University of Sussex

Program Reviews

Swan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study Abroad Direct Enroll Semester

A university that embraces students from diverse backgrounds. I come from an Asian university where there is a more conservative culture. I’m pleasantly surprised to see that there are toilets that accommodate to a greater diversity of gender identifiers. Additionally, there is a strong culture that emphasises on students’ well-being. This is very encouraging because it is my first time coming to a school where I feel valued as a student. I appreciate the university very much for that and I recommend others to come as well

Pros
  • Welcoming
  • Beautiful scenery
  • Helpful staff
Cons
  • Wish that there was more food variety served on campus
Response from University of Sussex

Great to hear your positive review Swan. All the best for the future.

Andrea
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My semester abroad at Sussex

Being able to study abroad in the midst of a global pandemic didn’t seem possible after many cancelled applications and I’m forever thankful we were given this opportunity despite everything.

The people of the University of Sussex (staff, teachers and students) make this an unforgettable experience and are there for you every step of the way. I really appreciated having professors from all over the world and meeting people from many different cultures in class, the language cafe or the events hosted by Sussex abroad.

Brighton is an amazing city to live in a a student and the University really makes sure you have all the resources available to have the best living experience.

Pros
  • Beautiful city
  • Lovely and open minded people
  • Excellent academic level
Cons
  • Weather
  • Seagulls haha
  • You won’t want to leave
Response from University of Sussex

It's really great to hear you enjoyed your time at Sussex.

Jesslyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study Abroad at University of Sussex

It was at first difficult to adjust to the academics, my home university grading criteria and Sussex’s is very different or at least I think it is. I didn't get grades that I expected at first but once I started getting feedbacks and discussing more with the tutors it was really helpful. I love how seminars are always interacting, at least for almost all of my class. I love how the students are not afraid to voice their opinions and how the tutors wouldn’t just shoot down ideas. They’ll accept the ideas even if it’s different from their own which I really appreciate and something I didn’t experience in my home university. I love that participation is not a requirement but optional which really makes it feel like it’s all up to us. I wasn’t particularly happy about the strikes because it really messes up some things but I like that the tutors take that into account when assigning assignments and teaching us the materials. Overall, it’s such an amazing experience, like a breath of fresh air.

Pros
  • The tutors who welcome opinions
  • The tutors who encouraged participation
  • The tutors who are very helpful when you needed help for your assignments
Cons
  • The strikes
Response from University of Sussex

Thank you for your review Jesslyn. Hope to see you back here one day!

Yiping
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

excellent exchange program

that was my first time going abroad, everything is new and exciting to me. I need to tackle some daily living and housing problems alone, and using a second language to study is also a huge challenge for me. Luckily, Sussex offers a lot of help to exchange and foreign students, including living and studying. They have some workshops to help foreign students to better learn in English, which is very helpful. Besides, all the students I met there are friendly, they helped me a lot and I made a lot of friends.

Response from University of Sussex

Great to hear that your enjoyed your time at Sussex!

Davide
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Bye Sussex!

My year abroad at the University of Sussex has had an overall life-changing experience that I will carry in my heart for a lifetime. For starters, the quality of the teaching is undeniably high, and, most remarkably, very different from the methodology of my home university. I had the chance to bond with native English speakers and other exchange students from all around the globe, which veritably expanded my cultural views and career preferences.

The facilities offered to students are simply extrabiliant, with the library and the student centre being open 24h. I also subscribed to the gym (there are two on campus), which was a five-minute walk from where I lived.

Brighton and Hove have been an amazing setting, for my adventure. If you enjoy clubbing and nightlife at large, Brighton is your mecca. Moreover, walks in the wild were for me a matter of routine, as the University of Sussex is the only university in the UK to be located in a national park. Going to London was a one-hour train ride, allowing you to get the best of the city life without renouncing the quietness of the countryside, as well as the seaside.

Of course, my stay has also had some drawbacks, which I think the University should address in the future. Eat Central is way too pricey, and overall offers small variations in the menu proposed (I invariably had to go for the burrito). The cost of living, in general, is decidedly high and could be unaffordable for some students. On top of that, I wish that the study abroad office arranged more events for exchange students, especially at the kick-off of the second term.

However, these few downsides do not overshadow the time I had at Sussex, and I am at pains to go back for run back for a visit to see my mates and hang out where now feels like home

Pros
  • Great people
  • Location
  • Library and student centre
Cons
  • Eat Central and Co-op on campus (too expensive and little choice)
  • Bus fares (too expensive)
  • Lack of events for exchange students (especially second term)
Response from University of Sussex

Thank you for your review. It's great to hear that you enjoyed your time with us.

Georgie
3/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Exchange Semester at Sussex

Sussex is an incredible community, however the university itself massively fails it in this way. Built on a colonialist, capitalist and money-hungry leadership team, The University of Sussex does little to make it's exchange students' time easy or enjoyable. The welcome event consisted of drone shots of the pier with no substantial information about healthcare, academic or financial help. The learning style at the university was so very different and less supportive than my home uni. The SU is wonderful though!

Pros
  • Great Student Union with many opportunities for support and community building.
  • Cute campus with nice flowers
  • Brighton is a cool town
Cons
  • No support for academia, no policy for aggregate grades if ill or in berevement.
  • Exchange students are left with little to no information about healthcare, mental health support or how to function in the UK.
  • The University as an institution is all show and no substance.
Response from University of Sussex

Hi Georgie
Thanks for your review, and I'm really sorry that your experience didn't match your expectations. We like to learn from all feedback and make changes where necessary, so it's helpful to receive it.
We try not to duplicate too much information in our presentations that is best kept current on the University's Student Hub website, but we will review our content in our presentations to see how we can signpost this information better, as we agree that ensuring students know about the various student support services and facilities is essential.
Thanks again!

Cameron
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sussex Uni Straight Talk

My experience at Sussex University was absolutely delightful. Not only was the educational aspect very stimulating, it was also noticeably different than my university back home. The greater emphasis on collaboration and interaction between students was quite refreshing, as I believe that the more discussion and comparing of ideas regarding the subject matter is the key to understanding the material. Additionally, the social aspect of the university and of Brighton was unprecedented. The nightlife culture was like nothing I had ever seen, and it was very easy to make new friends around campus to enjoy these times with. I have made international friends that I will never forget and be sure to keep in contact with, for I travelled around Europe with them by my side. My time at Sussex, and in England in general, was undoubtedly the greatest experience of my life thus far.

Pros
  • The educational structure
  • The nightlife
  • The English people as a whole
Cons
  • I couldn't stay longer
Response from University of Sussex

Thanks so much – we’re glad you enjoyed your experience!

Blanca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My year abroad

My experience at theUniversity of Sussex was amazing. I’ve tried to make the most of my year abroad by making friends from all over the world, visiting a lot of different places and also learning about what i want to become in the future. The possibilites that the city of brighton gives you are many, from having a fun time with friends in the attractions of the pier to a cultural visit to the royal pavillion. I don’t have enough words to express how i’ve felt during this year and all what i’ve experienced. I’m so glad I chose University of Sussex and Brighton for my study abroad, I can’t wait to come back.

Pros
  • Atmosphere
  • Party
  • Beach
Cons
  • Prices
  • Weather
Response from University of Sussex

So glad you enjoyed your time at Sussex Blanca.

Jaclyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life at Sussex

I really liked going to the University of Sussex! The school and professors are great, and I loved the city of Brighton because it's so close to the Uni, and is a lovely seaside English town. I was only there for a semester, but still felt like a part of the school and of the community. The school had a lot of events from Study Abroad students, like language cafes, roller disco, pub quizzes, and much more. The student housing that I was in (East Slope) was a great building, and had lots of common areas.

Response from University of Sussex

Thank you for your review Jaclyn.

Jessica
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience at Sussex!

When I was a college fresher, everyone who went abroad told me it was one of the best experiences they had in college. Now, coming back from my own adventure abroad, I understand the sentiment completely, and would recommend it to anyone. My experience was unique because I was alone in a new country, but I quickly found people with which to explore it. The people I met opened my eyes to other individuals and cultures, and this sense of open-mindedness is a valuable trait I will hold forever. Go!

Pros
  • Amazing, small, close-knit campus
  • Vibrant young-adult nightlife
  • Rigorous academics
Cons
  • Eat Central had strange hours
  • Everything closes at 6pm
  • The co-op is incredibly expensive
Response from University of Sussex

It's great to hear you enjoyed your time at Sussex.