Study Abroad in Brighton, England at University of Sussex

Study Abroad in Brighton, England at University of Sussex

4.62 · 141 reviews
Location
  • England
    • Brighton
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Direct Enrollment
University
University of Sussex
Degree Level
Bachelors Masters PhD.
Housing
Dormitory Host Family
Language
English

Pricing

$15,750
Price Details
Autumn / Spring semester: £11,750

Full year: £23,500
What's Included
Some Activities Classes
Jun 12, 2026
Jul 26, 2026
55 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Study abroad in Brighton, one of the UK's most vibrant student cities, with a semester or year abroad at the University of Sussex. Located beside the South Downs National Park and minutes from the seafront, Sussex combines academic excellence with an outstanding student experience.

Choose from more than 1,000 classes across nearly 30 subject areas and build a programme that fits your interests while earning credits towards your degree at a leading UK university.

Brighton is famous for its beaches, festivals, arts scene and inclusive culture. Central London is just over an hour away by train, and Gatwick Airport is only 30 minutes from campus.

Students value Sussex for its supportive teaching, international community and memorable student life. If you're looking for a semester or year abroad in England, Sussex offers the ideal mix of academic choice, global connections and life in a dynamic seaside city. Join students from over 150 countries and experience life at Sussex!!

Program Highlights

  • Ranked the happiest university in the UK in the Unifresher Happiest Universities 2026 Guide.
  • Constantly ranked among the top universities in the world. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 placed Sussex 201-250th in the world overall.
  • Sussex is ranked in the top 10 universities in the UK for Brighton's diverse nightlife (pubs, clubs and music venues) and political activities.
  • Over 1,000 top-tier classes to choose from - Sussex is known for its Humanities and Social Sciences field, with its Development Studies program being placed at number 1 globally in the QS World University Ranking.
  • Home of Premier League football team Brighton & Hove Albion

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

The University of Sussex offers comprehensive support for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) students through various initiatives, resources, and student organizations. These efforts aim to create an inclusive and equitable campus environment, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment for BIPOC individuals within the university community.
The University of Sussex is committed to providing robust support for LGBTQIA+ students, creating a safe and inclusive campus environment. Through its dedicated LGBTQ+ society, counselling services, and educational programs, the university works to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. These efforts contribute to a vibrant and respectful community that celebrates LGBTQIA+ individuals and their contributions.
We offer comprehensive support for neurodivergent students, recognizing the unique strengths and challenges they bring to the academic community. Through its Disability and Dyslexia Support team, specialized accommodations, and tailored resources, the university ensures that neurodivergent students can access an inclusive and accommodating learning environment. By promoting awareness, providing assistive technologies, and fostering a culture of understanding, Sussex strives to empower neurodivergent individuals to excel in their academic pursuits.
The University of Sussex is dedicated to ensuring accessibility for all students, offering a range of support services to accommodate diverse needs. With a commitment to inclusivity, the university provides accessible facilities, assistive technologies, and personalised accommodations through its Accessibility Services team. These efforts contribute to an environment where every student can fully participate in academic and extracurricular activities, promoting equal opportunities and fostering a sense of belonging for all members of the university community.

Impact 🌎

We are deeply committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship, actively integrating eco-friendly practices into its operations, curriculum, and campus development. Through initiatives such as sustainable transportation options, waste reduction programs, and renewable energy projects, the university strives to minimise its ecological footprint. By engaging students, faculty, and staff in sustainability efforts, Sussex creates a culture of environmental responsibility that prepares future leaders to address global challenges.
The University of Sussex places a strong emphasis on ethical impact by fostering a culture of social responsibility and ethical awareness among its students and staff. Through interdisciplinary research, community engagement, and partnerships with ethical organizations, the university addresses pressing societal issues and seeks innovative solutions for a more just and sustainable world. By integrating ethics into academic programs and encouraging critical thinking, Sussex aims to empower individuals who are equipped to make positive ethical contributions to society.

Popular Programs

Students in lecture theatre

The University of Sussex has one of the UK's largest schools of Psychology, with specialists in every area of psychology. Our faculty has been recognised for their outstanding teaching & we have over 40 classes to choose from.

The School has approximately 600 m2 of laboratory space, well equipped to support the needs of research groups, and an extensive range of general facilities, including 18 cubicles (for individual testing) and a large room used for the simultaneous testing of groups.

Students in campus building

Sussex's School of Global Studies offers over 60 modules for students in the world-ranked disciplines of Development (1st globally) and IR (world top 100).

You will learn from experts making a difference across the world who are committed to social justice and challenging global inequality, addressing the most pressing global issues of our time – global inequalities & justice, climate/environmental change, war & peace.

About University of Sussex

University of Sussex
University of Sussex Logo
City
Brighton
Students:
17,300
Year Founded:
1959
International Students:
5,000

The University of Sussex is a leading research-intensive university near Brighton. We have both an international and local outlook, with staff and students from more than 100 countries and frequent engagement in community activities and services. Sussex was the first of the new wave of UK universities founded in the 1960s, receiving its Royal Charter in 1961.

Program Reviews

4.62 Rating
based on 141 reviews
  • 5 rating 63.83%
  • 4 rating 34.04%
  • 3 rating 2.13%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.05
  • Support 4.3
  • Fun 4.55
  • Housing 3.8
  • Safety 4.6
Showing 1 - 8 of 141 reviews
Teodor
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sussex and Brighton

Sussex University and Brighton will always have a place in my heart. I had quite difficult classes but my teachers and classmates always helped me understand the materials better when needed. Then, socially, meeting other exchange students and classmates, really made my experience one of the best. No one is judgemental and everyone is so open, you can truly be yourself while immersing in a hardworking academic environment. I love Brighton and US. I would not however recommend a specific housing accommodation on campus, namely Norwich house. We paid significantly high amount of money for rent and we were not satisfied at all. I will not go into details here because this is not the purpose, however, the management of the housing, made it very hard for us to be able to recommend future students living on campus.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Enjoy one of the most open minded cities and people you’ll ever meet.
Pros
  • Academic support
  • Close friendships
  • Safety
Cons
  • Poor housing
  • Not amazing weather
  • Quite expensive
1 person found this review helpful.
Response from University of Sussex

Thank you for your review Teodor. We will look into the point raised regarding your housing to prevent this occuring in future.

samantha
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best thing I could've done

Insane experience and could not recommend more. You make a bunch of international friends, experience education in another country, and can hop on a train to get to another country. I found the modules at Sussex engaging and relevant to my future job. The course load was manageable (much less work than my home uni) and allowed for constant travelling (uni is fairly close to gatwick airport). Sussex is a very international student friendly place, in all of my classes there was a bunch of exchange students. All of the clubs and sports teams had activites and pubcrawls, which really gets you involved in the pubbing culture. Brighton is a vibrant place that is worth the visit.

2 people found this review helpful.
Response from University of Sussex

Thanks Samantha. Great to hear that you managed to explore so much in your time at Sussex.

Olivia
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My semester abroad!

My exchange abroad was a really great time in which I met so many new people who gave me new perspectives in different ways. In school we had a lot of different seminars and workshops which gave me insights I’m bringing with me home, and outside of school I got to meet both exchange students and British people from my corridor and in my volleyball team. It’s very exciting to get to know someone with a whole different childhood and culture, you realize there’s so much more to learn. The university also hosted a lot of different events for bringing the students together, which I appreciated! The societies also offered a wide range of social activities for free or a small sum, which was a great way to get to know new people. After this exchange I also feel more comfortable in speaking English, or at least confident that I’m able to show my personality in a different language than my first language. That opens up a whole new world of opportunities!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
English breakfast! Not a fan, but a fun experience:)
Pros
  • Improved English
  • International friends
  • Personal growth
Cons
  • Poor living conditions
  • Rainy weather
  • Having to leave your friends at the end
2 people found this review helpful.
Response from University of Sussex

Thanks for the review Olivia. We really enjoyed watching your video!

Wilma
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best time of my life

My exchange at University of Sussex has been one of the best experiences of my life! Not only did I grow as a person, but I also made memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. I wouldn’t trade my exchange experience for anything in the world.

I also had the opportunity to take creative courses that aren’t offered at my home university, and they were incredibly enjoyable. They made me realize that the creative field is where I truly want to build my career.

Brighton is an amazing city as well, it’s the perfect size, and the people are so friendly. I felt at home from the very beginning. Another huge plus was how well the university looked after us exchange students. There were so many fun activities at the start of the semester, which made it easy to meet people and make friends.

I will always be grateful for my exchange experience at University of Sussex!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
What surprised me the most was how beautiful Brighton really is. The beauty of the city and the fact that it truly is a seaside city exceeded my expectations. My friends and I spent many evenings at the beach, and when the weather got warmer, we even spent entire days there. It was absolutely wonderful and something I didn’t know about before moving here!
Pros
  • The people I met
  • The education
  • The city itself
Cons
  • The weather
2 people found this review helpful.
Response from University of Sussex

Thanks for your review of your time at Sussex Wilma, and for the amazing pictures.

Mariona
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

More Than Just an Education

Coming to Sussex was not only academically enriching, but it also gave me the opportunity to meet students from all over the world as well as local British students!

The University of Sussex and the city of Brighton offer so many exciting activities and things to do, making it easy to get involved and make the most of your time here.
I would highly recommend joining a society. Whether it's the Walking Society, where you can explore the beautiful South Downs and enjoy the stunning natural surroundings, or Pilates to unwind, stay active, and meet new people, there is something for everyone.

I also really enjoyed the content of my modules. The lecturers were incredibly supportive, and the seminars were engaging and interactive.

When it comes to housing, it can be a little tricky, as it really depends on your preferences and what makes you feel most comfortable. I chose to live off campus in a shared flat with local students. While some of them certainly taught me a few lessons in patience, others showed me their favourite spots around Brighton and introduced me to their friends. I was really lucky! Living with local students gave me a genuine insight into British life and made my experience even more memorable.

Overall, my time at Sussex has been an incredibly rewarding academic and personal experience. I have made lifelong friends, grown both academically and personally, and created memories that I will always cherish.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Overall, I wouldn't change anything about this experience. Even the more challenging moments shaped the experience in being what it is today. If I could give my past self one piece of advice, it would be not to take things so personally. People come and go, and that's a natural part of life. Stay true to yourself, and don't be afraid to be honest and open about how you feel. An exchange goes by so fast! If you appreciate someone or enjoy having them in your life, tell them! You never know how much it might mean to them.
Pros
  • Independence
  • Friendliness of people and British culture
  • Getting to know yourself in new situations
Cons
  • Cost of living
  • Quality of food
  • Weather
4 people found this review helpful.
Response from University of Sussex

Thank you for your review Mariona. Great to hear about how much you enjoyed your time with us!

Zoe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Adventure of a lifetime

If you are looking to travel, be close to a super cool city, and have ease of getting elsewhere in the UK look no further than Univeristy of Sussex. I can not rave about the location of this university enough. As a student coming from the US, Sussex was perfectly situated for me to experience the UK by public transport as well as a nice closed off campus surrounded by natural beauty. The ease of the busses and trains and the proximity to Gatwick airport made travel into Brighton, London, and greater Europe so easy. Sussex offered many interesting classes and the unique opportunity to learn in a new country surrounded by a diverse student body.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
One day I borrowed a bike from campus and rode into Brighton. I was nervous to ride alongside big double decker buses and on a highway but I’m glad I did it. It was so much fun.
Pros
  • Location
  • Social scene
  • Public transportation
Cons
  • Lack of communication from administration
4 people found this review helpful.
Annabelle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best semester yet!

I had the best time during my study abroad experience at the University of Sussex during the Autumn semester of 2025. I have made great friendships with other exchange students and have made a home away from home which I will always cherish. If you are looking to undertake a university exchange, I cannot recommend Sussex enough! Brighton is an amazing city closeby to the campus, and London is just a train ride away. The campus itself is very green and surrounded by the beautiful Stanmer National park so is a perfect choice for nature lovers.

51 people found this review helpful.
Response from University of Sussex

Thanks for the review Annabelle. Great to hear how you enjoyed exploring Brighton & the Downs.

Carmen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The time of my life

During the time I spent in Sussex, I was happier than I have ever been. The classes were interesting, great teachers, and good vibes with my classmates. But for me, the people that I want to hold on to are my flatmates and a few other friends, who spent more time in my flat than in theirs at the end of the day. The friendships that I made in Sussex are so special. All the things we experienced together make them irreplaceable. It was tough leaving my family and everyone I love at home, but it was even tougher to come back.

But definitely an experience that I will always want to repeat, and grateful that I had the chance to experience.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
For me, the most surprising thing I did was not related to any particular place, but with myself. After a lot of time struggling with anxiety and having a lot of fears, going to study at Sussex made me heal so much that I found myself in so many situations that I would never have imagined I would be. Taking planes, trips, trains, going to clubs, trusting new people... I was the bravest I have ever been, and in return, I now have the best memories of my life.
Pros
  • Going out your comfort zone
  • Friendships
  • Exploring a new country
Cons
  • Food may be tricky at first
  • Not cheap
  • Is tough coming back home
40 people found this review helpful.
Response from University of Sussex

It was great having you with us Carmen. Thank you for the review and great photo!

Questions & Answers