Study Abroad at the University of Brighton, England

I studied abroad at University of Brighton in spring 2024. We had interesting classes and I made lifelong friends. I often travelled to other countries as it was easy to do so from Gatwick Airport. Then after a fantastic semester with wonderful support from Mary and the study abroad team, I decided to transfer from my home university in California to University of Brighton. The university team made it very easy for me to complete the transfer and I am very happy to be carrying out my studies here.

I had an incredible experience living and studying abroad in Brighton! I knew that I had always wanted to study abroad, specifically in England, and I chose Brighton because of its costal location and queer history. At first, I was worried about going alone (with no other person from my school) as I applied through USAC and had not previously made any lasting friendships in college. However, I quickly became part of an amazing group of people, some of whom are now close friends that I speak to daily. I loved the city (I highly recommend club Revenge) and reached a new level of independence through experiences like learning how to use public transport and how to actually cook for myself every day. The classes I chose were thorough yet fun and the program leaders from both USAC and UofB were always helpful and available. They also planned amazing outings and trips for us with lots of free time to do our own exploring. Overall, I wish I could live it all over again but, since I can’t, I will recommend this program in the hopes that others might find a similar experience!

I absolutely loved my experience abroad. I was surrounded by other study-abroad students and made life-long friends. Having others in a similar situation meant that I always had someone around who wanted to go travel, wander around town, or just laze by the beach. The town was wonderful, Mary and Zoe (my support/advisors from Brighton University), and I LOVED the beach.

Another thing I liked that doesn't necessarily have to do with the program itself is the cheap travel. You can get $15 flights to other countries and hostels for $10 a night. There is also an abundance of (relatively) cheap food everywhere I traveled. This allows those on a budget to still travel.

This was an experience that I will never forget. I loved my time and would absolutely do it again. However, if you are based in America, then you should be aware of some of the bureaucratic issues that arose. Getting a Visa is not particularly challenging, but you do need to pay attention to the details and to have time. Do not wait until the last minute. My college specifically had issues processing my transcript back, and scholarship money did not come in until the middle of November due to the delay in processing. So be careful.

I was very nervous about heading out to do my semester abroad at the University of Brighton, however it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Brighton itself is an absolutely wonderful place it’s full of so much queer culture and will make all members of the LGBTQ+ community feel welcomed and accepted. If you’re queer and trying to find a place to study abroad where you will feel safe and have fun, go to Brighton. The town itself has super fun queer nightlife with Club Revenge being my favorite.

Beyond that element, the university of Brighton’s study abroad office was absolutely wonderful. The staff takes you on many wonderful trips that were so extremely fun and were excellent ways to get to know your fellow students. My program also had a shared British Culture class with all my fellow study abroad students. It was wonderful because we all got to know each other pretty well and all relied on each other as we were all going through the same experiences.

Really though, the best thing was the people I met. I have met truly some of my best friends that I have full confidence I will know for the rest of my life. The people are what made my program truly excellent. If you’re not sure if you want to study abroad at Brighton, I would say absolutely take the risk and do it, it will be one of the best experiences of your life.

The support of the study abroad coordinators was fantastic and they were always so helpful. The main issues I faced was that we were originally not placed in the same residence halls as the other exchange students and felt extremely isolated. My room as mouldy, old, and not as up to date as the others were and that made us feel left out and excluded. Once we found a way to switch we had a significantly better experience. Another thing that was a downside was how far away Falmer campus is from Brighton and everything. I felt it very hard to get around and a bit unmotivating to leave halls as it was such an effort to get food, do activities, etc.

I had such a great time studying abroad at Brighton University, I had so many chances to explore surrounding areas and other countries, the teachers were very supportive and made my experience that much better. I also really enjoyed my class experience, learning aa much as I did and the options of classes- I had a chance to take classes I wouldn’t have been able to at my home university. My only complaint is the housing- caused a lot of unnecessary stress and concerns: issues with water and heating made living slightly uncomfortable.

Studying abroad at the University of Brighton was one of the best decision I ever made. I’ve had so much fun during my stay with the field trips and people I have met along the way. The staff is full of great people that want to help you succeed

Brighton offers a great beach and tons of restaurants on the coast. There is always stuff going on so you can always find something to do when you are bored.

One hundred percent recommend studying abroad to anyone that is thinking about doing it, you will definitely have a great time!

The time in Brighton was the best time I've had in my life so far! I met great people from all over the world with whom I am still in good contact. The International Office supported me very well and always answered all my questions, I felt very well looked after. The excursions to Oxford and Sussex etc. were well organised and were a great way to get to know the country better, I would recommend it to anyone! The university offers small courses in which I was able to learn a lot. The city is great for students, there is always a lot to discover and yet you feel at home.
I liked it so much that I am currently planning to return to Brighton for my Master's degree :)