek funding from their higher education funding source (e.g. SASS or LEA), which will normally fund you for a 6-year degree programme. Unfortunately, funding from external sources is currently very limited. You should get in contact with your local funding authority as soon as possible to ensure that they will provide funding for an intercalated degree programme. Please also note that some undergraduate funding sources are limited to a maximum of 6 years, which may limit funding available in future if you need to resit a year of BVMS.

Most students are very positive about their intercalated degree experiences. The process of studying another subject can be rewarding and enable new, broader experiences of University life. However, there are some implications for your veterinary training to consider:

• Your BVMS registration will be paused for the duration of your intercalated studies. This mean that you will NOT be able to undertake clinical EMS during this time because you will no longer formally be counted as a vet student and you will also not be insured for clinical EMS activities. Normally, the BVMS registration is paused in August before you start your intercalated degree, and resumed in July/August following completion and graduation from your degree. Please take this into account when planning your EMS activities. You can however count your dissertation project as research EMS (max of 8 weeks) if you wish to do so. The EMS office should be able to provide guidance on how to do this.

NB: This advice is specific to Glasgow BVMS students and is due to how the intercalated degrees and BVMS registration are administered. Please be aware that other vet schools may handle this differently but even if you take your intercalated degree at a different University, you must follow Glasgow guidance re EMS as this is your ‘home’ affiliation for EMS activities.

• Taking a break in the programme means that you may need to do some refresher study to prepare for re-entry into the BVMS programme. Support for this can be provided through the Phase leaders and BVMS curriculum leads.

For all intercalated degrees, please register your intention to intercalate and chosen course with the intercalated degree leader (see Mahara for details).

For intercalated BSc degrees at Glasgow, we require:

• a formal letter of application stating which year you are currently in; your present funding status; why you wish to intercalate; which intercalated option(s) (up to a maximum of three) you wish to be considered for.
• a full CV
• your full academic transcript to date

Applications should be submitted by email to the intercalated degree lead by internal deadline date. Deadlines and email contacts will be published on the Mahara main page.

For intercalated MSc degrees at Glasgow, an online application is required. Please see the respective MSc webpage for a link to the online submission system as well as information regarding application deadlines.

For course options outside Glasgow, please see the relevant webpage for further information. Please also ensure that you register your intent to intercalate with the intercalated degree leader (see Mahara for details) to ensure that the School can provide the necessary support.

Your application will be reviewed by the intercalated degree leader for SBOHVM. Suitable candidates will be recommended to the SLS (or other School as appropriate) who will make conditional offers of intercalated degree places based on availability for the coming academic year. After successful completion of BVMS exam results, your intercalated degree place will be confirmed. BVMS registration will be paused in the August before your intercalated degree starts. Following completion of the intercalated degree, BVMS registration will be reactivated to allow timely re-entry into the BVMS programme.