Intercalating Abroad

Hi guys,

Has anyone out there done an intercalated masters abroad? I was wondering if it was at all possible or how hard it was?

Thanks

Well the plan is to do something in Europe, maybe Sweden (cos free) but I didn't know if it'd be possible having not technically graduated, but having enough European Degree Credits (or something) to be eligible. Because, should I go abroad and do a masters, I'd be graduating with a masters before I got my bachelors? I didn't know if this was possible, but as you say it seems to be, but just requires a lot of organisation/cooperation.

I think it'd be best to find a few programmes I'm interested in and fire of a few emails to the relevant institutions

Thanks for you help

I nearly did (so applied and everything) but then got an offer from my first choice intercalation so never went abroad! I know someone who intercalated in a MSc at Harvard, and somebody else doing something at the Pasteur Institut - so yes it's definitely possible but I think a lot of it comes down to your own university and how you navigate the administration.

General tips: start the process very early, ideally a year in advance or so. Make sure the institution you want to intercalate at will let medical students intercalate their Masters; some are a bit weird about it. Involve lots of different people at different stages of the medical hierarchy (your tutor, a supervisor maybe, head of year, head of undergraduate teaching etc.) Some universities might not let you go study abroad in a 'dangerous' location.

Might be able to help a bit more if you had specific questions, ideas about where/what you wanted to do?

I studied a MSc in Global Health at Maastricht University during my intercalated year.

First semester spent in Maastricht, The Netherlands. Learnt a variety of subjects- a bit of anthropology, a bit of infectious diseases, bit too much fluffy stuff like sociology with a bit of Critical Theory propaganda thrown in. There was stats which got tricky towards the end, but if you were fine with your pre-clinical epidemiology stuff you'd be OK.

Second semester could be spent on exchange at a university abroad- so I spent 4 months in India, going to lectures during the day, drinking rum on the beach at night and going off to Goa and elsewhere at the weekend. Literally a glorified holiday. Then there's a research thesis to do at the end.

Tuition was just €2,000. Living costs in Maastricht were OK, although when I was there the exchange rate was better. Living in India could be done dirt cheap if you wanted, or you could waste a lot of money travelling about like I did.

Obviously having the cash to pay for the above up front would be the main issue for most- although a lot of banks offer 'elective loans' and the like, which a couple of my compatriots took advantage of.

EDIT didn't see the age of the thread, but here's my gift of the Masstricht holiday Master's degree to you all.

I nearly did (so applied and everything) but then got an offer from my first choice intercalation so never went abroad! I know someone who intercalated in a MSc at Harvard, and somebody else doing something at the Pasteur Institut - so yes it's definitely possible but I think a lot of it comes down to your own university and how you navigate the administration.

General tips: start the process very early, ideally a year in advance or so. Make sure the institution you want to intercalate at will let medical students intercalate their Masters; some are a bit weird about it. Involve lots of different people at different stages of the medical hierarchy (your tutor, a supervisor maybe, head of year, head of undergraduate teaching etc.) Some universities might not let you go study abroad in a 'dangerous' location.

Might be able to help a bit more if you had specific questions, ideas about where/what you wanted to do?