Study Abroad at University of Sussex, Brighton

There were tons of ways to get involved! I joined two societies and signed up for international student day trips with the study abroad office. I made a ton of great friends, both local students and international students. We had fun getting to know the Brighton and South Downs area as a whole, and there are tons more things I would still like to do. The Brighton bus system is cheap and incredible: you could get anywhere in the city in under 40 minutes. I wish I could have stayed longer, but COVID sent us home early.

I was at Sussex an entire academic year, and out of 22 weeks of classes, 6 weeks of classes were canceled due to strikes. This meant a lot of independent study, but I found it easy to do the assignments without a ton of prep work. I did well in my courses, and there’s usually only one or two assignments the entire semester (except maybe for STEM classes). Brighton is a really pretty city and there’s lots to do. I loved the proximity to London. If I were given the option to redo, I don’t think I would’ve gone to Sussex. I would suggest it if you’re a new traveler and this exchange would be a new experience for you.

I met so many people from all over the world, and I built some amazing friendships. The campus and the people I met, made me feel every day as I was home. The campus has all I needed and more, staff is always there to help you for anything, and the buildings are modern and cozy. The university is next to a national park, and I really enjoyed walking and hiking there to explore the English countryside. In my spare days, I would take the bus or the train to go to Brighton to see the sea or visit this unbelievable city. I can’t wait to come back.

I had a great time at the university of Sussex. I loved that there were so many foreign and exchange students. Brighton is a beautiful city and the university of Sussex is a great uni. Would recommend visiting the city and enjoying the student life. The life on campus is super nice, I was staying at Northfield, which is a nice housing. Classes were good as well and I liked the fact that every class was recorded and put online because it makes it easier for exchange students to understand the classes and work.

I have absolutely loved my year at the University of Sussex. I have loved the people and culture, I have loved the classes at uni, and I have loved student life. Brighton is such a vibrant student city, nicknamed "London by sea", Brighton offers both bustling city days- whether you're getting lost in the laines, or down by the pier, or vintage shopping; and non-stop nightlife-with student offers in different clubs for every night of the week.
In terms of the university's exchange program, I felt like the study abroad team had really made an effort to make sure that there was lots of events (especially during the first week of term) to encourage the international students to mingle and make friends. There was definitely a balance between integrating into British culture (with quiz nights, food events, city tours, London trips, etc.) and cultivating the diversity of the international student culture through different socials.
I also think the 'buddy scheme', which links new students to current students, is a good way to combat the loneliness that many students face when they first move to uni.
Coming from Australia, there wasn't too much of a cultural shock, although I was slightly taken aback by the rudeness of some of my tutors- I have since been told this is just British culture, and not to take it personally (although I would recommend that some of the uni staff be a little friendlier... especially for those students who are trying to work out what's what).
The only other thing I struggled with was working out how to pick classes, sometimes the systems can be a little more confusing than I think they need to be- but once I got sorted and settled, there were no issues.
All in all, it has been the time of my life :)

It was a great experience to go and live in Brighton. My English has really improved and I have made friends from all over the world during my stay here. All of the teachers, tutors, lecturers etc were nice and wanted the students to learn beyond just the grades on the exams. Some of my days were too long with lectures around 9am and then at 7pm, I lived in private housing in eastern Brighton so I had to stay at campus all day which some days were quite tiring. Overall I am happy with living abroad!

I really liked my study exchange in Brighton. The campus is great and there is something going on all the time. I enjoyed riding bike to the uni and it was fun. The courses are good quality and the teachers I had were helpful. I wish the university would provide cheaper and more convenient accommodation for the exchange students. There are many many international students so the uni is truly multicultural.

I created a web with few tips for future Exchange Students! :)

Review edited for clarity by members of the Go Overseas content team.

Brighton was an amazing place to both live and study. I have met some amazing people on my adventure to the UK and I am so glad I came. The university is filled with tonnes of fun activities and there's never a dull moment!

The teachers at Sussex Uni are supportive and engaging, and are particularly used to having international students in their classes - so you always have someone to talk to and support you.

The contact hours at uni are less than my home university in Adelaide, Australia - which is great for an exchange student as they are able to maximize their time exploring the lanes or spending time with all the lovely people in Sussex. I would suggest choosing subjects that have tutorials or workshops, however, as they can greatly increase your interaction with other students and therefore friendships you make.