The intercalated degree will offer all graduate doctors of medicine and surgery, improved options to pursue personal and career objectives in postgraduate medical specialisation, as it provides a head start for the necessary scientific skills for specialist trainees. Moreover it is a solid foundation for medical graduates who are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree to embark on a medical academic career, since it provides an early introduction to the competitive field of high quality scientific research, publications in high level journals and competitivity for research grants and contracts. As healthcare moves towards the development of personalized / precision medicine, the demand for researchers with combined MD Ph.D. degrees is steadily increasing to service the expanding local research options in medical sciences, health care and biotechnology, on campus, in hospital and at the Life Science Park. For those who opt to exit the medical course, this degree will open up possibilities for postgraduate studies in science, health and biotechnology with a view to future employment in these areas. The new economic sectors in pharmaceuticals and the Life Science Park and the growing academic programmes shall continue to increase demand for such researchers.