14. Intercalation

Resources and guidance

Definition

14.1.    ‘Intercalation’ is defined as the circumstance in which a student takes up the opportunity to pause their study on a registered programme to study for a degree in a different programme of study. The student resumes, as normal, on their registered programme following the intercalation.

Eligibility

14.2.    Only students registered on the following programmes at the University of Bristol are eligible to intercalate:

  • Dentistry (BDS)
  • Medicine (MBChB)
  • Veterinary Science (BVSc)

14.3.    Only those taught degree programmes of the University of Bristol that have been specifically designated and approved can accept intercalating students. 

14.4.    A student may be permitted to intercalate onto a programme at a different institution, where approved by the relevant Programme Director.

Arrangements for intercalation

14.5.    Intercalation is taken:

  • after year 2 for entry onto the final year of a bachelors degree programme
  • after year 3 for entry onto a taught masters degree programme.

Any exception to this requires approval by the University Academic Quality Committee.

14.6.    The maximum period of study for an intercalating programme is one academic year. Intercalation is completed within a single academic year unless a student suspends studies and/or due to accepted exceptional circumstances.

14.7.    A student is subject to the relevant academic regulations for the intercalating programme whilst they are studying on that programme.

14.8.    There is no automatic right of intercalation; students must submit an application for consideration. The consideration of an application determines whether:

  • intercalation is suitable for the student
  • the student meets the requirements of the intercalating programme, and
  • there is sufficient space to accommodate them.

Considering applications for intercalation

14.9.    Applications for intercalation from current University of Bristol students are considered for approval by a designated school ‘Intercalation lead’ role in consultation with the relevant Programme Directors.   

14.10.    Requests for intercalation from students of other institutions are considered for approval by the Programme Director onto which the student wishes to intercalate.

Award and classification on intercalating programmes

14.11.    Credit is permitted to be used towards both the award of a student’s registered programme and the intercalated degree programme (see 5.4).

14.12.    An intercalated degree is awarded where a student achieves the following credit points during the intercalated year:

  • 120 credit points for an undergraduate degree
  • 180 credit points for a taught postgraduate degree. 

For the purposes of awarding an undergraduate Intercalated Degree, each year of study on the programme is deemed to be worth 120 credit points.

14.13.    The final programme mark and degree classification of the Intercalated Degree is calculated using the marks achieved during the intercalated year of study (see the weightings for calculating classification).

14.14.    The standard exit awards are available from intercalating degrees. An unclassified bachelors (Ordinary) degree is available as an exit award from the intercalating programme if a student has achieved at least 300 credit points. At least 60 of these credit points must be from the intercalating programme.

14.15.    The conferral of an intercalated degree is as follows: 

  • for intercalated bachelors-level degrees: the award is conferred at the next graduation ceremony following successful completion of the programme
  • for intercalated integrated masters or taught postgraduate-level degrees: the award is conferred at the same graduation ceremony as the award of the undergraduate professional programme.

Student support

14.16.    For students intercalating during an University of Bristol professional programme, an academic personal tutor from their home programme continues to provide support during the intercalation year.

14.17.    For students intercalating from another institution, an academic personal tutor is assigned from the school in which the intercalation programme is based.