BSMS > Undergraduate > Applying to BSMS

Applying to BSMS

We expect our students to become compassionate practitioners who are really in touch with their patients and committed to the core values of the NHS. You must possess the abilities, the commitment and the personal qualities necessary to become an excellent doctor.

In assessing your application, we will look for evidence of:

academic achievement and potential
BMAT score
a realistic attitude to medical training and clinical practice
a commitment to quality of care, compassion and improving lives
the ability to communicate and work effectively in a team for the benefit of patients
the ability to appreciate other people’s point of view
an appreciation of the need to treat people with respect and dignity
a willingness to accept responsibility.

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); 35 points total in the International Baccalaureate; 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 Multiple Deprivation.*
You attended an 11–16 state school that performed below the national average at Attainment 8 score.*
You (or a parent or guardian) are in receipt of a means-tested benefit.**
You are (or have been) in receipt of the 16 to 19 bursary.**
You are (or have been) eligible for free school meals at any point between Year 9 and Year 13.**
You have an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP)**

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.

*Eligibility will be identified by BSMS Admissions.

**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.

We welcome applications from students with disabilities, and the disability and dyslexia team are available to help any students in this situation. If you meet the academic criteria for selection, and indicate on your application form that you have a disability or dyslexia, you will be contacted by a member of the disability and dyslexia team to talk about support available. You are welcome to discuss any concerns that you may have at open days and admission days.

Care leavers

BSMS is committed to supporting students that are care leavers. In this section you can find out about the support available, alongside details of the relevant contacts to assist you both during your application and once you have started your studies.

Application process

When you submit your application, we will contact you and ask you to upload documentation to prove that you are in Local Authority Care, or have been previously, for a minimum of 3 months. Once we have established this, and if you meet the academic requirements, we will guarantee you an interview at BSMS. Details of our contextual data entry requirements can be found at bsms.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements >

Accommodation

Students that study at BSMS have the choice to live either on the University of Brighton campus, or the University of Sussex campus during their first year. Due to the nature of the course medical students are grouped together in certain blocks on the campuses where possible. As a care leaver you are able to stay in accommodation* for 52 weeks of the year.

Details of the available accommodation options can be found here: bsms.ac.uk/living-here

*Students may be asked to move to different halls during the summer period due to event bookings on the campuses. For the University of Brighton this may include moving to halls within the city centre or Moulsecoomb. At the University of Sussex, you will remain on the same campus.

Financial Support for Students starting in 2020*

BSMS care leavers may be entitled to receive the University of Sussex ‘Sussex Bursary’. Read more about the bursary at sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/undergraduate-scholarships. If you have a household income below £25,000 you will automatically receive this bursary.

On top of the Sussex Bursary, students will also be eligible for the following support available:

A package of support comprising:

£2,000 per year of study
Welcome pack worth approximately £150
Sports/leisure membership worth approximately £140 per year.

On graduating you will receive:

Graduation ceremony package worth approximately £150
£500 exit bursary to assist with clothing/travel for interviews.

Students that live on either the University of Brighton or the University of Sussex campus will be eligible for this support.

*Please note: every year university bursaries and support are reviewed so this could vary for students entering after 2020.

Hardship Fund

Care leavers are a priority group in receiving support from the universities’ Hardship Fund*. If during your studies, you unexpectedly experience financial difficulties you can make an appointment with a Money Advisor.

University of Sussex: sussex.ac.uk/studentlifecentre/funding/hardship

University of Brighton - brighton.ac.uk/brighton-students/your-student-life/finances/hardship-funding

*Please note you can only apply to one of the Universities’ Hardship Funds.

Pastoral Support

Once you arrive at BSMS a member of our Student Support Team will be in contact with you to arrange a ‘welcome meeting’ to discuss how you are settling in. They can provide a variety of support whilst you are studying. You can read more about the pastoral support available here: bsms.ac.uk/undergraduate/supporting-your-learning >

Please email Tabitha Ellwood (Student Welfare Advisor) at T.Ellwood@bsms.ac.uk if you have any questions

Useful contacts

BSMS

For support during the application process please contact:
Claire Johnson (Widening Participation and Outreach Manager) - c.johnson2@bsms.ac.uk or tel: 01273 641841

Once you have accepted your place with us, or have arrived with us, please contact:

Tabitha Ellwood (Student Welfare Advisor) – T.Ellwood@bsms.ac.uk.

University of Brighton

If you are considering living on the University of Brighton campus, the following contact will be able to provide you with information and support before you arrive:
Amy Adams (Outreach Officer) - A.R.Adams@brighton.ac.uk or tel: 07792396266.

University of Sussex

If you are considering living on the University of Sussex campus, the following contact will be able to provide you with information and support before you arrive:
Melinda Finn (Retention and Progression Manager) - M.C.Finn@sussex.ac.uk or tel: 01273 678865.

Other support

Below are links to external website that may be able to provide you with support:

Chances for Children: Buttle UK - buttleuk.org

Become: The Charity for Children in Care and Young Care Leavers - becomecharity.org.uk

The Care Leavers Foundation - thecareleaversfoundation.org

Capstone: Care Leavers Trust - capstonecareleaverstrust.org

StandAlone: Supporting People that are Estranged - standalone.org.uk

The Scholarship Hub - thescholarshiphub.org.uk

A group of gowned-up students standing in a dissection session

Entry requirements 2021

Entry requirements for 2021 entry

A-Levels

AAA to include Biology and Chemistry at Advanced Level (excluding general studies and critical thinking). For widening participation applicants we will accept AAB.

Scottish Highers

AAA to include Biology and Chemistry at Advanced Higher Level.

International Baccalaureate

36 points with both Biology and Chemistry at minimum grade 6 at Higher level. For widening participation applicants we will accept 35 points.

All applicants must take the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT).

Full list of qualifications >

FAQ: Entry requirements >

Fitness to Practise >

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)

We require all applicants to sit the BMAT in the year of application in order to be considered for interview.

We feel that BMAT is a fair and transparent method for selecting applicants for interview. We value that it is not only a test of aptitude, but also of knowledge. We believe it is important that applicants are able to demonstrate that they are able to construct a clear argument and present it using a good level of written English; this can be evidenced in Section 3 of the test.

We believe that the BMAT allows applicants to put themselves in the spotlight; if you have the ability and talent to succeed in medicine then the BMAT gives you the perfect opportunity to show us, regardless of your background. We score the BMAT out of 28 (9 marks for Section 1, 9 for Section 2 and 5 marks for each element of Section 3) we then rank all applicants according to their total score out of 28 and work down the rankings to fill our interview places. For 2019 entry, applicants without contextual data who scored 16.1 or above were invited for interview (the cut off score will vary each year).

To help you prepare for the test, BMAT have produced a number of very useful resources including guides to the content of the course and past test papers. We thoroughly recommend that you acquit yourself with the below materials.

Preparing for BMAT

BMAT on the test day

Find out more about BMAT resources >

You are required to register with BMAT assessment centres prior to the test. Please refer to the BMAT website for key dates and additional information. The results of the BMAT will be used to assess each application and will form part of the process to select applicants for interview. BMAT may also be used as a final discriminator if needed after interview.

If you feel that your performance on the day of the test was affected by extenuating circumstances you must apply to BMAT for Special Consideration.

Admissions process

For 2020/21 admission cycle

Your application must be submitted through the UCAS system at ucas.ac.uk. This allows a maximum of four applications to UK medical schools. Applications must reach UCAS by 6pm on 15 October 2020.

Find out more about the admissions process >

University students walking on Falmer campus with the Checkland Building behind

International students

Applicants who are not ordinarily resident in the UK or EU are considered to be international.

Applicants are advised to get in touch with the admissions team directly to see whether they are academically eligible before they apply. All applicants are also required to have grades B in English and maths GSCE, or if English is not their first language an IELTS of 7.0, with a minimum of 7.0 in each component. This must have been achieved within three years of their BSMS enrolment date.

more about entry requirements for international Students >

IT requirements

We strongly recommend that all incoming BSMS students ensure that they bring a suitable laptop computer with them to enable them to make the most of the learning opportunities at BSMS.

Please download our minimum Windows or Mac laptop specfication to find out more.

Download laptop specification >

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Contact details

Undergraduate admissions enquiries

E: MedAdmissions@bsms.ac.uk

T: +44 (0)1273 643528 / 643529 / 641966

Room 333/334, Watson Building, University of Brighton, BN1 9PH