Program Reviews

In September 2021, I started my journey to Brighton for my term abroad. I had a lot of expectations and hopes in my luggage. On the one hand, expectations of what the city of Brighton is like, how the British university system differs from the German university system and the hope of making lots of new friends.
My hopes were exceeded. I met many new friends, travelled together with them and my lecturers in the courses (I attended 4 subjects) supported me at all times.
With the International Office, we went on excursions to museums or explored cities in the surrounding area every week, which promoted the cohesion of our group immensely and was a lot of fun!
In summary, I can only recommend a semester abroad at the University of Brighton! The university and the people are great, the support is always given and the opportunity to go to the sea every day is breathtaking.

My time abroad was one I will never forget due to the amazing people who helped with the journey. We were given everything needed to succeed as students abroad. The university and abroad program were supportive, informative, and energetic. The Brighton team was amazing and you could tell they truly cared about student’s success abroad. The city is also an amazing spot to study in. I always felt safe and never worried for my safety as a woman. I would recommend this city and program to anyone who is interested!!

I loved studying abroad in Brighton! The support and care you get studying at the University is exactly what you need. I never felt overwhelmed because their staff did such a great job at making everyone feel welcomed and wanted. The modules they offered helped you really get to know about England and experience it to its fullest. They encourage you to get to know the people you’re studying with by planning activities during the class period. We went to a bunch of castles and learned about the history of England. The staff also made it easy to plan travel. When we were trying to find places to visit for certain periods of time, they would give the best recommendations that helped us enjoy England and other countries.

Sutdy in Brighton at the University of Brighton was not only an amazing experience but also a learning experience. I met many new people that i will forever consider family. The UoB program leaders always made sure we were all ok and having a fun time which made it feel as if i was more at home. Although I was only in Brighton a semester, i believe I grew there as a person so much faster and better than i ever have before. I could not have ever imagined going anywhere different. I'm proud to say i have an amazing Brighton family and home!

I loved the opportunity to visit so many culturally rich places in East Sussex! The lessons on the Tudors made living in Southern England make so much more sense, as well as made the field trips to places like Hever castle all the more fun. Living on Falmer was a nice change from my home university, and I loved how close it was to the city while maintaining a calm atmosphere. Teachers were helpful, and I feel like I learned a great deal during my time at Brighton. All of the staff is extremely kind and helpful!

I loved every moment of this program! We had so much fun during trips, classes, and everything in between! I have made friendships that I will keep for the rest of my life! I discovered new hobbies, new cultures, and a new lifestyle that I will continue to value for the rest of my life. It was an experience of a lifetime and one that will truly never be forgotten. Thank you so much to Mary for being our mom in Brighton, and to Zoe and Issy for being such a wonderful support system. Thank you truly!

This program has helped me grow as a teacher as well as a person. I was highly challenged yet highly supported during my time teaching and have gathered many resources and strategies that I will bring back with me to America. While the week was busy, I was very grateful for our trips that were sponsored by University of Brighton on the weekends. Those trips allowed me to build strong connections with my peers as well as getting a more in-depth and diverse view of the UK. While I had busy days, I am extremely grateful for the comfort and support given by my host family daily. If it wasn't for them, I truly think this experience would have been harder for me to navigate.

I had an amazing study abroad experience at Brighton. The city of Brighton is plenty big with lots to explore, including the Lanes, the Royal Pavilion, the bars and pubs, the beach, etc., but it has the safe, familiar feel of a small town. Plus, with two large universities nearby, students keep the clubs packed every night of the week! Brighton offered me a great opportunity to see what it's like being a student in Britain without having to be in a huge city like London.

I also got plenty of opportunities to explore outside of Brighton. The study abroad staff at the University of Brighton organized weekend and day trips to destinations around England, including Oxford, Windsor, Stratford-upon-Avon, Stonehenge, Bath, Battle Abbey, Beachy Head, London, and more! The Brighton study abroad staff put a lot of effort into these trips, and I appreciated it immensely because it allowed me to see sites that I never would have been to otherwise.

In terms of living conditions, the housing supplied by University of Brighton is quite nice. We lived in on-campus housing that consisted of 3- to 6-person flats. Each person got their own room and bathroom, and they shared the kitchen/common area with their flatmates. Most study abroad students in my program roomed with other study abroad students. This was nice because we became really close as a group and were able to organize lots of independent trips together; however, it also made it difficult to connect with local students. As such, I'd recommend joining a society (student org) or volunteering in town in order to get more contact with people who actually live in or are from the area.

When I arrived in Brighton almost exactly a year ago, I had never left my home country or lived away from my family / on a college campus before. I was terrified and very homesick at first, but I quickly discovered that Brighton was exactly what I needed: the University of Brighton, and Brighton itself, was a safe yet challenging landscape for me to discover my independence and grow into myself. From the friendly employees of the Park Farm Shop (the farmers market just across the road from the Falmer campus -- DO NOT MISS IT!) to the supportive University of Brighton faculty and staff (especially Mary, Elissa, Zoe, and Becca!), I was humbled by the kindness and generosity of nearly every person I met during my time there. And I still don't know how to put into words the beauty and magic of the city itself -- equal parts cozy and lively, with something to offer for everyone. Brighton's vibrant and colorful charm is one-of-a-kind, and stole my heart from the very first visit.

My experience was unfortunately cut short because of COVID-19, but the seven weeks I spent abroad truly "Brighton"ed my life and I wouldn't change them for the world. I feel so fortunate to have been able to call this city and its people home, and I look forward to returning safely one day in the hopefully-not-too-far-off future.

Studying abroad in Brighton was one of the best decisions I've made. Both the included and optional day and weekend trips are really well planned out, cost effective, and super enjoyable. They were my favorite part of my experience and having so many of them is really unique to this program.

Brighton itself is a really unique and eclectic city that's really focused on its student population from the two nearby universities. There's bus services all throughout town, and a direct train to Gatwick airport that only takes about 45 minutes. There's plenty to do both inside and outside the city!