Medicine BM BS
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Overview
The Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) is a partnership between the Universities of Brighton and Sussex, and NHS Trusts across the Surrey and Sussex region. Students are full members of both universities.
The BSMS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BM BS) degree integrates the development of academic knowledge with clinical experience. From the first term, students gain experience of working with patients in parallel with their academic study of the biomedical sciences.
Course duration
Full-time: 5 years
UCAS code A100
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Course content
Course structure
A wide range of teaching and learning methods are employed, with the emphasis throughout on small-group teaching. The curriculum is designed to develop students' ability to relate clinical findings to underlying clinical and social sciences, and to use information from different disciplines and sources.
In the first two years, academic and clinical studies are based on both university campuses at Falmer. Clinical experience is in both primary care and acute care settings. Students carry out two individual family studies - in year 1 with a family looking after a new baby, and in year 2 with a family including a dependant requiring continuing care.
Academic studies are based on a series of systems modules focused on the normal and abnormal functioning of the human body. These include the core material that every doctor must know, together with student-selected components enabling the exploration of selected topics in depth.
Years 3 and 4 studies are based at the Education Centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, and in the teaching hospitals of the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.
In year 3 students undertake four eight-week specified clinical attachments in medicine, surgery, elderly care/mental health and women's and child health, plus student selected components and weekly teaching sessions on the scientific basis of medicine.
They also maintain a logbook and personal portfolio which will be used to assess progress, and help them reflect on how their personal strengths are developing alongside their clinical experience.
Year 4 includes a medical elective, in the UK or abroad, offering the opportunity to experience medical practice in a different cultural and clinical setting. Recent destinations have included India, Cambodia, Peru, Jamaica and the Solomon Islands. Students also undertake research projects, go on clinical placements in hospital and community settings and develop their primary care experience.
Subject to satisfactory academic performance, students have the opportunity to take an intercalated BSc in order to study a subject of their choice in greater depth. This is taken in one year between years 3 and 4 of BM BS studies and provides the necessary academic background for those wishing to embark on a career combining medical practice with medical research. They might choose neuroscience, molecular medicine, pharmacological sciences or experimental psychology.
Year 5 prepares students for their first postgraduate year as foundation year (FY) doctors under the new foundation scheme. It is organised in regional attachments comprising clinical placements in district general hospital and community settings in Sussex and its adjoining counties, including periods spent work-shadowing an FY doctor.
Year 3, 4 and 5 students have access to hand-held computers (PDAs) so they can access relevant information resources while working on the wards or in clinics. BSMS is a leading medical school in the UK in the development of technology-based learning support.
Areas of study
The degree develops key personal skills and attitudes including: learning how to learn and understanding the need for lifelong learning; reflective practice; communication and IT skills; working effectively in multi-professional teams; the personal and ethical attitudes essential for good professional practice; and an appreciation of doctors' responsibilities to their patients, to professional colleagues, to society and to themselves.
Students also develop clinical skills in history-taking, physical examination, diagnosis, and effective communication with patients. Experience of medical practice in hospital settings includes visits to a busy accident and emergency unit.
In year 3 students are introduced to research methodology, essential for the practice of evidence-based medicine, and join a BSMS, Brighton or Sussex research team to carry out an individual research project in year 4.
Syllabus
Full details on the curriculum, entry requirements, eligibility, and admissions are published in the Brighton and Sussex Medical School prospectus, available from
BSMS Admissions,
University of Brighton,
01273 600900,
medadmissions@bsms.ac.uk
and on the website: www.bsms.ac.uk -
Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements
individual offers may varyA-levels:
AAA to include biology and chemistry. General Studies and Critical Thinking excluded.BSMS gives equal emphasis to applicants' academic qualifications and their personal qualities and potential. Individual offers will depend on interviewers' recommendations.
International Baccalaureate:
36 points overall, to include both biology and chemistry at higher level. A grade 6 must be achieved in both.For non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 7.5 overall, with at least 7.0 in each section.Other:
GCSE: English language and mathematics at grade B or above, or evidence of equivalent literacy and numeracy.
UKCAT: you will need to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test before applying. Final deadlines are before the UCAS application date, visit www.ukcat.ac.uk for more information.Degree and/or experience:
Graduate entry: Graduate entrants to BSMS need to have, or be predicted, a strong 2:1 or better. Your degree can be in any discipline. If you are applying with a degree, you will need an overall average of 65 per cent or over from your final year modules. If you are applying in your final year, you will need to have obtained an overall average of at least 65 per cent or over from your previous year of study.As a graduate you are still require to meet our biology and chemistry requirements. This can be either be from:
- having biology and chemistry at A-level and achieving A grades in both OR
- having sufficient biology and chemistry content from your degree, having obtained 65 per cent or over in all of the relevant modules.Some science graduates may find the Access to Medicine route offers them the best preparation for entry to medical school.All graduates are still required to have English and maths at GCSE.
Mature entry: Pass with distinction on a recognised Access to Medicine course. Details in BSMS prospectus.
EU or Channel Island applications are considered on the same basis as UK applicants. BSMS has 10 places per year for international students from outside the European Union. Applicants should possess academic qualifications equivalent to those required from UK and EU applicants. We may be able to interview overseas applicants by video link at their local British Council office.
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Location
Location
Falmer and University of Sussex -
Career opportunities
The degree equips students with the knowledge, clinical skills and attitudes to complete their foundation training successfully and qualify for registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). Graduates are entitled to provisional registration with the GMC with a license to practice, subject to demonstrating to the GMC that their fitness to practice is not impaired. Graduates are then able to undertake the further postgraduate training necessary to become a general practitioner or medical consultant in a clinical speciality.
Full details on the curriculum, entry requirements, eligibility, and admissions are published in the Brighton and Sussex Medical School prospectus.
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Fees and costs
The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.
The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take. Different rules apply to research degrees - please contact the Doctoral College for advice.
To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.
Our website wwww.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.
Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery [N1EJ001] UK/EU (Full Time) 9,000 GBP Island Students (Full Time) 9,000 GBP International (Full Time) 23,678 GBP