Academic Focus
This program is specifically designed to give North American pre-med students the opportunity to gain international experience while still meeting the pre-requisites needed for medical school. The University of Sussex recognizes that it is difficult for the pre-med student to study abroad while meeting all of their requirements for graduation. However, they also know that med schools are looking for well-rounded candidates and study abroad is looked upon favorably on medical school applications. This program was put together with both of these things in mind: to help you get international experience and to keep your studies on track. By choosing courses from a wide range of electives in subjects such as Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Mathematics you can earn credit towards your required prerequisite courses. Most courses are taught by a faculty member with experience teaching the same course in North America and follow an American text book. These courses can be taken in conjunction with liberal arts courses, allowing you to also gain credit towards your major or minor. As part of this program you will be assigned a Sussex Pre-Med Advisor, as well as take a specifically designed seminar course on the British National Health Service.
CEA students studying at the University of Sussex for the spring semester will take classes during both the spring and summer terms. Together these terms will allow students to take a schedule of classes totaling 72 University of Sussex credits, earning up to 18 US credits. Courses offered at the University of Sussex vary in credit and range from 6 to 60 credits depending on the length of the course. While most spring students take four to five courses, the actual number of courses in your schedule will vary based on the credit value of the courses you choose. Contact hours for each course vary and may be comprised of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Remember, it is up to the discretion of your academic advisor how many credits will be awarded.
Schedule Summary
Science Based Courses: Teaching in science and technology has three main elements: lectures, tutorials and other forms of learning support (e.g. problem-based classes and workshops), and laboratory work. Lectures provide the basic course information, which you then develop under the guidance of your tutors. Tutorials are compulsory gatherings of a small group of undergraduates and a member of faculty, for which work is set and discussed and ideas are elaborated and explored.
If you select courses from level (year) 1, you may have up to three tutorials a week. In level (year) 2 and 3 courses, as students become more experienced and independent, the number of tutorials is reduced and increasing use is made of seminars, workshops, exercise-based classes and project work, although individual tutor-undergraduate contact is retained.
The University of Sussex considers that active involvement in research benefits undergraduate teaching. Most members of faculty are involved in both teaching and research, and visiting students sometimes have an opportunity to engage in project work that brings them into direct contact with cutting-edge work in their field.
Regardless of whether or not you are taking art or science based courses, it is important that you know that the emphasis at Sussex is on independent study, and to make a success of your time you need to be both enthusiastic and self-disciplined in your work. The system is demanding, but once you adapt you will find the challenge it provides both stimulating and rewarding.*
Registration
You will be required to submit your course selections and alternates to the CEA headquarter office prior to departure for England. This will allow you to be pre-approved by the departments and/or lecturers for entry into your chosen courses. We strongly encourage you to take care in choosing your courses as registration is considered final prior to your arrival. If you are able to make changes upon arrival, you must complete this approval process on your own and it may be more difficult than you are used to. Students studying for the spring semester will choose a schedule of classes worth 72 University of Sussex credits. The number of classes you choose will depend on the credit value for each course. There are no required courses. To aid in the registration process, it is in your best interest to have courses, including alternates, approved by your academic advisor prior to departure.
To learn more about course requirements for your particular session as well as information regarding your host institution, you may click on the appropriate links above.
*Used with permission by the University of Sussex
