Dual Degrees in Medicine: Options for Medical Students

Abstract

Increasingly, more universities are showing an interest in offering combined degrees (most commonly research-based) with their medical degree. Intercalated degrees often require the medical student to take time off their medical course in order to pursue the second degree full-time. Concurrent degrees, on the other hand, do not usually require taking additional time to complete; rather, they are integrated into the medical curriculum. Exposing medical students to the array of opportunities offered by their academic institutions will hopefully allow interested students to pursue studies in an area of their preference, at a pace of their own and for a cost (time and financial) they could afford. This article explores the different degrees offered around the world to students in combination with medical degrees.

Flexibility in primary medical programs: A scoping review

“…Dual degrees include intercalated degrees, which require students to take time off to pursue the second degree full-time, and concurrent degrees, which are integrated into the medical curriculum (Alamri, 2018). Examples of dual degrees include MD/MBA programs (Ackerly et al, 2011;Patel et al, 2014) and combined MD/MPH degrees in topics such as public policy, law, biomedical engineering, arts, bioethics, public health and epidemiology (Alamri, 2018). The majority of graduates of joint medical degree programs reportedly enters the clinical workforce upon graduation (Brass et al, 2010;Jeffe & Andriole, 2011;Patel et al, 2014;Sullivan et al, 2017).…”

Curriculum initiatives to enhance research skills acquisition by medical students: a scoping review

“…For this review, we examined both intercalated and non-intercalated degree options because such options are an intrinsic part of some medical degree programmes. Intercalated degree options have been previously reported [12,13], but not in the context of what is available or undertaken by students who do not complete an intercalated programme. Jones et al's systematic review covered intercalated bachelor degrees (but not intercalated masters and PhDs).…”

Attrition among New Zealand medical students completing research degrees: A 20-year analysis

“…The need for such qualified clinicians is paramount due to their unique position of seeing patients’ problems first-hand, while also collecting research data to inform better ways to solve those problems [2]. We have previously reviewed the available opportunities for medical students to undertake research, and found internationally that there are a multitude of opportunities afforded during their medical degree studies to complete research, either as core or elective [3].…”