Study Abroad at the University of Brighton, England

My semester in Brighton was absolutely amazing! I had so much fun and made so many great friends. I really found a new home in Brighton. I loved all of the field trips we went on and really enjoyed emmersing myself more into the culture and history of England. The university was great and offered a wide variety of classes that aligned perfectly with my studies in Colorado. The city center was a great place to hang out, grab a bite, or hang out at the arcade. The program advisors were awesome and really made us feel welcomed in a new country and university. I lived on campus with 7 other flat mates and we each had our own bedroom and bathroom. The university supplied all of our bedding, towels, and kitchen items to lessen the burden of having to bring them or buy them ourselves. I would definitely recommend that you check out this program because it was the best experience of my life!

Everything about this experience was life changing. My first time on a plane was to England. I didn't know a single soul. Somehow, by the end of the five months, I made life-long friendships with people all around the world, including England. Most of them were my international flatmates that shared their time with me in Brighton.

Beautiful, unique Brighton. If I could compare it to anywhere else, it would resemble San Francisco: cold/rainy and openly weird. It's the perfect place to be if you like art, music, and beer.

I wish I could better express how Brighton makes me feel. While I felt homesick at times, my only regret was not saying "yes" to go do things and see places more often.

To say this was one of the best experiences of my life would be a complete understatement! I had an amazing opportunity to study abroad with USAC program via my home university, California State University Chico. I decided to attend Brighton University because 1. I had always wanted to visit England due to the amazing English accents (typical) and 2. I wanted to have a unique experience and Brighton was right on the ocean. I had heard from many people it was like the San Francisco of England so I figured it would be my home away from home :)

I can go on and on how much of an amazing experience I had. From meeting people from all parts of the world, traveling to difference countries and attending fun planned field trips with my peers/ mentors (Mary and Becca), and just exploring Brighton itself with all the lovely pubs and the true English culture that it offered.

But what is most important for me to mention is how AMAZING both Becca and Mary were in my transition into settling in and enjoying my overall experience. I had quickly come to learn that no matter how "prepared" one can be, nothing will ever go the way expected and planned while traveling into a new environment.

Prior to arriving to Brighton, my University had provided a list of classes that were offered at Brighton and that would transfer credit back to my home University. On my first week of school at Brighton, a whole group of us had learned that the classes we originally selected were only offered Spring semester, not Fall. PANIC fled my body as I questioned what on earth was I going to do?? We were already missing the first week of studies at Brighton University and on top of it, I did not want to fall behind in school and be forced to take an extra semester back at home.

A group of us rushed to Mary and Becca's office in complete distress and frustration with this huge miscommunication. Now if I were them, I would have thought this group of students were complete frantic animals due to how scattered brained, lost and panicked we acted. Instead, they welcomed us in their office with their warm hearts and tea and told us not to worry. Everything was going to work out just fine, we just needed to take a deep breath and relax. It brings back a smile to my face reminiscing on the situation with how they calmly took charge and helped each and every one of us with finding substitute classes even if it took more time out of their personal day. It truly shows how much they really care and want every student to enjoy their overall experience. They are the true backbone of the program and made me feel so welcomed in my overall experience.

I decided to study abroad in Brighton because it was an english-speaking country, it was right on the ocean, and would offer me countless and amazing experiences. I studied here in the fall of 2014.

I was majoring in exercise science at the time, so I took one class at the Falmer campus, and then had to travel to Eastbourne to go to my other classes because Eastbourne is where the exercise science buildings are. Traveling to the Eastbourne campus from Paddock Fields (on Falmer campus) was kind of a pain because I had to walk to the train station, take the train for around 45 minutes, and then walk another 20ish minutes to class. However, this was when I found my love for trains, my love for travel... I was able to just sit on the train and look out the window, and it actually forced me to get out there and see more of England. The mandatory class, British Culture, was pretty easy and fun because we took it with our flatmates/other USAC students. The other two classes I took had very supportive professors that I still think about to this day.

Support wise, Becca and Mary were nothing short of amazing. Seriously. (PS. I Miss you guys!!) I don't know how they put up with us constantly, but they did. They are like your parents over there and we always had fun going to their office just to chat. Shoutout to you guys, and thank you for making our field trips unforgettable!

If I could rank "fun" on a scale of 1-10, it would be a 100. Seriously, I had the time of my life in Brighton. Whether it was traveling to class, hanging out with my flatmates, going downtown at night, visiting the beach and the Laines during the day, ice skating at the Royal Pavillion, and traveling on the weekends, it was fun all of the time. Honestly, the first couple weeks I barely slept because I didn't want to miss anything.

Housing was decent. I lived in a flat in Paddock Fields. The room is pretty small, with a bathroom/shower included. There is no barrier between the bathroom part and the shower part so that usually left for some wet floors. The bed was pretty small and uncomfortable. I lived on a flat with 7 other people, and there was a common area with couches, the kitchen, the tv, etc. The kitchen only had two mini fridgerators, which was a little too limited for 8 people living in one flat. However, I made some of my best friends to this day on that floor, and in Paddock Fields. It was in a good location on Falmer campus, and it was pretty. It was a bummer to do laundry because we had to walk outside to get to the laundromat and it was usually raining! Also just want to note that in order to get to the grocery stores downtown, you have to take a 20 minute bus ride, which can get rather tedious and frustrating when you have lots of bags of groceries and you have to travel outside with no car. There is a website (can't remember what it is called) where you can get groceries delivered though!

Safety was never an issue. I always felt safe in Brighton.

Overall, my experience in Brighton was one I will never forget. I strongly, strongly, strongly recommend you study abroad here. It is not as busy as London, but you still get the "city" feel, and it reminds me a lot of San Francisco. It is a lovely little quaint town right on the water with a fun pebbly beach, entertaining pubs (go to the Hobgoblin), and cute shops. I strongly suggest just riding the bus around one day to really take in the beauty Brighton and Hove have to offer. I learned so much about myself, about other cultures, and about England when I lived here. I also was lucky enough to travel to 12 other countries while I studied there, really broadening my horizons on Europe and the United Kingdom. I literally could go on and on about how amazing this study abroad experience was. You will have the time of your life, and will likely meet friends that you will be in contact with forever. I am forever grateful for the time I spent in Brighton, the experiences, and the friends I made.

I also wrote a blog while I studied abroad if you wanted to read it to get more detailed aspects and pictures of the trip: https://jennstudyabroad.wordpress.com

I don't really know where to start. Its 5 years on and I still think about being there. The best decision I've made so far was spending a year in Brighton. Mary and Becca were brilliant, stopped by and seen them at least weekly, full of stories, helpful hints, information on acclimation. Plus they are both wonderful people. The Royal Pavilion Tavern was a home away from home, though it looks like they have changed some sense when me and my flat mates frequented the place. Bonfire night, 5th of November in Lewes. The things I remember most about that was a whole roasting pig, the smell of cordite from the cannons and smoke from the fires. Brighton its self is in a nice location, it was quick and easy to get into London and travel. I don't have any regrets about the decision to go. Educationally and personally it was the best decision I made.

P.s The stereotype about British food is a total lie, the food was AMAZING.

There are a lot of people in my life who got married and pregnant a week after getting their high school diplomas, but I've always considered myself more of a wanderer. Brighton is perfect for just that: wandering. Mary and Becca have perfected the study abroad experience. They plan these fabulous trips, and you need to take every single one. One of the first things they do is help you learn the short and easy way to and around London, where I found myself several weekends. You might even be thinking that you would rather live in London; but Brighton's cheaper cost of living, pace, and location put me in the perfect position to be a student abroad. This study abroad experience is not just a photo op for Facebook or a checklist of places to see. It creates a hunger to get out of complacency and live somewhere new and exciting. Even now I'm thinking of how jealous I am that you have this opportunity. Don't let money, time, paperwork, or advice keep you from taking this chance. Saying yes to this, will help you say yes again. Don't be scared. However, if you are, talk to Mary and Becca!

The support from the study abroad team (aka Becca and Mary) at Brighton Uni is amazing. They're both so much fun, and are so happy to help. The University is a very open one, welcoming students from all around the world, and it was nice being the only Aussie in the programme, and being able to mix with students from Asia, the States and other parts of Europe too. I'm still friends with other students who I met, a couple of which were also study abroad students and a couple who were British students at the University of Brighton full time.
The range of subjects available is diverse, and I managed to find units that contributed directly to my major back home in Melbourne.

Where to start!!? My time spent in Brighton was seriously the best! Such a great city with heaps to do and lots to see. Make sure u try a burger at burger brothers, see Brighton & Hove Albion play at The Amex (literally next door to the Falmer campus), have a drink or 10 at the King and queen, check out the great live music scene including the great escape festival and wonder through the north laines which is full of cool cafes and shops.
The people you meet and become good friends with make the whole experience ten times better and Mary and Becca really are the best. Only problem was that they love a good old cup of tea and still weren't able to get me liking it after 6 months. Lol but honestly I had a blast, and even got to visit another 12 countries in the middle of/after the program which was amazing