Intercalated Masters in Medical Science

Programme Overview

As part of a strategy of increasing research opportunities within our undergraduate programmes, the UCD School of Medicine offers a one year intercalated Masters in Medical Science degree for students of our medicine degree programmes. Scientific knowledge and discovery is at the heart of all our undergraduate degree programmes and our mission is to create life-long learners who are fired by a desire to add to the knowledge base through enquiry and investigation.

This programme is for UCD medicine students who wish to pursue a career in translational research and enhance our understanding of disease and improve human health.  This one year intercalated research programme is designed for students with 180 credits from their undergraduate medicine degree programme and graduate entry medicine students with a primary degree in a science-based discipline.

About the Programme

  • Combine undergraduate and graduate study
  • Gain an MSc in Medical Science during your undergraduate studies
  • Engage with our extensive research portfolio
  • Prepare for a career in medical or biomedical research
  • Financial scholarship towards fees and living expenses

“This has been an intense and amazing experience. My professor, supervisors and co-workers were brilliant and always willing to help me out or give advice.” - S.Flynn, Graduate

Selection Criteria

The programme is open to undergraduate direct entry medicine students with 180 credits, or graduate entry medicine students with a primary degree in a science-based discipline. Preference will be given to candidates with previous research experience (e.g. UCD Summer Student Research Award (SSRA) scheme or an independent science/medicine research project).

Forms

Students wishing to complete the MSc can apply for a scholarship of €8,000 euro from the School. If successful the scholarship goes towards registration fees. 

For the scholarship application please complete the Scholarship Application Form - Intercalated MSc. and return to Dr Noreen Sheehy, Programme Coordinator E: Noreen.sheehy@ucd.ie  

Full Academic Regulations for the programme are available here.

To apply for this programme, please ensure that you have fulfilled all of the required regulations.

Complete the MSc Application Form (2025) and return to: medicine.research@ucd.ie.

Career Options

The programme is specifically designed to facilitate those medical students who wish to establish a research career after graduation. The School offers an extensive array of taught and research masters and doctoral programmes across all major clinical specialities including MD, MCh, MSc and PhD. Many clinicians lead successful translational research programmes within the School and are principal investigators with our major associated research centres. The School is committed to research that enhances our understanding of disease with the ultimate aim of improving human health. It has over 75 principal research investigators with research grants under management to the value of approximately €35 million and annual research income of over €7.5 million.

Contact 

For further information please contact:
Dr Noreen Sheehy
Programme Coordinator
E: Noreen.sheehy@ucd.ie