Medicine BM BS

Course structure

The course is split into three phases:

• Phase 1 covers years 1 and 2;
• Phase 2 covers years 3 and 4; and
• Phase 3 covers the final year.

We use a range of teaching and learning methods, but the emphasis throughout is on small-group teaching. The curriculum is designed to develop your ability to relate clinical findings to underlying clinical and social sciences, and to use information from different disciplines and sources.

Subject to satisfactory academic performance, you can take an intercalated BSc to study a subject of your choice in greater depth, for example neuroscience, molecular medicine or pharmacology. This is taken in one year between years 3 and 4 and provides the necessary academic background for a career combining medical practice with medical research.

In years 3, 4 and 5, you have access to hand-held computers (PDAs) so you can access information resources while working on wards or in clinics. BSMS is a leading medical school in the UK with regard to the development of technology-based learning support.

Full details of the course can be found on the BSMS website.

Phase 1

In the first two years, academic and clinical studies are based in Falmer. You gain clinical experience in both primary and acute care settings, and carry out two individual family studies: in year 1 with a family looking after a new baby, and in year 2 with a family caring for a dependant.

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 allowing the exploration of certain topics in depth.

Year 1 modules

• Clinical Practice 1
• Foundations of Health and Disease
• Heart, Lungs and Blood
• Nutrition, Metabolism and Excretion

Year 2 modules

• Clinical Practice 2
• Neuroscience and Behaviour
• Reproduction and Endocrinology
• Musculoskeletal and Immune Systems

Phase 2

Years 3 and 4 are based at the Education Centre of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and in the teaching hospitals of Brighton and Sussex universities.

In year 3, you undertake four eight-week clinical attachments in medicine, surgery, elderly care/mental health, and women's and child health. You also maintain a logbook and personal portfolio which will be used to assess progress and help you reflect on how your personal strengths are developing alongside your clinical experience.

During year 4 you will undertake a rotation of clinical placements in the specialist subjects of musculoskeletal medicine and surgery; ophthalmology and ear, nose and throat (ENT) medicine; infectious diseases, HIV / genitourinary medicine, and health protection; dermatology; oncology, haematology and palliative care; and neurology and neurosurgery. There will also be a year-long module dedicated to primary care and population medicine.

A major component of year 4 is an individual, in-depth research study. You will join a BSMS, University of Brighton or University of Sussex research team with whom you will undertake a personal research project throughout the year on a topic of your choice.

In the spring of year 4, you will be able to apply for Academic Foundation Programme posts.

Year 3 modules

• Scientific Basis of Medicine
• Clinical Foundation Course
• Medicine
• Surgery
• Elderly Medicine and Psychiatry
• Student Selected Components
• Revision and Exams

Year 4 modules

• Specialist Rotations: 8 rotations x5 weeks
• General Practice, Global Health and Public Health Medicine
• Individual Research Project
• Revision and Exams

Phase 3

The final year prepares you for your first postgraduate year as foundation year (FY) doctors under the new foundation scheme. It is organised in regional attachments, which consist of clinical placements in district general hospital and community settings in Sussex and its adjoining counties, including periods spent shadowing an FY doctor.

Final year modules

• Regional Attachments 3x8 weeks
• CAPSULE (Clinical and Professional Studies Unique Learning Environment)
• Seminar Programme
• Clinical Elective

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 UK and EU 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 applicants are not required to sit the BMAT. Check the entry requirements on the BSMS website for 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.

Course fees

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

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/EU 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.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

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