Study Abroad at the University of Brighton, England

I highly recommend everyone to study abroad at the University of Brighton you will not regret it! The support at the university is incredible from professors to Mary and everyone at the Study abroad office, to the caring accommodation staff. I honestly did not have a single bad experience in Brighton! Brighton is such a lovely place and there is always something fun going on or somewhere to explore. There's the Brighton Pier, the Royal Pavilion, the Lanes, the festivals in May, also so many shops to visit and eat at. I think a semester was not enough time for me (do an academic year!). During my semester, I had the opportunity to travel to other countries so that is something to keep in mind when planning (I visited 8 in total). I will cherish my time and memories in Brighton forever and Brighton will always have a special place in my heart.

Doing this exchange has been far greater than I had ever imagined. Brighton is an incredible place to live and study. The city is exciting and unique and has always got something going on. Coming to a new University and immersing myself in a different learning system was a bit daunting at first. However, studying here has opened up so many opportunities for me as a Graphic Designer. It was also a great opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people. I have met some incredible and talented people during my time here and have had so many amazing experiences. The study abroad team at Brighton are so lovely and supportive. I’m so glad that I chose to study in Brighton for a whole year as I absolutely love it here. I definitely recommend this program!

At the University of Brighton, there is not a divide between faculty and students. Students refer to faculty by first name and faculty know the names of their students. Faculty are always willing to provide support in a timely manner and in any way they can. The small class sizes and discussion-based seminars make the relationship with professors more personal and friendly, rather than strictly professional. Professors are willing to provide feedback on essays and discuss any issues before, after, and outside of class. However, the support from professors is outweighed by the outstanding study abroad office. I can honestly say that I owe my amazing experiences at Brighton to Mary, Becca, Elissa, Zoe and the study abroad team. Their endless kindness and support is heart-warming. Studying abroad is stressful, especially if you are like me and are a first-time traveller; the study abroad team was always prepared to answer all of my questions and provide me with all of the details. The student support is one-of-a-kind; I have not ever experienced a support system like it, not even at my home university. Everyone wants you to succeed at the University of Brighton.

Brighton, England became home for me. I have found myself personally and academically. Studying here has changed my life, providing memories I never thought I would experience and challenges that helped me grow and learn. I have met so many angelic people and I am so excited to bring them on my side of the world one day. My professor here has made a huge impact on my life and he is by far my favorite professor I’ve ever had. I traveled to 10 different countries while studying here, and I found myself so eager to get back to Brighton the entire time. This is definitely a place that I am going to settle down permanently. I couldn’t of asked to study anywhere else. I love it so much, I have planned to extend my studies here in Brighton. Can’t wait to come back again.

Studying abroad at the University of Brighton was the best decision i've ever made! The city of Brighton is so unique and fun and there's always something do!! There is such a big student population in Brighton since there are two universities, so there's always young people around and the social scene here is huge which adds to the fun! The city also feels so safe, since people are out generally all day, so I've never felt unsafe in Brighton! The dorms were really nice, and the Falmer campus is beautiful and only about a 30 min bus ride from the city center! The study abroad team at Brighton are the best, they're so supportive and fun and really helped us ease into this change! Also, the field trips are awesome! Definitely worth going on as many as you can, because seeing Paris and Stonehenge were some of the highlights of this trip!

Studying abroad in Brighton was one of the best decisions I made. Brighton is a lovely city which is busy and fun without the intensity and stress of a major city. There is plenty to do in Brighton in terms of nightlife, cute independent shops, cafes, and visiting sites like the pier and bathing boxes. The study abroad team at Brighton are some of the loveliest and most helpful people I've ever met and made the experience that much easier. The field trips are one of the highlights of the program as is the opportunity to meet amazing people from around the world. I definitely recommend this program if you are considering it!

The 3 months I spent in Brighton were the absolute best 3 months of my life. Hands down. I wish I never had to leave. The people there were amazing and had SO MUCH FUN. All of the study abroad field trips were fascinating and enjoyable. I got to see so much in so little time. Brighton itself is ADORABLE. There are so many cute shops and restaurants it's impossible to stop by every one. The beach is amazing and the pier has food and arcade games and rides. It's a great place to go. The place the study abroad students lived was nice, my only complaint being how far it was from Brighton. It was approximately a half hour bus ride from Brighton, which isn't bad, but when you're waking up early for class or staying out late in town it can be a pain. Luckily the bus comes right by campus. I joined the Drama Society and made most of my friends that way. It was such a great experience and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Not just the students but staff as well. I'm hoping to go back there over the summer to see the friends I made there. Studying abroad at the University of Brighton was the best decision I ever made.

The decision to student teach in England was the best decision of my life. I started off with reservations of being away from my family for so long, but now I am glad that I changed my mind. I have had such an amazing time and have grown as a teacher. The memories I made here will be with my for a lifetime. Everything was amazing from the host family, the school I was placed at, the trips I went on, and even the food! Mary and Becca were amazing throughout and you will absolutely Love them! The teacher I was placed with is amazing, and I now have a great friend. It is also a really great expereince to learn about a new culture and how it compares to the United States. You may not be student teaching in England, but either way you should do it for your program. Not only was this an awesome experience, but it will help me get a job in the future! I would 10/10 recommend you take this amazing opportunity (you won't regret it!!).

Cheers x

I had an incredible time living and studying in Brighton. The Famler campus (where I lived) was small, quiet, and surrounded by beautiful parks. The campus cafe has lots of yummy food and coffee. My course instructors were all kind and supportive. Mary and Becca (the study abroad administrators) were extremely welcoming and helpful with everyone’s needs during our exchange- they made living in Brighton feel like home. The organized trips we went on as an abroad group were absolutely amazing and was a highlight for me during my experience. Due to Brighton’s close proximity to the LGW airport traveling the rest of Europe was extremely easy and affordable! Brighton is a lovely seaside town that has amazing pubs, gardens, food, shopping, people, and energy. For future students wanting to study abroad I would highly recommend coming to Brighton. I definitely will be back in Brighton soon.

The University is amazing. The study abroad staff is fun and friendly and always willing to help. Would recommend exploring the city of Brighton and England in general. Becca and Mary, the people who run the program, are super super helpful and fun, and make the experience so much better. The field trips are amazing and low cost for what you get, and the friends you make along the way are worth it.

I had the time of my life studying abroad in Brighton! Being able to visit multiple schools and see the difference between teaching in England, vs America, was such a rewarding experience. I learned a lot about incorporating drama techniques in the classroom and it has come in handy with my current class. I loved being able to experience the surrounding cities and learn about their culture. I was always exploring, and trying new things. Living there really helps your jump feet first, and understand their day to day life!

I student taught through the University of Brighton. I was there for 2 months and lived with a host family. The staff at the university were so welcoming and made you feel right at home. We were able to go on various trips organized through the university. My favorite was a weekend trip in Paris. Although it was different than the traditional study abroad program, it was a great experience both personally and professionally.

The biggest piece of advice I could give anyone coming to Brighton is to get involved! It's literally so important to get to know the locals and it really helps to have some friendly faces around. The best decision I have ever made was joining a society, it made my experience here completely worth it. I stayed for a full year and have no regrets, and sometimes even wish I could stay longer. Brighton is super independent, interesting, open, and as much fun as YOU make it. It's a big, little city and there is always something new to find, from vinyl shops to charity shops to restaurants to retail shops (most of which offer student discounts, don't be afraid to ask!), I guarantee you'll find a place you'll fall in love with. Only words of caution I would give is if you decide to live on the falmer campus, you will need a bus pass (good news is there is an app with student deals) to get into town and the Night Bus (starting usually at midnight) can feel like forever–due to extra stops. The grades are very different (I promise 70%+ is an A, don't panic) and schooling in general is more independent work. You will have plenty of free time to hang out with the new friends you make! Last bit of advice is to not let the common language fool you, England is it's own unique place with it's own slang and differences (if you're from the US like me you might be confused at times, though most people will clear up the confusion if you just ask), it's just like studying abroad any other place, you will have to learn the culture and be able to go with the flow in order to really enjoy your time.

Where do I even start? As a general statement, the people and the places made the experience incredible. The exchange students were all lovely, and my flatmates, classmates, lecturers, and randoms met along the way are people who impacted my life in so many different ways. Being able to visit so many places in the UK and Europe was a great by-product of studying - its hard to pick a highlight when each place and experience was so unique. Being able to visit some of the world’s design capitals - Scandinavia, London, Switzerland, Barcelona- was amazing to see in the flesh what we can only read about at home. Going on the Brighton surf trip to Morocco, skiing in the Swiss alps, sinking pints of Guinness in Dublin, sailing through the Nordic fjords and all the other trips are definitely lifelong memories i’m grateful to have. My expectations were exceeded: the course was so different to my home university, which served as a much-needed creative rejuvenation half way through my third year. I met so many talented, incredible people (students, great lecturers, people in the community, practicing creatives) and made the most of the collaborative vibe at Brighton. There were fundamentally no limits – new techniques, ideas and approaches were welcome and encouraged. England is also pretty great to live in – the culture is very similar to NZ, there is no language barrier and the access to design opportunities is endless. Also, Brighton’s close proximity to Gatwick Airport meant travel around Europe was so easy, despite protest from my bank account.

The University of Brighton is located just minutes away from the amazing seaside city of the same name. Brighton itself is beautiful, fun, exciting, and full of incredible clubs, coffee shops, theaters, and there is always something new to experience every day from a "Ghost Tour" of the historic Laines to karaoke night at the King and Queen pub! The University itself is spread over several campuses with most study abroad students living on the scenic and lovely Falmer campus which is surrounded by rolling hills and stunning sunsets. The academics, at least in the Humanities school are fairly casual and not too demanding while still being fascinating topics taught by knowledgeable professors . However, this casual atmosphere leaves plenty of time to explore Brighton and travel outside the country. However, I mainly went on trips with the lovely USAC program to lots of amazing places in England including Bath, Stonehenge, and Oxford to name a few, as well as the wonderful and unforgettable trip to Paris! I found these trips very cost effective and well organized, led by the amazing Becca and Mary, our program leaders! They were so kind and warm, and made the transition to a new country very easy and assuring. I would recommend this program to anyone looking for an experience in a homey but edgy city with tons of history and charm, in addition to a flexible schedule with plenty of time for personal adventures!