Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM)

History: Opened in 2001. BIMM House opened in September 2009 with comprehensive new facilities. BIMM Bristol opened in 2005. Acquired Tech Music School London (TMS) in 2005. Sister college, BIMM Dublin, also opened in 2005, and BIMM Manchester opens in September 2013.

Address: The border between Brighton and Hove. There are faculties and music facilities in every corner of Brighton; BIMM students are always in walking distance of the town’s thriving musical culture.

Ambience: The atmosphere is friendly, encouraging, and energetic. All styles of modern music are catered for. Brighton was chosen as the flagship faculty because of its vibrant music and arts scene, availability of gigs, studios, record labels and artists; it’s also great to be by the sea.

Who's the boss? Vaseema Hamilton is the principal. As well as an extensive teaching and curriculum development background, Vaseema has over 15 years experience as a manager in creative and performing arts education.

Prospectus: 0844 2 646 666; or order a prospectus here.

UCAS code: B39

what you need to know

Easy to get into? BIMM’s BA (Hons) course in Professional Musicianship has a minimum entry requirement of five GCSEs at C or above (including English), plus two A-levels at Grade E, or an equivalent Level 3 vocational qualification. Musicians are expected to have Grade 6 equivalency playing skills.

Foundation degrees: BIMM offers foundation degrees and diplomas in most of their major courses.

Vital statistics: BIMM East boasts a 700 square foot ground floor live performance room, and 20 Apple workstations with Protools 8 LE and internet connectivity. BIMM West is an 8200 sq ft building in Hove's Brunswick Street. It has nine teaching rooms, a student common room, and is the hub of BIMM Brighton’s activities.

Added value: BIMM is run by musicians for musicians. Its founders and tutors have scored multiple Top 10 hits, number one albums, sold millions of albums, managed highly successful artists and won BRIT Awards through their various projects.

Teaching: BIMM’s tutors have stadium level touring and multi-platinum hit record experience. They regularly contribute to the national music press in journals such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar Techniques, Rhythm, Guitar Buyer, Bass Magazine, Acoustic Magazine and Music Week.

Research: BIMM hosts a number of high profile masterclasses; past contributors have included Michael Eavis, Paul Weller, Roger Daltry, Jeff Beck, Beverly Knight, and Lemmy.

Any accommodation? BIMM does not have its own halls. However, students are put in contact with an accommodation officer who helps to place you in shared accommodation with other students.

Cheap to live there? A room in a shared house near the town centre averages at £110 per week.

Transport links: BIMM is located on the seafront at the border between Brighton and Hove. All its facilities are walking distance from Brighton town centre. There are national rail links both in Brighton and Hove (Brighton or Hove to London Victoria is approx 50 minutes). It is accessible from the A27 to the east and west. The A23 provides a road link from the north.

Fees: BA (Hons) courses cost around £5,750, but some vary.

Bursaries: Every year BIMM has the privilege of being able to offer a very limited amount of scholarships and bursaries to talented and dedicated applicants who are in need of financial assistance and support.

the fun stuff

Nightlife: Brighton has one of the best live music scenes in the country. Music is part of its lifeblood from the buskers, to local gigs, to venues that host touring international groups.

Glittering alumni: BIMM sees a number of its alumni going into the music industry each year. Success stories include the first BRIT male winner in the Critics’ Choice category, Tom Odell, The Kooks, Beth Rowley, Kate Nash, Ben Thompson of Two Door Cinema Club, BGT finalist Sam Kelly, The Xcerts, Kelly Barnes: Beverly Knight, The Noisettes, and many more.