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Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Supporting your learning

BSMS > Undergraduate > Supporting your learning

Supporting your learning

Here at BSMS we support your learning in a range of ways.

Our modern teaching and learning spaces include lecture theatres and seminar rooms at both the University of Brighton and University of Sussex campuses as well as the Royal Sussex County Hospital’s Audrey Emerton building. We also have clinical learning spaces and laboratories, so you can develop your skills in a fully equipped, up-to-date environment.

Our IT and learning resources will support your learning, from PCs to blended learning provision using mobile devices. We have created innovative online content to develop your knowledge and learning throughout your five years with us, including online case based scenarios and podcasts.

At BSMS, you can take your pick from a number of different libraries. As a medical school student, you will have equal access to the resources from two university libraries, as well as the three libraries belonging to the Brighton and Sussex Universities Hospitals Trust, and libraries of our other NHS partners.

Medicine is a challenging course, and we believe it is important to ensure the right level of student support is available if you need it. From student support coordinators to tutors and student representatives you can be sure of getting the help you need.

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Our teaching and learning facilities

Phase 1

In Phase 1 your academic and clinical studies will be based primarily at the Brighton and Sussex University campuses at Falmer:

BSMS Teaching Building, University of Sussex, Falmer Campus

Facilities: Lecture theatre, dedicated PC suite, teaching/seminar rooms, dissection room, café

Watson Building, University of Brighton, Falmer campus

Facilities: Lecture theatre, PC suite, teaching/seminar rooms, clinical skills suite, café

The purpose-built teaching facilities for medicine at Falmer provide a modern anatomy laboratory, tutorial and seminar rooms, lecture theatres, clinical science laboratories and IT resource suites.

Fully equipped consultation rooms, identical to those in GP surgeries, and hospital out patients departments, provide a setting in which to learn history-taking and examination. These are sited close to a clinical skills training area, which also houses an advanced patient simulator, computer-controlled to represent normal and abnormal physiology and a realistic response to drugs.

 

Phase 2

In Phase 2 you will be based across three locations in and around Brighton:  

Sussex Education Centre, Mill View Hospital, Hove

Facilities: Lecture and seminar rooms, IT facilities and library

Euan Keat Education Centre, Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath

Facilities: Lecture theatre, seminar rooms

Audrey Emerton Building, Royal Sussex County Hospital, central Brighton

Facilities: Lecture theatre, seminar rooms, clinical skills rooms, library, restaurant

The centre provides comprehensive learning facilities, including a fully stocked medical library, computer suites, pathology facilities, a clinical skills training area, teaching rooms for large and small group study and a top floor restaurant with panoramic sea views.

You will undertake a variety of clinical placements, mainly at the Royal Sussex, but extending into other trust and primary care settings.

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Our IT and learning resources

Today’s doctors need to be confident and skilled in the effective use of information technology. Your degree will include training in computer literacy, information management, maintaining electronic patient records and the principles of bioinformatics.

Computing services staff will provide access to IT training, from beginners’ courses to specialist tuition, and advice is also available online, at help desks and by phone. Wherever you are during your course – on campus or on clinical placement – you will never be far from a computer.

Our web-based virtual learning environment, StudentCentral, provides you with essential access to digital learning resources and study support tools. This enables lecturers to post presentations online, along with lecture recordings and direct links to the online library system. A wide range of digital learning resources, including videos, quizzes, interactive cases and case-based tutorials, are also provided.

Use of mobile devices is encourage to support learning, such as the CAPSULE clincial cases quiz app and an iPad anatomy interface in the dissection lab.

Virtual microscopy allows active evaluation of microscopic anatomy and pathology in lectures, helping provide a full perspective on a patient's illness, and can be accessed for further study or revision through StudentCentral via your PC, tablet or mobile device.

All university campuses and hospital sites have computer clusters (most with Wi-Fi) providing connections to both the university and hospital networks, ensuring you are always in touch with your learning resources.

A web-based online learning programme will continue to develop your understanding of the clinical sciences during your regional attachments.

Here at BSMS, we see IT as a tool, which enables and promotes effective learning and healthcare delivery to patients. 

Libraries

Our staff and students have access to the libraries of the University of Sussex, University of Brighton and the Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. 

University libraries are located at Falmer and the NHS libraries are at the Royal Sussex County Hospital (Brighton), The Sussex Education Centre (Hove) and the Princess Royal Hospital (Haywards Heath).

The libraries are well equipped with a full range of resources (printed and electronic), study spaces, individual and group workrooms and computer suites. They also offer evening and weekend opening hours.

Students study in the library

You will be provided with help in using the libraries throughout your time with us, including induction sessions, information skills teaching and individual advice on locating source material. Leaflets and self-help guides are also available and our information service teams can provide on-the-spot help in using electronic information sources.

Further information, resources, guidance and catalogues can be found on our library webpages. 

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Student support

Medicine is a demanding course physically, intellectually and emotionally. During your five years here, you may experience problems with which you need help. But there is no need to struggle alone.

We aim to provide you with a friendly, supportive environment in which to learn and develop – academically, professionally, socially and personally. BSMS has a student support team to ensure you receive all the help you need. Medical facilities and counselling services are also available.

So, if you encounter personal pressures such as family worries, social difficulties or study problems, you can seek help from a whole range of professionals.

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Nina Dodd

"Student support staff are here to help
throughout your time at BSMS, providing a supportive space to talk through any issues you may
be facing."

- Nina Dodd, Student Welfare Advisor

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The Mindfulness Project

At BSMS, we’re aware that many students can become stressed by the intensity of a medical degree as well as observing very sick patients for the first time.

In response, all of our students, from the first year right through to the last, are required to attend a series of lectures aimed at supporting medical students undertaking a demanding course.

BSMS supports students in various ways and these lectures are to be seen as additional to existing support provided by the medical school. We feel that these lectures are very important to all students and therefore we expect all students to attend. There is no doubt that you will all learn something to help you progress through the course successfully.

Types of student support

Find out more information about the different types of support available to our students by selecting an option from the list below.

lecture theatre Juliet and students 2015

Academic tutors

Your academic tutor will be your academic advisor throughout your first two years, encouraging you to set your own learning goals and advising you on your academic progress. They will lead your weekly tutorials during the first term and ensure that you develop the necessary study skills.

In your third year you will be allocated a clinical academic tutor who will provide on-going academic support. They will talk you through the difficult clinical and ethical issues that every aspiring doctor will encounter, and support your academic progression into foundation training.

Student support team

Our three student welfare advisors are dedicated, non-academic staff available in each year of study, for you to discuss any problems that may affect you – personal issues, financial difficulties, health issues and more. They offer confidential listening and advice, and can help alleviate any impact on your studies. They can also identify specialist support if necessary, and put you in touch with other support services in the universities. Working closely with the director and deputy directors of Student Support, they ensure that students’ welfare is addressed in all aspects of school life.

Subdeans

Clinical subdeans are on hand at each training hospital to provide you with advice and guidance during your Year 5 clinical attachments away from the main medical school. Inevitably, a small minority of students will encounter difficulties they are unable to resolve or will find their studies interrupted by exceptional circumstances. In such an event, subdeans will liaise with the student support team.

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Student representatives

Each year BSMS students elect student representatives. These are current students from all years who sit on the key decision-making bodies to nfluence life at BSMS and liaise with staff on their fellow students' behalf.

Financial support

The University of Brighton's Student Advice Service offers useful information and advice on applications for additional sources of income (student support fund), advice on money management and debt counselling.

Read more about financial advice >

Disability and learning support

We welcome applications from students with disabilities. Services providing advice, guidance, and personal and academic support are available to you. These include individual and group learning support for students with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties.

To find our more email: disability@brighton.ac.uk

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Health services

The universities' medical centres provide medical care under the NHS and students also have access to a dentist and pharmacist. All students are required to register with a local GP.

Welfare and advice

Welfare services offer information, advice and support on a range of welfare matters including financial, emotional, practical, benefits, academic and consumer issues.

Students' unions

Both universities' students' unions run a full range of political, environmental, leisure and social activities. They also offer a range of clubs and societies, which represent, support and promote the interests of students from different faiths and backgrounds. Staff can also offer trained advice and representation on issues from money and health to housing.

Personal counselling

The personal counselling services provide a safe, confidential environment for students to discuss worries and concerns with qualified and experienced counsellors.

Chaplaincies

Support and friendship are offered by the universities' chaplaincies, which aim to help students – of any faith or none – to enjoy and enrich their time here. The chaplains organise group activities and worship; they can put students in touch with local places of worship and interested groups. They are also available for confidential advice or consultation.

Childcare facilities

Both university sites offer limited childcare provision. Since places cannot be guaranteed, creche and nursery applications should be made at an early stage.