Brighton & Sussex Medical School - In Depth

Founded: 2002

Structural features: A partnership between Brighton and Sussex universities. Clinical teaching at the Royal Sussex County Hospital (new medical education centre) and within the University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Site: Falmer, 4 miles from Brighton town centre (Years 1-2); Brighton (Royal Sussex County Hospital, Years 3-4); various teaching hospitals in the South East (Year 5).

How to get there: Falmer site close to station; buses and trains from Brighton. Royal Sussex County Hospital well served by buses.

Academic features: Integration of academic and clinical aspects of course throughout course. Small group teaching (both academic and clinical). Developing new access to medicine course.

Awarding body: Joint award by Brighton and Sussex universities.

Main undergraduate awards: BM BS.

Length of courses: 5 years.

Library & information services: Libraries at Falmer site and at Medical Education Centre (Brighton), both with study places, work rooms and IT suites; extended access hours. Library inductions, self-help guides. IT support staff and advice online, at library help desks and by phone. Large number of PC clusters on site (some with 24-hour access); dedicated medical suites, on campus and in clinical sites, all linked to campus network giving access to information sources eg library catalogues, medical school e-learning resources and internet.

Study abroad: Year 4 elective normally taken overseas.

Student advice & services: All students have personal and academic tutors. Medical and counselling services on campus including psychologists and psychotherapists. Welfare and pastoral support including chaplaincies and creche/nursery. Students Union provides help on eg loans, accommodation, benefits.

Amenities: Grocery shops, catering outlets, launderette, bookshop, banks, cash dispensers, post office.

Sporting facilities: Sports halls, fitness rooms, dance studios, squash and tennis courts, soccer and rugby pitches, floodlit artificial turf pitches, sauna and solarium plus many facilities of city.

Accommodation: All first years who apply are in university accommodation, all self-catering; for details see Brighton University and Sussex University. Private rented accommodation for 4 years, but hospital accommodation for on-call duties.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £6400 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by medical school.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). No international students at present.