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People enjoying sun on Brighton beach front
Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Living here

BSMS > Living here

Living here

One thing is certain at BSMS - you'll never be short of options when it comes to your free time. There is a very rich student life here, with two vibrant campuses situated at the edge of the South Downs National Park, and near a bustling eclectic city centre.

Our student society, MedSoc, has more than 40 societies and clubs to get involved with. You are automatically a member of the student unions of two parent universities, which means you can join any of their societies too – and gain membership access to all the bars, clubs and events on both campuses. Whether your interests are sports, arts or spiritual, there’s something for everyone.

If that doesn’t keep you busy enough, Brighton is on the doorstep, with all the shopping, culture and entertainment you’d expect from this colourful and cosmopolitan seaside town.

Three students sitting in the kitchen in halls

Accommodation options

As a first-year medical student, you will be guaranteed accommodation. However, you must make BSMS your first choice when confirming places with UCAS, and submit your application for university residences by the deadline in late June.

BSMS students are allocated between halls of residence at the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex on a first come, first served basis. All residences have communal kitchens, internet and include contents insurance.

READ MORE ABOUT accommodation >

Brighton

The laid-back city of Brighton is nestled between the South Downs National Park and the sea, and provides a unique and exciting cultural environment for students coupled with all the benefits of being only an hour away from London. 

Students make up a large percentage of the city’s population and take an active part in the cultural life of the city. Theatres, cinemas, galleries and a vibrant music scene offer a huge range of music, art, comedy and club nights. During summer, the many parks and legendary pebble beach are a popular place to spend time with friends, and there are many festivals to enjoy. Brighton Festival is the largest in England and draws many famous acts along with emerging comedians and musicians ready to make their mark, alongside the more eclectic fringe festival. Other highlights include LGBTQ+ Pride, the Burning of the Clocks, Brighton Comedy Festival and The Great Escape, which sees performances at over 400 venues across the city.

Brighton also boasts some of the best shopping in the UK, from big name stores to quirky, independent clothes shops, cafes and record stores hidden among the North Laine area. The city caters for all tastes in food with more restaurants and cafes per capita than any other city outside London.

When you feel like travelling further afield, London can be visited in a day, opening up everything the capital city has to offer. Gatwick Airport is half an hour by train from Brighton, giving students the chance to explore Europe and beyond.

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Student views

Hear from our current students some of the things they like about studying at BSMS. 

Football team on pitch, hugging

Sport, fitness & well-being

From beach volleyball to football in the park, kite surfing to mountain biking, and yoga to flamenco, getting active is huge in Brighton.

There are many opportunities to take part in sport on campus, where you will have access to both University of Brighton and University of Sussex sports facilities and clubs.

A range of student sports clubs are on offer, including watersports, which benefit from Brighton’s seaside location. Sports clubs provide coaching and instruction and take part in British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) competitions,as well as local Sussex leagues. Both universities have a good record of success at competition level in a range of team and individual sports. BSMS also has its own sports teams, including football, hockey and rugby among others, which participate in a range of leagues.

The rolling hills of the South Downs National Park, which surrounds the Falmer Campus, are a haven for hikers and mountain bikers and all sorts of watersports are available at the beach. Or if watching sport is more your thing, Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club is located right beside Falmer Campus and the Sussex County Cricket Club has its home ground in the area.

Smiling group of MedSoc students, in blue gowns and stethoscopes, on fundraising event

MedSoc

At the heart of student social life is BSMS MedSoc, our student society, which offers a huge variety of societies, sports clubs and social events. Get involved and you'll make friends for life!