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Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Virtual open day - FAQs

BSMS > Undergraduate > Open days > Virtual Open Day > Virtual open day - FAQs

Virtual open day - FAQs

Find out more information about our entry requirements from our FAQs list below. These are just some of our FAQs, please see our dedicated entry requirements FAQs page below for further information. If your enquiry is not listed below, please feel free to get in touch with the Admissions and Outreach team at virtualopenday@bsms.ac.uk >  

My GCSE results are not all A grades. How will this affect my application?

Applicants to BSMS are not required to have a specific number of GCSEs at grade A or A* / 8 or 9. As long as you have obtained (or are predicted) grades B/6 in GCSE English (English Language or English Literature are accepted) and Maths, this is all that is required at GCSE level. If you have qualifications other than GCSEs, please contact our Admissions Team to confirm if BSMS will accept them as equivalents.

Will you consider me if I am re-sitting my A levels?

Yes, BSMS will consider re-sit applicants. However, due the large number of applications that we receive, we will ordinarily only consider applications from applicants who have slipped a grade in one subject and obtained a grade B (so from A levels AAB/A*AB/A*A*B but predicted grade A in the re-sat subject.  Anyone below grades AAB after two years of study, or who is not predicted a grade A in your re-sit, would only be eligible to apply once receiving grades AAA including Biology and Chemistry after 3 years of study.

Anyone retaking their AS level year can apply if predicted A level grades AAA including Biology and Chemistry. If you do not meet any of these requirements but believe you have exceptional circumstances that affected your A level studies, you may ask us to consider your application on these grounds; however you will still need to be predicted or need to have achieved our entry requirements. If we accept your mitigation we will require formal evidence to support your claim. Please contact medadmissions@bsms.ac.uk in advance of an application to discuss your circumstances.

What work experience do I need?

BSMS does not place requirements on the amount and type of work experience a prospective medical student should have. However, in line with the Medical Schools Council Work Experience Guidelines, we do expect candidates to:

  • have a realistic understanding of medicine and what it means to be a doctor
  • have had some experience of engaging with a wide range of people and understand the realities of a caring profession
  • display some of the skills and attributes essential to be a successful doctor, including teamwork, leadership, good communication skills, resilience and empathy.

How does BSMS use the personal statement?

The personal statement will not be used in the selection process at BSMS.

Can international or EU students apply for the BSMS course?

Yes. Tuition fees for EU-based students are currently the same as for UK-based students.

Read more about international student fees >

I'm over 30. Am I too old to study medicine at BSMS?

No. BSMS does not discriminate on the grounds of age.

Does BSMS accept BTEC Qualifications?

BSMS will accept a Distinction or higher in either a Level 3 Extended BTEC Certificate (grade D) or Extended Diploma (grades DDD), but only in addition to grades A in both Biology and Chemistry A levels. For applicants meeting our contextual data criteria, BSMS will accept at least a Merit or higher in a Level 3 Extended BTEC certificate with grades A in both Biology and Chemistry A levels.

I have declared a disability on my UCAS form - is there anything else I need to do?

If you have declared a disability within your UCAS application your application will be looked at equally alongside other applicants in the admissions process. If you have been invited for an interview and feel you need any reasonable adjustments made in order to accommodate you, please contact medadmissions@bsms.ac.uk as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You must then let us know your requirements via the StudentCentral applicant area at least three days before your interview so that we are able to accommodate your needs.  

What vaccinations do I need before I start my course?

You need to ensure you have documentation and dates for the following:

  • Diphtheria
  • Tetanus
  • Polio
  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Rubella (German Measles)
  • Varicella (Chickenpox)
  • BCG

Either dates of vaccination or a report from a UK laboratory confirming your antibody status on blood testing will be accepted.

Notes:

Male students are not exempt from the requirement to be immunised against Rubella.

Varicella (Chickenpox) - you require a positive history of having the disease and dates, history and dates of vaccination or a UK laboratory report indicating your antibody status.

BCG - Dates of BCG vaccination or documentation with the dates and results of a skin test (heaf or mantoux).

Visit our full FAQs page for more information >

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