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Pharmacy students in white coats by a computer screen

Medicine BM BS

  • Intro
  • Course
    content
  • Careers
  • Entry
    criteria
  • Fees
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Intro

The Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) is a partnership between the University of Brighton, the University of Sussex and NHS Trusts across the Surrey and Sussex region.

The BSMS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BM BS) degree integrates the development of academic knowledge with clinical experience. From the first term, you learn to apply your knowledge of the biomedical sciences to real-life patient care.

Successful completion of the course entitles you to provisional registration with the General Medical Council (GMC), subject to demonstrating your fitness to practise. You are then able to undertake further training to become a GP or medical consultant.

Key facts

Location Falmer and the University of Sussex

UCAS code A100

Full-time 5 years

More routes into medicine

These courses offer a guaranteed interview to study medicine at BSMS for eligible students.

  • Biological Sciences BSc(Hons)
  • Biomedical Science BSc(Hons)
  • Pharmacy MPharm 

Closed for 2021

This course is closed for applications for 2021 entry. UCAS will open for 2022 applications in May 2021.

Course content

Course structure

Our five-year medical degree, awarded jointly by the Universities of Brighton and Sussex, leads to the qualification of Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (BM BS).

The BSMS course is designed to help you become a highly competent; strongly motivated doctor, committed to the highest standards of clinical practice, professionalism and patient care. By the time you graduate, you will have developed the knowledge and key personal skills and attitudes necessary to pursue a successful medical career.

Both universities are part of the UK Medical Act and our course has been approved by the GMC under its Quality Assurance of Basic Medical Education (QABME) processes.

We are a dynamic and vibrant school committed to new and innovative approaches to medical education.

Our purpose-built, modern facilities include anatomy and clinical science laboratories, simulated consultation rooms, multiple libraries, computer suites and state-of-the-art lecture theatres. Our enthusiastic and dedicated teachers will provide you with on-going feedback, continuously supporting you and ensuring that you develop to the very best of your abilities. A range of IT and mobile learning resources will support you on the go, from e-portfolios to smartphone apps.

 

Years 1 and 2

Introduction to clinical assessment and year 2: Learning from the patient journey

You will study the normal and abnormal functioning of the human body using a systems-based approach, with integrated modules covering the core biomedical and psychosocial sciences.

You will start to develop clinical skills in history taking, physical examination, diagnosis and effective communication with patients in a classroom setting and by gaining experience in primary, secondary and third sector placements. For example, you may spend time with a family looking after a new baby (year 1), and with a patient with dementia or a chronic health condition (years 2 and 3).

Your anatomy study will include a combination of cadaveric dissection, prosection, living anatomy and ultrasound sessions and 3D printed structures, where you will actively explore the human body and its relevance to clinical practice.

Student-selected Components (SSCs) will allow you to undertake individual studies and explore selected topics in depth, informed by the latest research.

Year 1 modules

  • Clinical and Community Practice 1
  • Foundations of Health and Disease
  • Heart, Lungs and Blood
  • Nutrition, Metabolism and Excretion
  • Personal and Professional Development
  • Year 1 Knowledge Test

Year 2 modules

  • Clinical and Community Practice 2
  • Neuroscience and Behaviour
  • Reproduction and Endocrinology
  • Musculoskeletal and Immune System
  • Personal and Professional Development

Year 3

Learning in increasing depth in core and general specialties

At the heart of year 3 are ward-based attachments including acute medicine, general medicine and cardiology; elderly medicine and psychiatry; and perioperative care, A&E, general and vascular surgery.

You will consolidate your increasing clinical experience with an understanding of the underlying clinical, social science and public health issues through weekly teaching sessions on the scientific basis of medicine. This module also consolidates and expands your research skills in preparation for your Individual research project in year 4.

You will also gain further experience in safe prescribing of drugs, an essential skill for your medical career. Time for Dementia continues through year 3 and you will begin Time for Autism. Regular meetings with your tutor will support your personal and professional development via your e-portfolio.

Year 3 modules

  • Clinical Foundation Course
  • Scientific Basis of Medicine
  • Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Elderly Medicine and Psychiatry
  • Student-selected Components
  • Therapeutics
  • Year 3 Knowledge Test
  • Year 3 OSCE

Year 4

Learning in specialist disciplines

You will develop your skills in more specialised clinical areas, completing rotations that include:

  • general practice
  • ophthalmology and ENT
  • infectious diseases, HIV GUM and health protection
  • dermatology/rheumatology
  • neurology and neurosurgery
  • oncology, haematology and palliative care
  • obstetrics and gynaecology
  • paediatrics.

The clinical focus in year 4 is on understanding patients’ integrated care and how primary, community and secondary care structures work together for the patient. You will also complete a year-long individual research project, supervised by a university or hospital research team, which can be laboratory based or more directly patient focused.

Year 4 modules

  • Specialist Rotations
  • General Practice and Population Medicine
  • Individual Research Project
  • Year 4 Knowledge Test
  • Year 4 OSCE

Final year

Learning in an apprenticeship role focusing on foundation skills and patient safety.

Year 5 provides intense clinical and professional preparation for your foundation years. Throughout the year, you will develop your clinical skills through direct patient contact and by using clinical skills laboratories and simulators.

Before sitting the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) you will undertake clinical attachments in a range of regional locations. Your learning will be based on a close involvement with routine clinical cases, acting as a member of the clinical team in medicine, emergency medicine, elderly medicine, surgery, general practice and psychiatry. Central to your study will be the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients in these different areas of practice.

Year 5 modules

  • Regional Attachments
  • Year 5 Knowledge Test
  • Year 5 OSCE
  • Year 5 Portfolio
  • Preparation for Practice
  • Elective

Careers

The degree equips you with the knowledge, clinical skills and attitudes to complete your foundation training successfully and qualify for registration with the GMC. You are then able to undertake the postgraduate training necessary to become a GP or a medical consultant in a clinical speciality.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2021. They should be used as a general guide. 

BSMS gives equal emphasis to applicants' academic qualifications and their personal qualities and potential. Based on information from applications, candidates will be recommended by the admissions board to be invited to interview. Individual offers will depend on interviewers' recommendations.

GCSE 
English language or English literature and maths at grade B or grade 6, or above.

A-levels
Most standard offers for entry to us are conditional on gaining three A grades at A-level (to include biology and chemistry). We do not specify the nature of the third A-level subject and the vast majority of our applicants will choose to study maths or physics, however we strongly encourage applications from students who study humanities or the arts as we recognise their value in broadening academic horizons. It should be noted that general studies and critical thinking is not acceptable at any level.

We reserve the right to make alternative offers where appropriate. 

International Baccalaureate
We very much welcome applications from students who have taken, or are taking, the International Baccalaureate Diploma. You will normally need to pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with 36 points overall to include both Biology and Chemistry at Higher level. A grade 6 must be achieved in both.

Other equivalent qualifications
A wide range of other academic qualifications equivalent to A-levels, Advanced Highers and the International Baccalaureate are also welcome. If you are intending to offer such qualifications, please check on the BSMS admissions webpage for advice on their eligibility and the grades expected. If you have any further queries, contact our admissions team.

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
We welcome candidates who have successfully completed an Extended Project, recognising the effort that they have expended and the valuable skills and knowledge that they will have gained. However the EPQ will not form part of any offers that we make.

Scottish Highers
You will normally be required to have three Advanced Highers including biology and chemistry grades A plus a Higher Level subject at grade B or above, or two Advanced Highers in biology and chemistry at grades A plus two Higher Level subjects at grades A.

Welsh Baccalaureate
We welcome applicants applying to us with the Welsh Baccalaureate. Normally you will be required to achieve an A grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma as well as 2 A grades at A-level to include both biology and chemistry.

Irish Leaving Certificate
Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate at Higher/Honours level with (old 2016 system) at least grades A1 A1 A2 A2 A2 A2 at Higher/Honours Level including grades A1 in Biology and Chemistry. Or at least (new system) grades H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 including H1 in both Biology and Chemistry subjects. You will also need at least (old system) grades B2 in English and Maths or (new system) grades at least H3/O3 or above in the Leaving Certificate at Ordinary/Standard Level.

English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 overall, with at least 7.0 in each section. This must have been achieved no more than two years before the date that you intend to enrol with BSMS.

Widening participation 

BSMS is committed to widening participation into medicine, so along with assessing your academic profile, we will also be looking for any contextual data that may enhance your application. If you are identified as having any two from the following key pieces of data, then you will be considered separately from the rest of our applicants. For these applicants, we will accept AAB at A-level (including biology and chemistry); and English and mathematics at GCSE grade 5 or C.

  • You live in a neighbourhood that has low participation into higher education or live in an area that falls within the lowest 20% of the Index of Mass Deprivation. Eligibility will be identified by BSMS Admissions. 
  • You attended an 11–16 state school that performed below the national average at Progress 8 score. Eligibility will be identified by BSMS Admissions. 
  • You (or a parent or guardian) are in receipt of a means-tested benefit. Eligibility should be self-declared and evidence submitted via our admissions portal. All applicants will receive information on how to do this after submitting their UCAS application.
  • You are in receipt of the 16 to 19 bursary. Eligibility should be self-declared and evidence submitted via our admissions portal. All applicants will receive information on how to do this after submitting their UCAS application.
  • You are (or have been) eligible for free school meals at any point between Year 9 and Year 13 Eligibility should be self-declared and evidence submitted via our admissions portal. All applicants will receive information on how to do this after submitting their UCAS application.

Applicants who are (or have been) looked after in local authority care for more than three months will automatically be invited for interview, subject to satisfying academic criteria.

Mature and graduate entry  

Access to HE Diploma
Mature entry: Pass with distinction on a recognised Access to Medicine course. Details in BSMS prospectus.

Degree and experience
Graduate entry: Applicants should hold, or expect to hold, a first or upper second class honours degree and be able to demonstrate an adequate knowledge of biology and chemistry equivalent to A grade pass at A-level in both. This may be achieved through having studied these subjects to A-level or through relevant degree modules. Graduate entrants are assessed on their recent achievement and do not have to satisfy other academic entry requirements (ie they are not required to have AAA at A-level). Applicants should however note that the integrated nature of the BSMS degree in medicine does not normally allow advanced entry to a different year of the programme. If offered an interview, they may be asked to supply a transcript of their degree results. If applicants hold (or expect to hold) a first or upper second class honours degree but do not have the necessary knowledge of biology and chemistry, they are invited to consider entry via the Access to Medicine route, see prospectus for more details.

EU or Channel Island applications are considered on the same basis as UK applicants. BSMS has six 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.

Biomedical admissions test (BMAT) 

BSMS requires all applicants to sit the BMAT, in the year that you apply, in order to be considered for interview. You are required to register with BMAT assessment centres before the test. Check the BMAT website for key dates and additional information.

International requirements

International candidates can find out more about BSMS entry requirements for international qualifications and detailed information on English language requirements on the BSMS website.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

Channel Island students (full-time) 19,000 GBP

International (full-time) 35,517 GBP

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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-time 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.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. 7,000 students are based here taking subjects including criminology, English, education, nursing and medicine, paramedic science, psychology and sociology. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. Psychology students learn in our applied cognition and flexible creative method labs.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes, and a students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre and there is a BTN BikeShare hub on site. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

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Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park. All halls are self-catered, but if you prefer you can add in a food and drink plan.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on Falmer campus and offer a range of rooms
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there's a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Unihomes and unilets
Unihomes and unilets are student houses that we let to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option can work particularly well when you're balancing learning with placements and other commitments. We have unihomes and unilet properties across the city.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private renting. This is an option which offers choice and flexibility – enabling you to choose where you live and who with. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Maps

Brighton and Sussex Medical School map

Stay in touch

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Statistics

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on their website. Discover Uni will be launching a widget this month that will show top line stats for this course. Once live, the widget will appear below. 

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

Related 4 courses

  • Pharmacy MPharm

    Pharmacy MPharm

  • Pharmacy MPharm (with integrated foundation year)

    Pharmacy MPharm (with integrated foundation year)

  • Biomedical Science BSc(Hons)

    Biomedical Science BSc(Hons)

  • Biomedical Science BSc(Hons) (with integrated foundation year)

    Biomedical Science BSc(Hons) (with integrated foundation year)

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