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Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Information for aspiring medics, schools and parents/carers

BSMS > About BSMS > Information for schools, teachers and parents

Information for aspiring medics, schools and parents/carers

BSMS is committed to offering accurate and detailed information, advice and guidance to those who require it. 

Our nationally recognised widening participation programmes and outreach work provides students with valuable insights into studying medicine. Through every workshop, we strive to impart knowledge and instill confidence in students enabling them to make an informed and competitive application to medical school. 

At BSMS, our widening participation initiatives are designed to inspire and support talented people, from backgrounds not traditionally seen in medicine. Ensuring tomorrow’s doctors are more representative of the patient population.  Students invited to participate in our programme will need to meet at least two of the below criteria. Priority will be given to those who fulfil more of the criteria:

  • Currently in, or have been in, the care of a local authority
  • Care for someone at home with a long-term illness or disability (with Young Carer Registration)
  • Are in receipt or Disability Living Allowance and/or have an education, health and care plan (EHCP)
  • Are eligible for free school meals or a 16-19 college bursary
  • Are eligible for any other means-tested benefit (Universal Credit)
  • Live in a low participation neighbourhood (POLAR4 data)
  • Live in a deprived neighbourhood according to Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) data (Lowest 20%)
  • Is attending or has attended an underperforming state school (GCSE national average)

Please note the criteria for our widening participation programmes are different to our contextual data admissions criteria. To see if you 'qualify' for a reduced entry offer, please visit our Entry Requirements Page > 

Our outreach activities and resources, however, are accessible to all*

For more information about both our widening participation and outreach work, please see the links to the left. If you have any questions on any of the programmes we run or would like further specific details, please contact the Outreach Team on outreach@bsms.ac.uk   

*school/college visits are subject to staff availability

Online resources

The Medical Schools Council has produced a significant number of informative online resources to support students in their applications to medical school. These resources have been produced in conjunction with admissions tutors from a number of UK medical schools, including BSMS.

View Medical Schools Council resources >

Admissions team,l to r: Claire Johnson, Charlotte Smyrk, Darren Beaney, Alice Long and Matt Cowdock
Brightmed students

Widening participation to medicine 

Discover more about our widening participation to medicine programmes. 

read more about widening participation >

Students sitting in lecture

Outreach activities for schools and colleges

Are you a teacher or careers advisor? Browse the activities and workshops we offer to school and college groups.

Read more about our outreach >

BrightMed students simulating a hospital situation with female patient

Outreach activities and resources for all

Explore our online work experience or book yourself onto one of our public lectures.

READ MORE about our activities >

Three students in the cafe

Virtual Open days

With our Virtual Open Day, you can take an in-depth look at every phase of our Medicine course as well as tour our campuses, view our accommodation and gain insight of what life is like at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. 

Read more about virtual open days >

Outreach team newsletters and student profiles

Read the latest newsletters and student profiles from Brighton and Sussex Medical School's Outreach Team, which include a range of views and resources relevant to applying to medical school. You can also sign up to our mailing list.

Read updates >

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