BrightIdeas at Brighton and Sussex Medical School: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
BrightIdeas is a free Medical Schools Council pathway programme run by Brighton and Sussex Medical School with Southampton and Surrey for Year 12 students at state schools across England. It runs four online Saturday sessions from February to June, a research project on a chronic condition with a medical student e-mentor, and a four-day residential summer school at BSMS in July. Students who complete it and submit an e-portfolio get a guaranteed interview and an ABB offer at BSMS.
- Closes
- Opens soon
- For
- Year 12 students, medicine
- Where
- England
- Gives you
- Guaranteed interview, then ABB instead of AAA
What you get
Completing BrightIdeas gives you a guaranteed interview and an offer of ABB instead of AAA for medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
- Guaranteed interview at BSMS
- ABB offer including Biology or Chemistry plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics (standard offer AAA, adjusted offer AAB)
- Not part of UKWPMED, and no benefit is published at Southampton or Surrey
- Free, including accommodation and catering, with travel bursaries for the summer school
To get it, you must
- Complete the programme (3 of 4 online sessions, e-mentoring, project, summer school, 3 BSMS lectures, virtual work experience) and submit the e-portfolio within 18 months
- Be predicted ABB including Biology or Chemistry plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics, with GCSE English and Maths at 5, and hold Home fee status
- Sit the UCAT in the year you apply, with SJT band 1 to 3
Who can apply
You need to
- Attend a state school anywhere in England
- Be in Year 12 at a state school in England, with permission to attend the summer school in term time
- Have at least grade 5 in GCSE English and Maths and be on track for the entry grades
Plus at least two of
Care-experienced, or estranged from parents, or refugee or asylum seeker qualifies on its own.
- Care-experienced
- Estranged from parents
- Refugee or asylum seeker
- Low-progression school
- Deprived postcode
- Young carer
- First in family to university
- Free school meals or low household income
What it involves
- Attend 3 of 4 online sessions, the 4-day summer school and 3 BSMS lectures, and complete the project, virtual work experience and e-portfolio
Dates
- Applications open
- Expected October 2026, not yet announced
- Applications close
- Not published, last cycle 30 November 2025
- Programme runs
- Online sessions Feb to Jun 2027 and a 4-day residential in Jul 2027, dates to be confirmed
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the BSMS widening participation to medicine page. It is run by BSMS outreach with Southampton and Surrey, funded by NHS England through the Medical Schools Council. Questions go to outreach@bsms.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does BrightIdeas guarantee an interview?
Yes, if you complete the programme and meet its academic conditions. Guaranteed interview at BSMS.
Who is eligible for BrightIdeas?
Attend a state school anywhere in England. You need to be in Year 12 at a state school in England, with permission to attend the summer school in term time, have at least grade 5 in GCSE English and Maths and be on track for the entry grades, and meet at least two of its widening participation criteria, such as care-experienced, estranged from parents, refugee or asylum seeker.
When is the BrightIdeas deadline?
This cycle's closing date has not been published. Not published, last cycle 30 November 2025. Applications expected October 2026, not yet announced.
What offer do BrightIdeas students get?
Students who complete the programme are made an offer of ABB instead of AAA. ABB offer including Biology or Chemistry plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics (standard offer AAA, adjusted offer AAB)
Not sure this one fits?
The widening participation explorer lists all 60 UK programmes and filters them by where you live, your year group and your background.
Open the explorer